The Five Countries Tour

Day 1 – York and the Yorkshire Dales

You will meet your guides for the trip at York Train Station at 11:00am and transfer to our start point on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Over lunch in a local pub, your guides will brief you on the day ahead. Our opening ride follows a lovely route around the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the village of Leyburn. We then ride through Wensleydale before crossing into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Our destination for the evening is in the Swaledale Valley, where we stay in a local inn and enjoy a welcome dinner. (L, D)

Ride details: 37 km/23 miles | 585 m/1,920 ft elevation gain

Day 2 – Yorkshire and the Tour de France

In 2014, Yorkshire was the proud host of the Grand Depart for the Tour de France. Today’s route follows much of Stage 1 of the 2014 tour and provides the opportunity to test yourself on the amusing Anglo-French climbs of the Côte de Buttertubs (532m) and Côte de Cray (416m). We’ll ride through some of England’s most iconic and picturesque scenery, typical of the Yorkshire Dales. Today is one of the most challenging of the trip but the rewards are ample. By the time we reach the village of Malham, you will have ridden one of the best day rides in the UK. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 82 km/51 miles | 1,319 m/4,326 ft elevation gain

Day 3 – Yorkshire Dales to the Forest of Bowland

A relaxing start today after yesterday’s big ride. Leaving behind the Yorkshire Dales National Park, we cross into Lancashire and the Forest of Bowland. This is the geographic centre of Great Britain, which seems a fitting place to ride through on our five countries tour. We ride through to the village of Waddington, where we take a late lunch. Then we transfer south to Oswestry near the English/Welsh border. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 35 km/22 miles | 425 m/1,394 ft elevation gain

Day 4 – Across the English/Welsh border

From Oswestry, our bike tour heads west into Wales. Central and North Wales are fairly mountainous which makes for great and, at times, challenging cycling. Immediately you will notice a different culture to England. Welsh is often the first language and the national identity is strong. Passing through the rolling valleys of the east, the Milltir Cerrig mountain pass presents a challenge to entering Snowdonia National Park. However, the climb of 300 m/900 ft is at a steady gradient and the increasingly impressive views provide motivation. The descent of over 8 km/5 miles is a blast and leads us to lunch at the beautiful Bala Lake. The second half of the day journeys through increasingly wild Welsh scenery on roads ideal for bike riding. Climbing higher into Snowdonia National Park our destination for the evening awaits at the end of another amazing descent into Ffestiniog. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 76 km/47 miles | 1,160 m/ 3,808 ft elevation gain

Day 5 – Snowdonia and Dublin

Our second day in Wales begins in the mountains of Snowdonia. In the morning, we will pass through many mountain villages steeped in Welsh mythology and legend. Continuing west, our ride destination is in Caernarfon – home to one of the most impressive castles you will find anywhere and a World Heritage Site which overlooks the Menai Straits. After a late lunch and time to explore the town, we will transfer to the Isle of Anglesey and the port of Holyhead, where our journey across the Irish Sea begins. It’s just over 2 hours by ferry to Dublin, where we’ll head to our accommodation and settle in for the evening. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 51 km/32 miles | 707 m/2,318 ft elevation gain

Day 6 – Rest day in Dublin

After 5 days of riding, we are about halfway through our 5 countries tour. The cosmopolitan capital of Dublin provides a great choice for a break from riding. Wander the historic streets, sample the city’s cafes and bars or perhaps check-in for a massage to recharge for the second half of the tour. Dublin is a fantastic city to hang out in and explore. Tonight enjoy a relaxed dinner in Dublin and perhaps a few pints of Guinness in the world-famous Temple Bar district. (B)

Day 7 – Dublin to County Donegal

In the morning, we transfer out west to the wild open spaces of North Donegal. Geographically and politically cut off from much of the Republic of Ireland due to the border with Northern Ireland, Donegal has retained its cultural identity and unique accent. We’ll arrive in time for lunch near Glenveagh National Park before riding north to the coast. Our accommodation for the night gives spectacular views over Sheephaven Bay.
(B, L, D)

Ride details: 36 km/22 miles | 540 m/1,770 ft elevation gain

Day 8 - Fanad Head and Lough Swilly

Continuing north, our route today takes us through a landscape dotted with castles and along the rocky coastal terrain in this little-travelled region of Donegal at the world’s edge. Our most northerly point is the Fanad Head Lighthouse, situated on the wild coast of the Fanad Peninsula in North Donegal. From here, we ride south towards one of the most picturesque climbs of the trip and continue on overlooking the azure shores of Lough Swilly, a vast glacial fjord between two peninsulas. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 67.5 km/42 miles | 972 m/3,189 ft elevation gain

Day 9 – Inishowen Peninsula and Northern Ireland

Riding across the Inishowen Peninsula, we follow an epic route featuring exhilarating climbs and exciting descents. Upon reaching the east coast, a private charter boat will take us across the border into Northern Ireland where we arrive into Portballintrae and make our way to our hotel for the night. This evening there is the option of riding the cycle-way from the hotel down to the Giant’s Causeway, where this fascinating geological formation and World Heritage Site can be seen free from the day-time crowds. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 63 km/39 miles | 934 m/3,063 ft elevation gain

Day 10 – The Antrim Coast then cross to Scotland

Today’s ride takes us to our final country, starting in Northern Ireland and ending in Scotland. The first part of the route follows the Antrim Coast which many consider to be the finest stretch of coastline in Northern Ireland. Some also consider it to be the “toughest cycling road in Ireland”! The riding is as dramatic as it is challenging following the Torr Scenic route through wild landscapes and deserted villages. Then it’s a short transfer by road to the ferry port of Larne. The crossing from Larne to Scotland takes 2 hours. Once in Scotland we make our way to our overnight stop in Newton Stewart. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 48 km/30 miles | 768 m/2,520 ft elevation gain

Day 11 – The Galloway Hills

Dumfries and Galloway is a cycling revelation with quiet roads through beautiful scenery. Our route takes in some of the region’s best roads as we head through Galloway Forest Park in the shadow of the hills known as the “Range of the Awful Hand”. From here we head south following the shores of Loch Ken and then through rolling farmland. With no major climbs this afternoon, we should make quick progress, reaching Castle Douglas by mid afternoon, allowing some time to explore the 18th century market town on foot. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 56 km/35 miles | 1,155 m/1,860 ft elevation gain

Day 12 – Castle Douglas to Drumlanrig Castle

Our final day of riding takes us from Castle Douglas to a magnificent finish at the 17th century Drumlanrig Castle. The Speddoch climb provides the last major climb of the trip, winding through woodland on the lower slopes to wild moorland. The descent from the pass is superb with great views across the glens and hills to the north. A short distance on we pass Keir Mill where the pedal bicycle was invented back in 1839. From here, it’s a short distance to the Drumlanrig Estate where quiet roads wind through scenic parkland. Our final km is one of the best you’ll find anywhere – a perfect boulevard leading right to the castle entrance. No doubt you’ll be feeling the effects of the past 11 days riding but we’ll have smiles all round! We’ll enjoy some celebratory drinks and cake at the castle before returning to Castle Douglas for our final night dinner together. (B, L, D)

Ride details: 51 km/32 miles | 525 m/1,710 ft elevation gain

Day 13 – Transfer to Edinburgh then depart

After a relaxing breakfast, we’ll depart Castle Douglas around 9:30am for the two-hour drive to Edinburgh. We will plan our arrival into Edinburgh Park no later than 12:00pm with the option to be dropped at Lockerbie for the West Coast railway line en route (for trains south inc London). On your journey home, you’ll have time to reflect on what will surely be one of the most memorable biking trips you’ve ever done. (B)