Glenveagh National Park is a secluded and strikingly beautiful wilderness featuring rugged mountains, clear lakes, cascading waterfalls, and enchanting native oak woodlands, nestled in the heart of the Derryveagh Mountains in northwest County Donegal. At the park’s center, on the edge of Lough Veagh, stands Glenveagh Castle, a castellated mansion from the late 19th century, originally built as a hunting lodge.

The decision to place the Castle at such a pivotal and central location in the “valley of the birch” Gleann Bheithe was truly inspired. This bold move has resulted in the creation of a magical residence now maintained by the Irish State. The seemingly random chaos of nature, with rugged cliffs and granite mountains rising dramatically over the dark, often turbulent waters of Lough Veagh, forms a backdrop to the orderly structure of Glenveagh Castle. The castle gleams like silver in the sunlight, surrounded by charming courtyards, a Walled Garden, Pleasure Grounds, and Woodland Gardens. The gardens are open year-round with free admission.

Many of the plant and animal species found here are unique to Northwest Ireland and share similarities with those in western Scotland. The rocky, exposed landscape of Glenveagh limits the variety of plant and animal life. The soils are waterlogged and covered in peat, and the grazing quality is low. Wildlife adapted to these conditions is quite specialized, with species abundance and variety changing with the seasons but generally remaining low.

Bikes are available for collection in the visitor’s car park at the national park. We can accommodate bookings for up to 25 bikes, with safety standards maintained at the highest level.

Our bikes ensure a smooth and enjoyable ride through the stunning Donegal countryside, allowing you to take in more of the breathtaking scenery than walking, making it a leisurely and enjoyable activity wherever you go.

Traditional Hybrid bikes are pedal bikes that combine features of racing and mountain bikes, suitable for most terrains. These high-end hybrids are sturdy, mid-weight, and have a minimum of 14 gears.

Tour Highlights

• Convenient collection and drop-off point.
• Located in the picturesque grounds of Donegal’s Glenveagh National Park.
• Breathtaking mountain scenery.
• As a special conservation area, it hosts unique flora and fauna.
• A rare chance to see Ireland’s reintroduced Golden eagles.

Text and images on this website by National Parks and Wildlife Service are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

• Suggested routes with a list of attractions and things to do along each route
• Breakdown support
• Helmets and High Viz jackets

• Gratuities
• No food or drink.