Island Wheelers Cycling Club, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. Northern Ireland Official website for the Island Wheelers Cycling Club
Despite the horrible weather forecast a determined core of the Pleasure Team met at 6.00a.m. on Saturday 17th ready for a big days’ cycling in Donegal. Our departure was delayed as one member who had signed on didn’t show up; but at 6.20 the decision to head on without him was taken.
At 8.20 we drove into the car park of the Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel and headed straight for the breakfast room. Here we were joined by Eamon Higgins who was to act as a local guide. We spent an hour over a long breakfast during which time we studied maps and discussed plans for the day ahead.
With the rain easing to a slight drizzle we changed into our cycling gear, mounted our bicycles and rode out of the hotel car park at approximately 9.30. We headed through Carndonagh and onto Quigley’s point; we then followed the coast to Moville where we stopped for a few minutes to take off rain coats. The route now took us back across the peninsula to Culdaff ( where local guide Eamon took us on a detour of some of the best beaches in Ireland ) and onto the village of Malin.
In Malin, with the temperature rising, we decided to stop and take on some liquid refreshment and nourishment before heading on up to Malin Head. When we arrived at Ireland’s most northerly point the sun was now out and we spent 20 minutes basking, while drinking coffee and eating home-made lemon drizzle cake.
From Malin Head, we rode back through Malin and then back to the Ballyliffin Lodge Hotel, completing a journey of 70 miles. Here we were able to sit out in the sun while taking on some more liquid refreshment.
First timers Dermot and Jonathon were very keen to tackle the famous Mamore Gap, so after about 15 minutes the Master led the determined duo out through Clonmany and on towards the toughest climb they’d ever faced. The weather held good and they experienced Mamore in all its glory, and in the process earned a new respect for hills and hill climbing.
Back at the hotel we showered and changed and then sat down to a beautiful dinner, which was the icing on the cake to what had been an excellent days’ pleasure cycling.
