Timeline
Willem VS went for a bike ride
2 days ago
IR32: Newtonstewart - Kinnego
IR32 runs through County Tyrone and County Armagh, from the edge of the Sperrin Mountains via megalithic sites, historic mills, castles, and river landscapes to the southern shore of Lough Neagh.
It is a long, culturally rich stage featuring stone circles, valleys, bridges, churches, and a finale at the largest…
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
3 days ago
IR31 Letterkenny - Newtonstewart
IR31 runs through East Donegal and then County Tyrone, from the town of Letterkenny via rural valleys, churches, standing stones, and viewpoints to the edge of the Sperrin AONB, ending in the historic village of Newtownstewart.
It is a quiet, rural stage featuring lakes, hills, heritage, and a gentle transition…
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3 days ago
Experience:
Left the hotel without breakfast. The communal kitchen looked terrible after the permanent residents had passed through.
After 12 km, I pass the last viewpoint on the Wild Atlantic Way. Ahead of me, it continues towards Belfast via EuroVelo 1, or the Atlantic cycling route of Europe.
After previously
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
4 days ago
IR30 Downings - Letterkenny
IR30 runs through North Donegal, from the Rosguill Peninsula via Fanad Head and the Harry Blaney Bridge to the bays, beaches, and heritage towns around Sheephaven Bay and Lough Swilly, finishing in the regional town of Letterkenny.
It is a long, tough stage featuring cliffs, beaches, lighthouses, viewpoints, heritage sites,…
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4 days ago
Experience: In the morning it rained lightly, but when I got up it was dry, but threatening. We were used to that. After a coffee at the campsite, I set off for the second toughest ride...
Fanad Head Lighthouse will be the first stop and that is on another peninsula. Luckily there is a café, so I eat
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
5 days ago
IR29 Dunlewey - Downings
R29 runs through Northwest Donegal, from the mountain zone around Mount Errigal and Dunlewey via the valleys and coastal roads of Sheephaven Bay to the Rosguill Peninsula and the beaches of Downings.
It is a stage featuring lakes, viewpoints, castles, bays, beaches, and several Wild Atlantic Way viewpoints.
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5 days ago
Experience:
Departing from the hostel, we immediately turned back onto the Rosses. Beautiful rolling and winding, narrow roads with nasty climbs. The silhouette of Mount Errigal still dominates the region.
I'm already halfway when I encounter the first village, Creeslough. Here I decide to make eating
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
6 days ago
IR28 Kilclooney - Dunlewey
IR28 runs through West Donegal, from the Neolithic Monument Zone around Kilclooney via the coast of The Rosses, the green valleys around Dungloe and the lakes of Gweedore to the foot of Mount Errigal and the mythical Poisoned Glen.
It is a stage featuring dolmens, cliffs, greenways, beaches, viewpoints, and…
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6 days ago
Experience:
After a night in luxury, we set off for a short ride, but 800 meters of elevation gain in a short ride is not nothing.
I encounter several cycle paths, but they are not my favorites.
It all starts when I take a loop away from the WAW and the EV1. A loop around Crohy Head. Suddenly a completely
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
7 days ago
IR27 Killybegs - Kilclooney
IR27 runs through Southwest Donegal, from the port of Killybegs via the spectacular cliffs of Slieve League, the archaeological zone of Glencolumbkille, the mountain pass of Glengesh and the coast of Rosbeg to the Neolithic monuments of Kilclooney.
It is a tough, rugged stage featuring cliffs, valleys, prehistoric sites, beaches,…
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7 days ago
Experience:
I got up early and left around 8:00 AM. The weather was dark, oppressive, and heavily overcast (see first photo), but it was still reasonably warm.
You might think the Wild Atlantic Way is over now, that you've seen everything. Not at all, what follows is not only the queen stage, but another
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 28, 2026
IR26 Ballyshannon - Killybegs
IR26 runs through South Donegal, from the Erne estuary at Ballyshannon, via the beaches and cliffs of Rossnowlagh and the historic town of Donegal to the fishing port of Killybegs.
It is a stage featuring coastal roads, beaches, heritage sites, forests, cafes, and a finale along Ireland's largest fishing port.
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May 28, 2026
Experience:
I left the campsite early. And for breakfast, I had my first full breakfast (without the beans, which they explicitly ask for).
Strengthened by breakfast, I arrive at Rossnowlagh beach. I once drove on the beach in Denmark with a car, but now with a bike. That worked, even though you pass through
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 27, 2026
IR25 Strandhill - Ballyshannon
IR25 runs through County Sligo and County Donegal, from the Strandhill surf coast via the city of Sligo, the Benbulben Valley and the Mullaghmore Peninsula to the mouth of the Erne in Ballyshannon.
It is a stage full of coastal roads, historical sites, viewpoints and a finale in Ireland's oldest…
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May 27, 2026
Experiences:
Waking up in the sun and packing up a dry tent, something new. Via some serious hills, it goes to Sligo. And there I will visit the abbey, among other things. The girl at the checkout studied in Leuven and... likes my bike setup. I explore the city quite thoroughly.
Then it goes to Drumcliff
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 26, 2026
IR24: Ballina - Strandhill
IR24 runs through County Mayo and County Sligo, from the Moy estuary via the Enniscrone coast and the rugged cliffs of Easkey to the dunes and surf coast of Strandhill.
It is a distinctly coastal stretch featuring coves, beaches, cliffs, historic sites, and long, open Atlantic views.
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May 26, 2026
Experience:
The morning already started with a long chat with a German woman who lives on the campsite here.
The ride itself is a clear transit stage. It presents itself as a coastal stage, but it isn't really. We ride mainly on the WAW, which stays just far enough from the coast. I would rather characterize
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 25, 2026
IR23 Pullathomas - Ballina
IR23 runs through North Mayo, from the remote coast of the Erris Peninsula via the cliffs and archaeological zones of the North Mayo Heritage Coast to the Moy estuary in Ballina.
It is a stage featuring bays, peat fields, Neolithic sites, quiet coastal roads, and historic monuments.
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May 25, 2026
Experience: Man, man, man, what a magical ride.
To complete it, it started as so often, with a cloudy sky. Although on the horizon you could see a strip of light hanging under the clouds. Eventually it got warmer and warmer and yes, there was the sun. Windstopper and sweater could be taken off and on
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 23, 2026
IR22 Westport - Pullathomas
IR22 runs through County Mayo, from the coast of Clew Bay through the interior of North Mayo to the remote coastal zone around Broadhaven Bay and Pullathomas.
You drive from Westport via Newport and the Great Western Greenway to the wilderness of North Mayo: peat fields, lakes, Gaeltacht villages, and…
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May 24, 2026
Experience:
In the morning, a long chat with my English neighbor. He found my bike setup ingenious. When we finally finished talking, another Englishman came to talk about the bike and the trip. This put me behind schedule. But this year, that schedule is not really a challenge.
We set off on a supposed
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 22, 2026
IR21 Gowlaun - Westport
IR21 runs through the border region of Connemara (County Galway) and County Mayo, via the fjord zone of Killary Harbour and the mountain valleys of Doolough to the coast of Clew Bay and the city of Westport.
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May 24, 2026
Experience: I'm setting off for the last ride through Connemara. It was supposed to be the last rainy day, but it stayed dry until Westport.
The landscape surprises once again. No more fens. I'm entering a mountain landscape, where the peaks hide above the clouds, without me gaining any altitude. I ride
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 21, 2026
IR20 Ballynahinch - Gowlaun
IR20 runs through the far west of Connemara (County Galway), a mix of Atlantic coast, lake chains, marshy valleys, and low granite hills.
You drive from Ballynahinch via the coastline of Roundstone and Mannin Bay, then to the town of Clifden, and then north along the rugged coast of Renvyle…
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May 22, 2026
Experience: After a good night's sleep and a small breakfast at the hostel, I set off in good spirits with rain gear in my bike bags. It was no use, the rain came anyway. But I only put on my rain jacket. Since this is really an Irish rainy day this time, the rain doesn't stop anymore and at noon the
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 20, 2026
IR19 Galway - Ballynahinch
IR19 runs through County Galway and then deep into Connemara — a landscape of lakes, peat fields, granite hills, and Gaeltacht villages.
You leave the city of Galway along the south coast of Galway Bay, drive through the Irish-speaking villages of Cois Fharraige, and then follow the back roads of…
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May 20, 2026
Experience:
The classic held: rain in the morning, but by the time I broke camp it was dry. My Irish neighbour comes over for a chat, he's betting on the first fully dry day in a long time. According to him, the weather in May is normally better.
The departure is less interesting. We follow the WAW, but
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Willem VS went for a bike ride
May 19, 2026
IR18: Doolin - Galway
R18 runs through North Clare and then along the south coast of Galway Bay, via the karst landscape of The Burren to the city of Galway.
You start in the coastal area of Doolin, drive through the limestone plateau of The Burren National Park, follow the spectacular Burren Coast Road…
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May 20, 2026
Experience:
The classic scenario: breaking camp in the rain, after which it surprisingly dried up.
The topic today is the Burren Coast Road, another blissful road. And then... beautiful, non-touristy, unindicated, but a highlight on Komoot: the Ailladie Cliffs. A straight steep wall, which often serves
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2 days ago
Experience:
I was a bit afraid of losing motivation. After all, where else would I ride to? Although I haven't reached Belfast yet, the cycling guides recommend taking the train between Belfast and Dublin. Finally, the common topic of conversation is the World Atlantic Way road. Everything is reflected
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