Five of Ireland’s best roads
Sally Gap, County Wicklow, Ireland
If you’ve started in Dublin, this is a lovely one-day jaunt on a road built by the British Army to make it easier to flush rebels from the hills after the Irish rebellion of 1798.
The road from Dublin is motorway and dual carriageway, then wellsurfaced sweeping A-road through the hills, woods, lakes and rivers of Wicklow to the pretty villages of Roundwood and Laragh.
In Laragh, follow the Sally Gap sign over the high moors on a twisty B-road, and stop halfway at Glenmacnass Waterfall for a great photo.
Bantry to Dingle, Ireland
From Bantry ride north on the sweeping N71 through the mountains. Then, after 25 miles, divert up Priest’s Leap which, at 1516ft, is the highest ride in Ireland. Here you get great views of Bantry Bay before riding on to Glengarriff and the hills and lakes of Killarney National Park.
From there take to the Ring of Kerry, a stunning loop which dances between soaring green on your right and the aching blue of ocean crashing onto rocks to your left.
Dingle to Malin Head, Ireland
North from Dingle the Conor Pass snakes its way up with cliff faces on one side and steep drops to the lakes below on the other.
Next is the lively student city of Galway, then Mayo, the lakes and waterfalls of the Delphi Valley and the breathtaking road around Doo Lough – a fresh water lake.
Along the Donegal coast you’ll ride past miles of beautiful beaches and spectacular pounding waves, then it’s Londonderry (Europe’s oldest walled city) and finally over the wild moors to Malin Head, the most northerly point in Ireland which, this being Ireland, is technically in southern Ireland.
If you are feeling ambitious this is part of the 1553 mile Wild Atlantic Way which winds its way up the west coast and is a quieter and longer alternative to Scotland’s North Coast 500. (wildatlanticway.com).
Antrim Coast Road, Northern Ireland
Start in Portrush, then visit the world’s oldest distillery in Bushmills and the 40,000 columns of the Giant’s Causeway, or ride the nine-mile triangle between Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine which is the route of the North West 200.
At Carrick-a-rede, walk a swaying rope bridge 80ft above the sea, then half a mile after Ballycastle, turn left for Torr Head, a glorious B-road through Middle Earth, then after six miles left again for Murlough Bay’s stunning sea views.
At Larne, take the fast inland A8 to Belfast, or the more coastal A2 through Carrickfergus with its 12th Century castle. More info at causewaycoastalroute.com/antrim-coast-road
Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland
A grand one-day run south from Belfast to the seaside resort of Newcastle, with its splendid Victorian-era Slieve Donard Hotel. After that head south on the scenic A2 coast road, then you’ve a choice when leaving the coast for the mountains.
After seven miles take the Quarter Road just before Annalong and follow the signs for Silent Valley and Spelga Dam reservoirs on an upsy-downsy B-road, or for sweeping A-roads, just past Dundrum follow the signs for Bryansford, with a potential two-mile side trip to Castlewellan, which has excellent gardens and a maze.
‘So what are you waiting for? Get that ferry booked, the bike packed and as they say in Ireland, may the road rise to meet you’