Here is a bit more information about the Ballymoney Run on 12 April.
The run will leave Logan’s which is on the A26 Frosses Road, near Cloughmills. Logan’s is a great shop and has a very good restaurant So get there early and have a fry up or a cup of coffee - or just browse around the shop.
We will be leaving at 11:00 am sharp and heading into the Antrim hills before heading towards Armoy. We will be going cross country to the Dark Hedges. If you have never been to the Dark Hedges before it’s worth coming on the run for this alone. The Dark Hedges are famous across the world and people visit Northern Ireland just to see them. However, many people in a Northern Ireland know nothing about them or where they are.
When we leave the Dark Hedges we will be going to Bushmills via the back roads. The plan is to have lunch at Creative Gardens which is just outside the town. The Garden Centre has a great restaurant so feel free to have a sandwich or something more substantial. We decided not to include a formal picnic stop as part of the run as the weather in April is likely to be even more unpredictable than later months. However, there are some outside tables and the owners of the garden centre won’t mind if a few wish to picnic. The garden centre is also worth a browse.
When we leave the garden centre we will be heading towards Portrush via the back roads. We will join the NW200 circuit at Magheraboy and follow this through to Portstewart and Coleraine.
From Coleraine we head down the Bann valley and, time permitting, have a P stop at Drumaheglis Marina. We then head into Ballymoney where we are planning a visit to the Town Hall where there is a motorcycling exhibition to coincide with the NW200. We are hoping that the Council will provide a cuppa. If that’s not for you then you could always hit the shops. According to Anne, Ballymoney is the place to come if you need a scarf, handbag or wheelbarrow!
When we leave Ballymoney we return to the Bann and have a run down to Rasharkin before returning to where we started. We are planning to have high tea at Drumadoon House which is just across the road from Logan’s.
Hopefully we have something for everyone. Culture, ancient history, folklore, natural beauty, great scenery, good food, motor cycle road racing, local legends, roads never experienced before, for those that bring their dogs on runs, the Dark Hedges will seem like doggie heaven, great company and of course - the cars. What’s not to like?
Robert & Anne