Visor Down: Motorcycling around Ards and North Down

Who: Motorcyclists – individual or a motorcycle club.

Where: The stunning coastal roads of the Ards Peninsula and Strangford Lough make the picture perfect route, with lots of choices for stop offs and refiling the both bike and the rider.

Duration: 1 day (but can be extended to 2 days with attractions visits, tours and an overnight stay)

Explore the coastal gems of Ards and North Down on a motorbike

This day tour leads you from Belfast through the North Down Coast, onward to the tip of the Ards Peninsula, Portaferry and back via the shores of Strangford Lough to Newtownards.

The tour is of course adaptable and you can choose to commence the tour from the Portaferry via the Strangford gateway.

Itinerary

9:00 Travelling from Belfast to Bangor

If you are travelling from Belfast, the best two options are to follow either the A2 from Belfast around the coastline, through Holywood (small, picturesque town with busy high street, pubs, restaurants and cafes, and accessible beaches), past Cultra, home to the Ulster Transport Museum which houses a superb exhibition in their 'Driven Gallery' of bikes from the 1970s to the 2010s, driven by stars Joey Dunlop, Robert Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar, Philip McCallen and more.

Onwards, travel through Helen’s Bay (beach car park, public toilets), Crawfordsburn (beach and country park stop with café and public toilets) and Bangor (city with marina, castle gardens, places of hospitality and entertainment) – all marvellous places for a short stop at the coast.

Or, via East Belfast – Belmont roundabout and up the B170 - over Craigantlet. This route will take you up a steep hill, providing beautiful views of the landscape – Strangford lough, an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and as far as the Mourne mountains on a clear day. 

Follow the road which will take you past a couple of opportunities to stop - firstly, Cairn Wood (car park with public toilet), continuing on towards Bangor, the road will lead to the second opportunity, just a few minutes down the road, via the Crawfordsburn Road junction, which take you to the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel and their renowned restaurant, the Coq and Bull - a perfect breakfast spot.

To continue to the Bangor, continue your journey on to the A2 which will take you on a straight run to the Marina, through the city centre.

9.30  Arrive Bangor Marina

The Marina car park and promenade area makes for a good meeting point with other bikers where you have access to lots of cafes and eateries, to refuel the body, have a chat, and there are public toilets located beside the marina.

Be sure to stop into Bangor Visitor Information Centre located at the historic Tower House, near Eisenhower Pier, for additional guidance on scenic spots and viewpoints worth noting, to help you make the most of your ride out. 

10:00  From Bangor to Portaferry

Ride alongside the coast – Seacliff Road, Ballyholme, onto the Bangor Road towards picturesque Groomsport with its small harbour, local pub and public toilets. 

Next stop is Donaghadee, otherwise recognisable as ‘Port Devine’ of BBC One's Hope Street, with an iconic lighthouse, harbour, busy traditional highstreet shops, eateries and Copeland Distillery.

Burr

Burr Point sculpture by Ned Jackson-Smyth

Exposed to the salty air from the Irish sea, facing east, you are at the starting point of long stretch of beaches, rocky but flat coastline, green countryside with fields and hedgerows between small coastal villages, hidden holiday caravan parks and old stony churches.

Next stop, Burr Point (Ballyhalbert) is the most easterly point of the island of Ireland, good for a short stop and rest (coastline, public toilets, good car park).

If you are happy to ride on a windy narrow country road; a longer way to reach Portaferry, which certainly makes for a most scenic one, is to take the turn in Cloughey for Kearney Village (whitewashed traditional cottages owned by the National Trust). 

Further down is the St. Cooey’s Wells (a place of pilgrimage, with a holy well, penance stone, fairy tree).

Or, take the easier road to Portaferry via the A2 road through the inland.

13:00  Lunch in Portaferry

Whichever route you chose, Portaferry will be a welcome stop. Park your bike alongside the Shore Road and relax taking the magnificent views in, watch the ferry coming and going, wrestling with the strong currents. You might even spot a dolphin or seal! The shore is home to a hotel, pubs, restaurants with outdoor space and benches to sit on.

This large village, alongside Strangford village which sits across Strangford Lough from Portaferry, create the mouth of the Lough where the sea water gushes in and out from the largest sea water inlet in Ireland and The British Isles.

14:30  Heading North, taking in the sights before dinner

The Strangford Lough Ferry provides the opportunity of two routes to consider taking to continue your jurney of exploration. Decision time… to cross or not to cross… ?

Crossing over, allows you a longer run and the opportunity to ‘lap the Lough’ and continue up around the other side of the Strangford Lough skirting Downpatrick, through the picturesque village of Killyleagh and up to Killinchy, via Comber to Newtownards.

Or, stay on the Ards Peninsula, take the Portaferry Road towards Kircubbin, perhaps calling at Echlinville Distillery for a tour or a cuppa in the Distiller’s Rest before heading through Greyabbey, a rustic village, home to a Medieval Monastery, boutique shops, and eateries. Another place to visit is the beautiful National Trust property, Mount Stewart House and Gardens for a wander or tour. Keep going, and you will come across Cunningburn Picnic Area, a good rest stop (toilets, good parking, views), before reaching vibrant Newtownards town for a dinner in one of the many restaurants and pubs on offer.

19:30  Scrabo Tower

If the Northern Irish weather allows, watch a magnificent sunset from the foot of Scrabo Tower. Ride is quite steep, ensure safe manoeuvring on the car parks especially when leaving. The short walk up the Scrabo is also a bit hilly, but doable in your biking gear.

Extend your stay

To extend your visit, why not book into accommodation in Portaferry, the half way point of the itinerary, catch a show in The Portico of Ards, visit Northern Ireland's only aquarium and seal sanctuary, Exploris, and enjoy the relaxing pubs and eateries in the town before making the return journey.

Contact our local Visitor Information Centre team in Bangor or Newtownards for accommodation options or go online visitardsandnorthdown.com/accommodation.

Enjoy the ride!