About Iron Donkey Bicycle Touring

The Iron Donkey Tours
The cornerstone of all the Iron Donkey tour programs is the ever-expanding network of Iron Donkey bicycle touring routes, an ongoing project undertaken by Tony Boyd, founder of the Iron Donkey.

Tony, whose bicycle touring experiences over the years have taken him to 5 continents and have included two 12 month solo trips, knows and understands the essential requirements for the very best bicycle tours.

After returning to his native Ireland in 1996, Tony started to research and develop a series of biking routes, focusing on combining great scenery with low traffic volumes.

The following year he ran the first guided, supported bicycle tours along some of these routes. The expanding route network was first opened up to independent cyclists in 2000 through Iron Donkey Bicycle Touring.

In 2003 Tony turned his attention to the West of England – a region where he had previously lived and worked – developing new routes in the Cotswolds and in Wessex.

In 2004, working in collaboration with a local guide, Tony developed the first Iron Donkey touring routes in the beautiful Italian regions of Tuscany and Umbria.

In 2006 Tony has devoted much time and energy into developing self-guided itineraries in Wales – a fabulous country for bicycle touring and yet one that has yet to be discovered by cyclists outside Britain. If you have never thought of Wales as a great riding destination, think again - these routes are fabulous!

Every Iron Donkey Bicycle Tour Itinerary Offers…

• Magnificent scenery and great locations
  If the scenery isn't jaw dropping, the Iron Donkey doesn't go there! The towns and villages around which the routes are based are also very attractive destinations. Large enough to provide all the necessities in terms of accommodation, shops, restaurants and pubs, they also give an insight into small town and village life.
  
  
• Traffic-free routes with plenty of en-route services
  Finding the best biking routes in unfamiliar territory is a time-consuming business requiring a great deal of trial and error - and even the best maps can only give a limited amount of information about terrain, scenery, traffic and services.
  
  The Iron Donkey biking routes are the jewels at the heart of the tours. Taking in the very best of the scenery, they mostly follow secluded minor country roads and lanes where cars are very much the exception rather than the rule. Riding on these roads, you will often have the sense of riding on your own private bike trail.
  
  
• Biking options to satisfy both the diehard and the more relaxed rider
  The question of just how much riding to plan for each day of a tour is a tricky one, since there are so many different relevant factors that can come into play - the weather (including wind direction), the terrain, your energy levels, the time you might want to spend at a particular interest site for example.
  
  The dual route system of the Iron Donkey tours introduces a degree of flexibility that allows you to bike just as far as you want each day - so that you are neither frustrated by too little biking, nor exhausted by too much! The Iron Donkey directions also detail side trips and short cuts that further increase your options.
  
  
• The opportunity to experience the culture and to meet the local people
  A bike tour isn't just about the riding - it is also one of the very best ways to experience the culture and to meet the people. However, without detailed local knowledge you can end up meeting more tourists than inhabitants.
  
  By guiding you away from the well-worn tourist trails and tourist traps, an Iron Donkey tour provides a genuine insight into the people and the culture of the region.
  
  
• A wide variety of attractions and interest sites along the way
  Each tour region boasts a great number and variety of visitor attractions such as castles, antiquities, stately homes, forest parks, craft centres, folk parks, museums, cathedrals, and historical sites. It is unlikely that you will have either the time or the inclination to visit them all!
  
  The Iron Donkey routes run past all the main interest sites in the tour region. Primed with the essential information about each attraction in advance, you can plan your visits accordingly, choosing to spend time at those which most appeal to you and to bypass those that don't.
  
  
• Welcoming, comfortable accommodation
  The afterglow from a great day's biking can rapidly fade if you have to start searching around for somewhere to stay - particularly since you will be arriving at your destination towards the end of the day when choices may be limited.
  
  The Iron Donkey arranges your accommodation in advance, so you can enjoy your biking to the end of every day knowing that a hot shower is waiting. Accommodations for Iron Donkey tours are selected for their high standards of comfort and service, and for the warmth of the welcome extended.
  
  
• Ready access to assistance in the event of a problem
  No matter how carefully you prepare, there is always the chance that fate will decide to take a hand and upset your plans. Should a problem arise on an Iron Donkey self-guided tour, help and advice is only a phone call away. Because we operate in our own familiar territory, we are in the best position to come up with answers to any questions and solutions to any problems that might arise.
  
  We will give you help and guidance with every aspect of your trip, including advice on getting to Ireland, and to the tour trailhead once you have arrived in the country. You can contact us as often as you like in the run-up to your tour, and we will be happy to answer as many questions as you care to ask. If you plan the tour as one part of an extended vacation, we can give you information about travel to and from other regions of the country.
  
  
• Quality, well-maintained bicycles and equipment
  We provide quality rental bicycles, with every bike being serviced before it is delivered for a tour.
  
  
• Excellent value
  You will find some tours that cost a bit less - and plenty that cost a lot more! However, whichever Iron Donkey itinerary you choose, we doubt that you will find better value for your money!
  
  
• Commitment to service
  Iron Donkey Bicycle Touring is committed to promoting and encouraging bicycle touring as a means of adventure travel. To that end we do everything possible to ensure that your bicycle touring experience is one that will live on in your memory - for all the right reasons.