| 1. This is a hard road route, mainly on R class roads, where one stretch of road should be avoided.
You leave Baldoyle on Grange Road and head for the Malahide Road, R107.
You pass Malahide Castle, which is a beautiful spot for a stroll or picnic, but its better to stop on the way back.
You then head into Swords and out on the R127 and R132 to Balbriggan. but I have to warn you about the state of the roads.
The road from the turn to Donabate up to Balbriggan, R132, is the worst stretch of road I have ever been on, and never intend to go on again. There are potholes, broken glass, roadkill, mad truck drivers, you name it this stretch of road has it. Never again.
I learnt that I should have turned at Blakes Cross for Rush, R127. Anyway I got in to Balbriggan and stopped at a garage to refuel (Bananas, hot coffee and a Mars bar). There are lots of small cafes and pubs to rest up in, but with time not on my side and dark threatning clouds, I headed out the Skerries coast road, R127. This road brings you into Skerries and then on the R128 to Rush. This is a great stretch of coast road, with lovely seaviews. You can stop in Rush sitting on a bench overlooking the beach. Again there are lots of bars and cafes. Head back on to the old M1, R128 and R127, back into Swords Malahide. In Malahide you will find a beautiful castle, shops, bars {I recommend Gibneys, where there is irish music, guinness, but not cheap}, a marina,and a assortment of celebs. These include Ronan Keating, Cecelia Ahearn and Nickey Byrne (Westlife) to name but a few. You then head out possibly the nicest stretch of coast road in Ireland, from Malahide to Baldoyle, R106. You leave Malahide passing The Grand Hotel, and the views of Lambay Island, Irelands Eye and Howth, on a clear day, are breathtaking. You pass Portmarnock Beach, a two mile stretch of strand, where a hundred years ago one of the first flights took off. You will also find a monument of a huge globe pointing to the North Star. Then its into Baldoyle and a pint of stout in Graingers (best on the northside). Here you can sit outside with your tipple of choice and plan your next days route on the peddles. |