Hiking Biking Vegan (2025)

31/08/2024

VEGAN TOUR OF IRELAND
DAY 4 (PART 2)

You haven't met her yet, but there has been someone working behind the scenes this whole time to ensure that every logistical piece of our travel puzzle falls smoothly into place. I'll be introducing her in the next post!

The longest stop on our journey today is Maghera Strand. The weather is so unpredictable in Donegal, but today's sunshine is perfect for a relaxing day at the beach.

The scenery is quite dramatic. We follow a path through the protected dunes to the main beach, which stretches on for miles. There's enough space for tens of thousands of people, yet we only meet a handful. No crowds here.

Dozens of sea caves dot the cliffs along the beach, and the low tide makes them easy to explore. I love their acoustics, and can't help but sing into them. The reverb is incredible.

After finding a washed-up jellyfish on shore, we are a bit hesitant to swim. A swimmer tells us none of them are dangerous. "The ones with black stripes only sting a little bit." I decide to risk it, and am rewarded with refreshingly cool waters. The sea has carved the sand and formed miniature pools of clear, emerald green water. Everywhere we look, there's unspoiled natural beauty to enjoy.

We eat a late lunch at one of the few restaurants in the area that is actually listed on HappyCow. My jackfruit slider is phenomenal. One final our of riding takes us to Portnoo, our destination for the night.

My favorite part of this short ride was getting to look back and see Granny Pass and Maghera Strand from afar. We arrived tired after a full day of adventuring, but rallied to eat dinner at a very spacious Irish pub up the road that boasted a decent vegan menu. Before bed, we made sure to share a pint with the locals in the pub beneath our second-story rooms.

Check back in to see us ride all the way to Arranmore Island!

22/08/2024

VEGAN TOUR OF IRELAND
DAY 4 (PART 1)

After two nights in Carrick at our lovely boutique hotel, we are ready to set out and explore what the rest of County Donegal has to offer.

Our destination is Portnoo, a beach resort area popular with locals. To get there, we'll need to navigate through peat-rich boglands, glacier-carved valleys, and through many coastal villages and towns.

Our first hour of riding takes us away from the coast and into hilly, remote boglands. We pass fields full of hand-cut peat bricks, stacked high and drying in the sun. The roads are quiet and narrow, and we encounter far more sheep than people or vehicles. The landscape is hilly scrubland, and it offers no hint of the dramatic views soon to come.

The hills on the horizon don't look very impressive. But when we round a bend, the beauty of Granny Pass hits us all at once. We're all caught a bit off guard. The forces of nature that created this great rift in the earth must have been tremendously powerful. The evidence of that power humbles us and inspires awe in our hearts.

The other riders take their time, admiring each detail as they cruise leisurely down the valley. I get up to speed and crouch down, making myself as aerodynamic as possible, and barrel as fast as I can down the smooth strip of pavement. Exactly the rush I was looking for.

After regrouping at the bottom of the hill, we continue through a small community of thatch-roofed cottages, and look back at the valley from below. It is even more impressive from this perspective.

Pedaling on, we quickly arrive at Assaranca Waterfall. No hiking required; this roadside gem is almost comically accessible. Despite this, it's not swamped with visitors, and for a long time we get to enjoy it's calming waters all by ourselves.

We don't know it yet, but major drama is bubbling in the background. Check back in for more updates on Day 4!

19/08/2024

VEGAN TOUR OF IRELAND
DAY 3 (PART 2)

As I mentioned in my last post, we've just spent a sizable slice of our morning at the gorgeous Silver Strand. Midday is fast approaching, and we must somehow find a vegan lunch in Glencolmcille, a town of 217 residents. Easy, right?

Actually, it is! And not just a vegan burger, but a whole separate vegan menu with curries, pizzas, salads and roasted veggies-- and glorious, glorious smoothies!

Our restaurant is beside the Glencolmcille Folk Village, attached to an Irish language and culture center. Our server is a young woman who tells us she grew up in one of the dozen homes perched on the cliffs above the Silver Strand. To grow up in such a beautiful place... I can't even imagine! No wonder she doesn't seem eager to leave for the big city.

Our spirits restored after a scrumptious meal, we complete our cycling loop and return to Carrick. Some of us decide to spend the afternoon resting, while a couple of us hike the pilgrimage path along the cliff tops of Slieve League. It drizzles on and off, but this only adds to the surreal beauty of the place.

Dinner puts my trip planning skills to the test. Our restaurant of choice is closed, and our back-up, an Indian restaurant recommended online, no longer has vegan entrées.

This is when Cindy & Bill, the restaurant owners we met at the beach, swoop in and save the day. They don't have a vegan menu, and their regular menu barely mentions tofu. Yet they go above and beyond to cook up 4 different tofu+veggie dishes. Carrick Chinese is a takeout restaurant, so we eat at the pub across the street and savor every bite.

After dinner I head back to the restaurant to thank them, and spend the next hour learning all about their life in Ireland, their 3 kids, how they came to own a restaurant in a tiny town like Carrick, and so much more. Such wonderful people, who prepare such wonderful food.

Check back in for details about my favorite ride of the trip!

16/08/2024

VEGAN TOUR OF IRELAND
DAY 3 (PART 1)

We're spending 2 nights in Carrick, just barely enough time to explore the many amazing places in this area of County Donegal.

Our breakfast is superb, replete with vegan cheese and yogurt. Today's ride is half the distance of yesterday's, and nowhere near as steep. We make a loop around Glencolmcille, with a small detour to see the Silver Strand.

This beach is one of most thrilling I've ever been to. Full stop. Not just in Ireland, but anywhere. It's a long walk down a steep set of stairs to get to it. Once we're in the cove, we look up, and instantly feel small. The sheer walls surround us, creating a sort of natural amphitheater.

We stare up at the sheep grazing hundreds of feet above us, nimbly navigating the treacherous terrain, unconcerned. Huge slabs of rock jut out of the sand, perfect for climbing on. Crystal clear waters swirl with alien worlds of seaweeds and plants I've never seen before. Waterfalls cascades down cliff faces into the ocean. Can't beat it.

The water is cold, and I'm in my cycling bibs, not a swimsuit, but I jump in anyway. The others nap, or read a book, or explore the parts where they won't get wet. We vow to come more prepared to swim the next day, when we will visit Maghera Strand.

I took so many amazing photos here, but lost them all when my phone got damaged by salt water. Luckily everyone else was trying to capture the beauty of this beach, too!

As we're leaving we meet Cindy & Bill. I'll share lots more about them later, but needless to say they become very dear to us during our stay in Carrick.

Check back in for more updates!

13/08/2024

IRELAND DAY 2 - PART 2

At lunch we discover a beautiful secret about County Donegal-- almost every restaurant has a secret vegan menu. Why keep it a secret?!

(I now have a mountain of updates to upload to Happy Cow.)

We're also told that if you call ahead, nearly every kitchen will prepare additional options. This is the first of many important lessons I will learn on this inaugural tour.

Our post-lunch ride is beautiful, but we don't stay long at any of the overlooks or view points. We are ready to be relaxing at our Bed & Breakfast.

We sometimes feel like we're on a movie set. Few cars pass us, and we see even fewer people (the slight drizzle likely keeping them indoors). Many of the homes we pass are either quaint, historic cottages or extravagant mini-mansions.

Just when I think our surroundings can't get any more scenic, the final stretch from Largy Fort to Glen Estuary redefines the word. We arrive at our B&B, which is quite spacious and perched on the banks of the Glen River.

Part of our group goes for a stroll along the river path, while others take a much earned rest. We meet up again for dinner, and are happily surprised to find that tonight's dessert special is vegan.

In a township with fewer than 300 residents, we manage to find a restaurant with 3 vegan entrées and a vegan dessert, only a stone's throw from our accommodation.

Absolutely unbelievable.

Just when I think it isn't possible to love Ireland any more than I already do...

13/08/2024

VEGAN TOUR OF IRELAND DAY 2 (PART 1)

😅 Limiting myself to only a handful of photos proved too difficult. So I have decided to split this post into two parts! I may be setting a dangerous precedent here...

We miss Noreen the moment we leave her B&B and ride west along the coast. She went out of her way to find us vegan cheese, butter, and bread, in addition to the lovely breakfast she'd already provided. I can't wait to visit her again next year!

Today is our first full day of riding, and also our LONGEST day in the saddle. We become intimately familiar not only with the hilly terrain, but with the electric assist on our e-bikes. We set off at 9:30 and become immediately enamored with our surroundings.

The rocky, windswept Donegal coastline is dotted with beautiful sand beaches every few miles. At one, we befriend some locals, including dog-parents and a couple living their best RV life. At another, we rest our legs while peeking into tide pools. Even with an intermittent drizzle and overcast skies, the natural beauty is undeniable.

Our ride is not entirely light-hearted fun and awe-inspiring nature. While riding, we hear a distressed sound. We stop to help a sheep whose leg had become entangled in some twine fencing, trapping it in place. I dismount from my bike and trespass on private property to do so.

Animal husbandry is an inescapable part of any visit to the Irish countryside, or indeed to almost any rural area in the world. Sheep, in particular, have become a symbol of Ireland. Depictions of happy, free-living sheep are regularly used on marketing materials and merchandise to promote tourism to Ireland. Government subsidies and centuries of tradition help to prop up this practice long after it ceased to be profitable.

My experiences on today's ride motivated me to become more involved in local efforts to promote animal welfare in Ireland, and to begin imagining a cruelty-free future for County Donegal.

Check back in for PART 2!!!

05/08/2024

Hello HBV family!

The support and congratulations I've received from so many of you since completing my inaugural tour has meant the world to me. This week, I'll attempt to showcase how each day of the tour went: what we saw, what we did, what we ate and where we stayed. It is impossible for photos to fully convey the heightened emotions and incredible memories made during this trip to County Donegal, Ireland, but I will certainly try.

Day 1:

After arriving in Donegal, we check in to our B&B and meet our phenomenal host, Noreen.

Once settled, we make our way to Slieve League, Europe's highest sea cliffs, for our first test ride. The drizzly morning has turned into a glorious afternoon. Séamus from gets us on our e-bikes and ready for the week ahead.

After familiarizing ourselves with our bikes (and with the hilly terrain), we head into Donegal town center for dinner. has several vegan options clearly labeled on their menu. Their wine menu is also well labeled. I opt to try the house-made vegan burger and am not diappointed.

The Irish sun sets late this time of year, so we accidentally stay out later than we'd planned, chatting and getting to know one another. Good food and good company, what a terrible hardship.

Check back in tomorrow for details about Day 2 of our vegan bike tour of Ireland!

19/07/2024

Just some low-res, crappy cell phone photos of some spectacular peaks I scouted out today in Co Sligo and Co Leitrim

18/07/2024

Trying to keep myself entertained while we taxi on the runway 🥜🍎✈️

14/07/2024

Make sure to check back in July 20-27 to see what shenanigans we get up to while pedaling our way across County Donegal!

10/07/2024

If you couldn't make it on this year's vegan bike tour of Ireland, but are considering joining next year's tour, make sure to check back in July 20-27.

I will be posting LOTS of updates about how the tour is going and about all of the exciting things we will get to do/see!

28/06/2024

Our Vegan E-Bike Tour of Ireland Needs More Riders!

$500 DISCOUNT to anyone who signs up before July 14th
DATES: July 20-27, 2024
PRICE: $3,410 - $500 = $2,910
INCLUDES: Everything except airfare
LOCATION: County Donegal, Ireland

We are still actively looking for more riders to join us.

Can't join us but want to support a new vegan business? Spread the word!

This plant-based bike tour features dramatic sea cliffs, white sand beaches, ancient ruins, quiet country roads, traditional B&Bs and the famous hospitality of the Irish people.

For more details, email me at [email protected]

or check out www.hikingbikingvegan.com/ireland-2024

Let's Ride!

Fielding Russell
Chief Exploration Officer

31/03/2024

Finally, I can go back to making silly posts again soon 🌱🌍😜

30/03/2024

Once the new tour pages drop, make sure to check out all the different kinds of tours on offer. While I enjoy biking and hiking the most, I also make time to play in the water.

Be on the look out for kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing and rafting included in your tour. 🌱🌍✨

29/03/2024

New tour pages will have not only a day-to-day itinerary, but will also include daily riding distances, highlights from each day of the tour, temperature forecasts and local climate info, and details about each night's accommodation. Can't wait to hike and bike with y'all in all of these amazing places!🌱🌍✨

28/03/2024

Starting April 1st, you'll be hearing a lot more about me, my tours, my vegan journey and more. I'll make some of you laugh, and make others run for the hills. Can't wait! 😜🌱🌍✨

Hiking Biking Vegan

31/08/2024

22/08/2024

19/08/2024

16/08/2024

13/08/2024

13/08/2024

05/08/2024

19/07/2024

18/07/2024

14/07/2024

10/07/2024

28/06/2024

31/03/2024

30/03/2024

29/03/2024

28/03/2024

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share