North Polar Challenge |
| Location: Mountain Bike routes Inishowen Grade: D - Length: 22m |
| First ascent: AT |
| Route Description: |
| Inishowen, Co Donegal. Map OS 1:50,000 Sheet 3 The Ride Containing an unusually large amount (for Ireland) of non tarmac biking, and great views, this route is a real cracker! In effect it is a largely “off road” circuit of the distinctive Bulbin Hill, visiting remote communities tucked away amongst spectacular mountain scenery. The North Pole Bar is the hub of a very active cycling club based at Drumfries, (evidenced by the many “Cyclists” Signs thereabouts!). It is also the start (or finish) of the ‘Irish Polar Challenge’, a bike ride connecting this establishment with Tom Crean’s South Pole Bar on the Dingle Peninsula, Co.Kerry. If open, stop for a pint, coffee or whatever! There is also the community run Slieve Snaght Centre which provides snacks and even a shower (when open). Terrain. Mainly gravel and bog tracks. One ‘off-track’descent of a hillside. Time 3 hours; Distance 22 Kilometres; Ascent 500m. Approach. Through Derry/Londonderry and Buncrana to Drumfries, on the Clonmany/Carndonagh Road (R238). Route. Start at the North Pole Bar, Drumfries, on the Buncrana to Carndonagh road (Sheet 3, Gr C 385 390) on Inishowen. Follow to R244 towards Carndonagh but after barely 100m, leave it, keeping right, up a minor road,straight up a hill. Through a couple of gates, the road becomes un tarred track, bypassing on its right, the volcanic plug of Barnanmore. After 3 km, at Gr C 410 419, dog leg left and rejoin the R244. Turn left and immediately right, skirt the shore of L.Fada, and descend to join the Clonmany road. Turn left at Gr C 388 448, onto a more minor parallel road, and first left again onto a narrow lane. The first lane on the right is a dead end, but take the second at Gortnamona, keep left at a fork to a minor T junction. Right, then left at a fork, towards the striking hill of Bulbin. After about 1.5 Km at Gr C 367 436, turn right along a lane, and go left up the track that climbs along the SW slopes of the mountain. Just beyond the high point at Gr C 352 414, a track branches left out along the spur. This is rough and muddy but very cyclable. At its end, a rutted turf track descends towards the valley. Take this, and follow tractor tracks southwards and down hill, avoiding turf banks and the odd swamp, to join the main track that crosses this remote mountain side. (Perhaps not so remote with the big wind farm just beyond the track!). Turn left, try to ignore the fly tipping, and after 1.5 km, just after the track swings right, turn left and descend steeply back onto the R286 Buncrana to Clonmany road. A 2 kilometre pedal will bring you back to the North Pole at Drumfries. |
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Route Number: 3379