Donegal Bay Cycling Club is hosting its first sportive event.
There are three route options which have been chosen to accommodate a wide range of cycling abilities while allowing participants enjoy some of Donegal’s most impressive scenery.
This event allows cyclists who intend to participate in the An Post Tour of Sligo on the May Bank Holiday weekend to test their fitness on routes which are just slightly shorter than those on the Sligo event.
The Event details
Date: Sunday 21st April 2013
Sign-on location: Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town (parking available)
Sign-on time: 8.30am to 9.30am
Cycle start location: The Diamond, Donegal Town (500m from sign-on location)
Cycle start time: 10am45km Route
This route is mostly flat with a few very gradual climbs to add some interest!
Leaving Donegal Town cyclists make their way to Laghey and then along quiet winding roads in the direction of the famous Barnesmore Gap. After a food stop at the Barnesmore Community Centre (at 18km) cyclists cross the N15 onto more country roads heading in the direction of Lough Eske and from there to the bottom of Mountcharles hill onto the N56 where cyclists head eastwards in the direction of Donegal Town. The route continues along the town by-pass before turning right at the Tullyearl Roundabout and along the R267 to the finish line at the Abbey Vocational School gym for some welcome refreshments.
90km Route
Leaving Donegal Town cyclists make their way along the town by-pass to the Killybegs Road. From there they continue along the Mountcharles by-pass and on to the Five Points via Dunkineely and Bruckless villages. Watch out for some beautiful views of the Atlantic ocean to your left.
Turning right at the Five Points cyclists continue on one of Donegal’s best cycling surfaces, passing some splendid mountainous scenery, before descending the Nick into the village of Ardara (45km) where you will be greeted with a cuppa and a bite to eat at the food stop in the Heritage Centre in the village centre.
Replenished after their food stop cyclists will continue up the hill in Ardara and along the N56 in the direction of Glenties, turning right onto the R262 at Kilraine (about 5km on the Ardara side of Glenties).
From there it’s a gradual climb to the top of Binbane followed by a gradual descent, on the way, via Frosses village, to the N56 where cyclists take a left turn and head for Donegal Town via Drumconner hill. Following a welcome descent down Mountcharles hill cyclists continue around the Donegal Town by-pass before turning right at the Tullyearl Roundabout and along the R267 to the finish line for some well earned refreshments.
140km Route
This route is hilly with the most challenging climbs at Mountcharles, Glengesh (climbing from the Glencolmcille side) and Kilraine while the section between Killybegs and Glencolmcille involves a series of energy sapping short sharp hills.
Leaving Donegal Town cyclists make their way along the town by-pass to the Killybegs Road. From there cyclists continue along the Mountcharles by-pass and on to the fishing port of Killybegs via Dunkineely and Bruckless villages. Watch out for some beautiful views of the Atlantic ocean to your left.
Heading out the R263 from Killybegs there is a gradual climb as far as the Blue Haven Hotel after which the route veers left off the R263 onto the coast road to Kilcar. On entering Kilcar village the route continues left along the coast past small harbours and inlets to the village of Carrick. In Carrick there will be a water stop – and toilet facilities – at the community centre (opposite the Post Office).
From Carrick the route continues along the R263 to Meenavean where a left turn takes cyclists in the direction of Malinmore to join the R263 again. The views of the ocean and the coast along the next section of the route – from Mailimore to Glencolmcille – are breathtakingly beautiful. Don’t forget to enjoy them.
Leaving Glencolmcille cyclists continue towards Glengesh – there are two long climbs in this section. At Glengesh cyclists are urged to exercise extreme caution on the descent as they continue towards Ardara village. Slow down before joining the N56 just past Brackey National School. In Ardara you will be greeted with a cuppa and a bite to eat at the food stop in the Heritage Centre in the village centre.
You have completed 95km at this point.
Replenished after their food stop cyclists will continue up the hill in Ardara and along the N56 in the direction of Glenties, turning right onto the R262 at Kilraine (about 5km on the Ardara side of Glenties).
From there it’s a gradual climb to the top of Binbane followed by a gradual descent, on the way, via Frosses village, to the N56 where cyclists take a left turn and head for Donegal Town via Drumconner hill. Following a welcome descent down Mountcharles hill cyclists continue around the Donegal Town by-pass before turning right at the Tullyearl Roundabout and along the R267 to the finish line for some well earned refreshments.
