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A20 Strangford Lough, Co. Down to: Bishopscourt / Sunflower races ?
Ideal if you're going to the Bishopscourt races (and you should!) A20 Strangford Lough & Down Coast Circular, County Down Start this one anywhere, equal but different views if you reverse the route (almost prefer it.) Take the A20 south from Newtonards to Portaferry. Roads can be congested up to Greyabbey but open up along the Lough side (smell those sedentary depositis when the tide is out!). Some rolling hills towards Portaferry. Stop near the casellated ruin near Exploris which is up a slight hill from the (signposted) ferry if you like a visit the sealife museum there. Good caf1/ice cream dispensing. Take the ferry to Strangford (need some money but much cheaper for bikes). Even in the wet the open, chain-dragging ferry is reasonably safe with anti-slip paint. As the ferry jinks around you try and balance the ?bike. Bizzare or what ? Try this with some kind of overtall, top heavy trail bike with a full tank of fuel, but only if I1m watching please! Sorry. Get waived off the ferry, and take the first signposted turn left to Ardglass (A2), following the coastline South. As you emerge from Strangford you might see some seals basking in the shallows by a picnic / viewing spot. From here on the road is narrow and bendy but loadsafun. Pass via Ballyhornan to Ardglass. Great fish and chip shop (obvious). The B1 Downpatrick road on your right as you come in takes you to the Bishopscourt racetrack, home of the International Sunflower Trophy Races, close by. Excellent. This 3detour2 could be handy if the roads from Downpatrick are bunged. Through Ardglass keep going South to Killough, through Minerstown and past Tyrella Beach. There1s a pausing opportunity here too if you want axles buried in sand and to pay to park. Keep on the A2 and eventually over an old switchback railway bridge. Pass some weird winblasted stands of trees. Eventually you emerge on the main A24 Newcastle Belfast road. The possibilities are endless. North back to Belfast via Ballynahinch ? South to Newcastle and the Mournes ? The A25 to Downpatrick and the western shores of Strangford Lough through Killyleagh ? Or reverse the route ? Up to you but - enjoy.
Dunoon to: Dunoon via Strachur -circular route
The Dunoon circular route is 68.2 miles, offering an excellent challenge of diverse driving conditions, gradients and cambers. Try this out, you won't be disappointed.
The Strachur to Dunoon stretch is a particularly fast section of road. Catch the Western Ferry from Gourock ( 0141 332 9766 ) to Dunoon. On arrival, drive north west across the B836 as if heading for Otter Ferry but take the south route A8003 to Tighnabruaich. Continue south, then follow the road north to Otter Ferry, with its lovely pebble beach and little harbour. Continue north on the B8000 to Strachur.
Finally, to complete the circle, head south from Strachur back to Dunoon on the A815. The Strachur to Dunoon section is pretty fast going and a fantastic stretch of road. Unsurpassed scenery with plenty of restaurants, hotels and a few camping sites dotted here and there. A particularly good one is situated on the banks of Loch Eck which runs parallel with the A815 for several miles. Interestingly, if arriving at Strachur this way (from Dunoon) you can head on north up to the Highlands via via Oban for Fort William, or turn east to visit the Trossachs as both routes comprise excellent roads and world class scenery.
Pirbright to: Frimley Green
Awesome set of corners that link together into a great little piece of road. Excellent surface, few houses. Can be tricky to find. Get to Pirbright in Surrey. Ride North through Pirbright till you get to a set of lights at a railway bridge. Turn left and follow the road - eventually it dips 90 degrees right under the railway, and the fun starts. You can make a circuit out of some other roads up here. When you come out in Frimley Green, make a left. Continue on this road (A321) until you get to a double mini-roundabout. Turn left there and you're off again. This eventually comes out by the turn under the railway bridge where you nearly fell off earlier! Here's a URL - use the zoom out facility on the site to get the big picture. http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=490500&Y=155500&A=Y&Z=3 One word - keep it down when going past the houses on the straights or this play area will quickly get stamped on by angry locals.
Box Hill to: Further South
The section of the A24 from Capel to Horsham is notoriously scabby and poorly surfaced, which is fine if you want a challenge. HOwever there is serious local fury about it at the moment and any of the frequent accidents (car or bike) make (local) headline news. There is going to be resurfacing and re-engineering of this section in a few months, so wait. The alternative route is along the A29 (Roman Stane Street) which is a sublime road. Please resist the temptation to perfect your rolling mile speed tests along the Ockley straight, as you'll probably run into my mum coming out of the hairdressers. Or someone coming out of one of the four pubs- all good. Just down the road (Signs to Okewood Hill) is the Punchbowl, an excellent pub. The A29 gives good access to the As 281 and 272, both lovely. Yours Will (Is he local, Tubs?)
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