I (Pete E) have recently returned from a road cycling tour of the north of Ireland.
350 miles visiting every county in the north of Ireland using a variety of Sustrans routes.
The journey started with the overnight ferry from Birkenhead to Belfast.
Saturday, 5.30am alarm call to vacate cabin by 6.00am.
Rode from ferry terminal to Belfast along side of River Lagan.
Cafe stop for breakfast – Oscars Champagne Cafe, Chichester Road, Belfast
Then to Europa Bus Station to catch bus to Enniskillen.
Would I be able to get my bike on the bus/coach, I could not get a straight answer when I asked the question in Britain. It turns out I would be able to if there was still space in the boot after other passengers had put there suitcases in, there was room but only just, especially when we changed to a smaller bus in Dungannon.
Got to Enniskillen and started first proper riding via Boho and a cave to Derrygonelly in County Fermanagh. I was the only person spending the night at Tir Navar Field Studies Centre which also acts as a Youth Hostel.
Sunday, to Omagh, via Enniskillen, the north of Ireland is a bit like Spain in that not all roads are on maps and I became directionally challenged in Enniskillen with a new bypass.
Last four miles of forty-nine uphill to B & B.
Very nice B & B, Golden Hill Guest House, Tattykeel Road.
Superb Lamb Shank for tea.
Monday, after breakfast back down hill to Omagh.
Teastop at Cafe Horizon in Alley Theatre, Strabane, fellow diners thought I was very brave cycling round the province on my own.
Then onward to (London)Derry via the Republic of Ireland (Donegal) and a near collision when a car cut me up in Lifford. Superb traffic free riding by side of River Foyle to Derry.
Stayed at Hostel Connect in Derry, my dormitory was called Rock and Roll other dormitories were called after more recent musical trends such as Hip Hop.
Excellent Burritos at Guapo, Strand Road, Derry.
Declined a tour of the areas of the city associated with the troubles, but did walk all round the city walls and saw some of the sights.
Tuesday, to Coleraine on the north coast by a very long straight down hill to Downhill, the fastest I have ever been on a bike.
No Cafe stop that day, but stopped for provisions in Park and Foreglen.
B & B at Glenleary Farm near Coleraine, another excellent massive breakfast.
Wednesday, a rest day only thirty miles or so riding, met some cyclists from Bann Wheelers in Lilley’s Cafe, Bushmills. Went to have a look at the nearby Giant's Causeway and was a bit underwhelmed by it. Don't know what the hoards of foreign tourists made of it.
North coast from Downhill to Giant's Causeway was most scenic part of the ride.
Spent the night on my own in a Youth Hostel for the second time, this occasion Bushmills.
Thursday, sixty-seven miles to Magherafelt by mid afternoon.
Tea stop Rose's Cafe Portglenone
Clearwater House B & B near Magherafelt, big Irish breakfast.
Fish and Chips in Jonty's Diner Magherafelt.
Friday, Magherafelt to Portadown, weather today the same as all the other days, cold and misty until mid-morning then unseasonally warm and dry.
Late tea stop at Gaynor's Restaurant, Church Lane, Portadown.
B & B, Redbrick near the infamous Drumcree Parish Church.
Saturday, Portadown to Belfast.
Tea stop, Oxford Island on the shore of Lough Neath.
Disaster after Lisburn, pedal crank came loose, no spanner to fix it. Got to Belfast, bike shop closed.
Spent night at Belfast Youth Hostel, which is very close to a very Protestant area of the city, a fortified Police Station just down the road.
Tea at Darcy's, if you are there before 7pm they charge £7.77 for a main course.
Up early Sunday for final cycle back to ferry terminal.
Sleep a lot of the journey back to Birkenhead.
Would I go again, not sure some of the scenery is quite samey. The Sustrans routes involve lots of turnings, some signs are missing or buried in hedges. Might try the far North West or the Mourn Mountains if I go again. Liked the out of town hostels and B&B's, not so much the city hostels.
Why Fat Lad?
(F)ermanagh
(A)rmagh
(T)yrone
((L)ondon)derry
(A)ntrim
(D)own