2-day Northern Ireland coastal run

Day 1 – Naas or Dublin to Belfast

Of course there are many ways to get there but in this suggestion I am heading straight to the North and then following the coastal route around the Down and Antrim coast, sticking mostly to the A2.

Using the motorways, you can now get from Naas or Dublin to Newry in around 2 hours or less and that’s where the scenic route begins. Follow the N2 south-east out of Newry to Warrenpoint. This is a dual carriageway winding alongside Carlingford Lough which is a bit like a Norwegian fjord with Northern Ireland on one side and the Republic on the other side. Continue along the waterfront from Warrenpoint to Rostrevor and on to Kilkeel and now you have the open sea on your right side and the Mountains of Mourne on your left.

Carlingford Lough before the sun came out

Continue around the coast past Slieve Donard to Newcastle. At that point I diverted inland on the A25 to Downpatrick and had a look around the town and a pit stop. I then headed out to the coast again to Ardglass and Coney Island (from the Van Morrison song) and got back on the A2 coast road. My one complaint is that this short stretch of the A2 from Ardglass to Strangford is a terrible road and is more like a d-road than an A-road.

Following the Van Morrison route

At Strangford you have to catch a ferry across Strangford Lough to Portaferry, which is a nice diversion and a chance to stretch the legs. It runs every half hour and costs £3.40 for a motorbike and is a bit of a novelty.

The Strangford Ferry

On the other side of the Lough, you have the choice of two scenic routes – either follow the A2 around the coast of the Ards peninsula via Portavogie, Donagadee and Bangor, or follow the inner coastline of Strangford Lough via Mount Stewart (gardens worth a look), Newtownards and in to Belfast.

Beautiful winding coast roads

If you follow the second route, you will pass the gates of Stormont, which is also worth a stop. I based myself in Belfast overnight, but there are plenty of other choices.

Stormont

Belfast

Day 2 – Belfast to Portrush/ Portstewart

Todays route even better than yesterdays, and if you are lucky enough to get a sunny day like I did, it is sheer perfection. On a clear day you can easily see across to the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland for most of the journey, and you realise just how close the two countries are. To make it even better, I did this route on the Sunday after the Northwest 200 races and so had thousands of bikers on the roads, mostly doing the route in reverse on the way home from the races. Wherever I stopped there were dozens of bikers and the general buzz added to the enjoyment. If you do go to the Northwest 200, be sure to detour around the coast on the way there or the way home, if you can.

Bikers lined up at Glenarm

From Belfast there is a quick blast north on the motorway before you get on to the coastal A2 again heading for Carrickfergus. You pas through Whiteabbey on the coast with a good view across Belfast Lough and can see the shipping if there is any in the Bay. At Carrickfergus you have a well-preserved Norman Castle if you fancy a visit as well as the harbour and marina. Keep following the A2 around the coast to Larne and once you get beyond Larne, the best of the trip is ahead. The road has a good surface and winds around the coast with the hills and glens of Antrim on your left and the view across the sea to Scotland on your right.

I stopped at the village of Glenarm and for a small detour travelled inland along the glen to the sheddings and then back out again to Glencoy and Carnlough. Then the coast road winds along again to Glenariff and Cushendall. I was going to go inland again along glenariff and out by glenballyemon, but the road was closed on my day, and to be honest, the coast road was probably better.

Mull of Kintyre seen from close to Torr Head

You could stay on the A2 at this point, but I would strongly recommend a further detour through Cushendun and out to Torr Head – the closest point in Ireland to Scotland. The road to Torr head is like a twisty roller coaster ride which is very challenging with amazingly steep bends, but is not to be missed. If your feeling active you can climb Torr Head from the car park to get the best view of the Mull of Kintyre. From there is it back to the A2 and through Ballycastle and on to the Carrickarede rope bridge. Take note that there is a 1km walk and climb to the rope bridge itself from the parking area, which on a hot sunny day in biking leathers and boots, can work up a good sweat.

Carrickarede Rope Bridge

From there I recommend following the coast to the Giants Causeway. I had been there before and didn’t go this time, but if you haven’t seen it, it is one of the wonders of the world – don’t miss it.

From then you can just cruise into the seaside towns of Portrush and Portstewart and settle down in a pub for the evening, or in my case, it was a quick blast along the main roads back to Belfast in not much more than an hour.

This is a corner of our island which has been overlooked by many overseas tourists and southerners because of the Troubles, but is there to be discovered and well worth the trip.

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