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broughshane to: carnlough
this is one of the best roads to take to the antrim coast.the road surface is a good finish with fast sweeping bends as far as the sheddings corner(this is the first sharp corner).after this there is a set of twisty mountain corners(the quarry bends) that lead to a very nice view of the north sea and a drop into the town of carnlough.here you can get a fuel top up and some food before following the antrim coast road.
Mitchelstown to: Mitchelstown
Head out the ballyporeen road, go straight through toward's cloheen and onto Ard Finnan. From here go over the bridge and take the middle road up the hill and onto cahair. Turn left at the square in cahair and go past the castle and take the first left toward's cloheen. Into Cloheen and take the road over the Vee into Lizmore. Take the tallow road and then onto Castlelyon's and into Fermoy, Take the main cork dublin road from fermoy to mitchelstown for some very high speed bend's. This route is about 70 miles in total with s bend's mountain road's 90 degree drop off's and hairpins, biker's paradise. The surface is mixed with smooth and rough on the route. Watch for cops bewteen Fermoy and mitchelstown, other than that nail it.
Cirencester to: Cirencester
From Cirencester, Glos, where we live, to Gloucester on the A417, round Gloucester towards the Forest of Dean then branch of towards Newent on the B4215, then on towards Dymock. (Quite amzingly, there was very little traffic at all, and no Gatso's - what a bonus). We then joined the A4172, then back onto the A417, (which is a ridiculously straight Roman Road but with long sweeping bends with great vision), all the way to the A49 and to Leominster.
From there, and this is where it gets really good, we took first the A44, then the A4112, and the A438 all the way to Brecon where we joined the A470. The panoramic views as well as the hills and dips made this part of the journey better than sex. I just wish my mate from the Isle of Man was with me. I'd have shown her that we have the equal of the Mountain Course across the water!!
From there, and I reckon this was the best part, onto the A40 to Abergavenny. This road, about 16 miles is phenomenal. Great road surface, fast straights and bends that just go on and on. Twice I over cooked it and had the back wheel twitching.
Glencoe to: Glencoe
Throughout its length from Glasgow to Inverness the A82 is a joy. An A-road metelled for bikers - it doesn't so much change direction as gracefully sweep with a confident camber and no road furniture. It's almost as if you'd laid the tarmac yourself.
The bonnie bonnie banks of loch Lomond set the tone for the whole route as the road clings to the magnificent landscape. On through the splendour of Glencoe and past loch Ness (an opportunity to spot some of the more elusive wildlife such as Nessiteras rhombopterix) on to Forts William & Augustus - no boring straight Roman road here. Here you can see so far ahead it's unreal. There's nothing, absolutely nothing coming. Just breeze by and smile. During the summer the A82 is littered with Germans and the Scot's old ally the French. They come here in droves - well, cars and bikes. Perhaps they are overawed by the Alps and come here for scenery that's a bit less severe. Even with holiday traffic there's that sense of freedom, a feeling that simply glides you along this ride to remember.
The highpoint of the A82 is the stretch Bridge of Orchy, over Rannoch Moor through Glencoe to Ballachulish. Reverse the trip to double your pleasure. From the Bridge of Orchy the snaking black ribbon climbs rapidly as the Moor opens out before you. 1000 metre peaks fence in the vast, intimidating bog. Don't hang about as it could be Scotland's own Area 51. Lean and flow quicksilver across the elevated expanse of peat and rock. The Three Sisters wait to swallow you into fast approaching valley. As the sides begin to loom now you ease off. The roadside crash barriers give away the vital sign. Find your religon and pray to the great god Michelin as the clear opening bends invite you and your bike to shine. You're bathed in stunning landscape with heather, bracken and conifers partially clothing the huge great lumps of towering rock. Fresh mountain air and that immense feeling that the bike is part of the road. That big grin creeps over your face and sets hard.
This is perfect for that long get-away-from-it-all weekend. A chance to clear the lungs and recharge the head. Whether you're a bumbag or tank bag or full panier kit biker there's no problem finding a place to kip & scoff as the area is dotted with B&Bs, guest houses, hotels and hostels and of course - campsites. Grab petrol at any one of a number of modern or quaint stations. This is where they make Scotch Mist so check with Bill Giles first. The Ballachulish Hotel and The Kingshouse Hotel afford more comfort than most around here - and the Youth Hostel in Glencoe is spot on. The Clachaig Inn serves good food and decent ales - but won't serve Campbells!
In Glencoe stands a stone cross to commemorate the MacDonald's massacre by the Campbells. Down the road in South Ballachulish is a monument to James Stewart who was wrongly hanged for his alleged part in the massacre. If the tales of blood, guts and betrayal in the Visitor Centre don't put you off your food then head for the Fish & Chip caravan or local Spar. The Thunderace's brakes are tested just once as a deer bounded into the road - at least the flat cap in the Volvo is half predictable. After all this is sheep and deer country. It's also skiing country - either the dry or the snowy variety - we could try anything once. Whisky distilleries are scattered here and there to tempt you once the bike is tucked up safely.
Once you head has cleared the A82 has tributaries that each in turn lead to something special. And for my next trip... Wonder up to Ben Nevis or nip over the Corran Ferry to Strontian & Ardnamuchan? Twist down the A828 to Oban and perhaps a ferry to Ireland? Whistle up the A87 over the sea to Skye or catch the A830 to Mallaig? The strange roundabout at Ballachulish could prompt a few circles whilst you decide which way to go. Sod it! Let's go back up the glen just one more time.
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