Tour of the Penninsula
Time required: 2 hours with stops.
This is a favourite afternoon or Saturday ride of mine, and loads of other NI bikers. Starting at the Marina in Bangor the route follows the coast all the way around the Ards Penninsula and has some fantastic scenery, coffee shops and some good gastro pubs for lunch.
On leaving the Marina carpark in Bangor, follow the coast to Groomsport via Ballyholme. This route trickles over some v annoying speedbumps past the Jamacia Inn but the view Belfast Lough offsets the annoyance.
Leaving Groomsport, follow the signs for Donaghadee and from then on it is a straight road through Millisle, Ballywalter, Ballyhalbert to Portavogie. On reaching Portavogie, if it's lunchtime, the chipshop on the harbour has the best and freshest fish on the Penninsula and worth a punt if you still have room in the waistband of your leathers! Portavogie had a huge fishing fleet but as with the rest of the UK it has dwindled substantially due to the meddling Euro Twats. Still, it's quite picturesque when the fleet is in harbour and the Quays restaurant has quite a selection on fresh fish on the menu if you need something more substantial than fish and chips. Be warned though, the portions are enormous!
From Portavogie, the road wends its way to Cloughy, the speed limit is only 30 but it's a nice road and once through the village the route takes a left turn before Watsons petrol station heading towards Kearney Point, a National Trust village. Following the signs to Kearney rewards with a national speed limit which you will be pushed to achieve due to the twists and turns of the road. This is the fun bit with some 90 degree hairpins, off camber roads and some bumps which reward with good air wether you want it or not!
Leave Kearney heading for Ballyquintin Point and then follow the road to Portaferry. This is another challenging ride with something for everyone and some great views. Portaferry has all the coffee stops you need and public toilets if you're with the missus! The hotel has a reputation for serving some of the best grub in NI.
From Portaferry follow the road past the ferry. It is a narrow road but a great ride. The views are outstanding and the road engaging ending at a junction with the main Portaferry Road leading to Newtownards. At the junction, turn left and route through Kircubbin and Greyabbey. Just before Kircubbin in the Saltwater Brig Gastro Pub. It is a great stop off on a cold day with good food and a roaring fire. Check it out on www.saltwaterbrig.com
After Greyabbey the road run past the National Trust property at Mountstewart, it's worth a look if you like the odd stately home and has all the usual things you would expect including a restaurant and coffee shop.
After Mountstewart the choice is to either continue to Newtownards and then a dual carriageway blast to Bangor or follow the signs to Ballywalter about 1 mile after Mountstewart and then route Carrowdore-Bangor via fast flowing B roads.
This is a great ride if you are visiting Northern Ireland as the Ards Penninsula has some fantastic scenery and Strangford Lough is a nature reserve. There are loads of great places to stop and it encaptulates the best qualities of the province. I love living with it all on my doorstep!
