Lumper's Iron Man Challenge
The 'Long Woman's Grave' Loop
AKA Lumper’s Iron Man Challenge!
This one is going to test everyone that tries it, if for no reason other than the 210m ascent to Long Woman’s Grave that you have to tackle to complete the circuit... Whichever way you navigate the loop, clockwise or anti-clockwise, your legs will be burning and your heart pumping when you reach at the top before a long descent to Jenkinstown or a steep descent to Omeath depending which way round you go…
I put a detour to Lumper’s Bar because it’s not far out of the way and you are going to need a proper recovery stop about half way. Lumper’s Bar is in Ravensdale, the other side of Slieve Foy, and is well known and used as a start point for the Táin Way hike. Lumper’s has a Facebook site where you can find more details.
Here is a suggested route:-
Easy flat riding From Carlingford to Ballagan Point. I put Templetown Beach on the route because I do love it there (which is why it is the Cover Photo). In reality, one can meander all around this part of the Cooley Peninsula – lots of lanes and a good stretch along the coast.
So after a meander on the coastal flatlands you are going to end up at the foot of Jenkinstown Hill…and one way or another, you have to get to the top of it. It is about 8km and about 210m vertical ascent. (Going the other way it is the same vertical ascent but in 3.5km – so a LOT steeper). Be careful descending into Omeath – it is bendy, tight and steep. From Omeath it is #carlingfordloughgreenway all the way back to OnYerBike at Carlingford Marina…
Going the other way, it’s #carlingfordloughgreenway then the steep hill out of Omeath. Long Woman’s Grave for a breather and then a super 8km fast descent to the R173 or a quick detour to Lumper’s…or any of the places mentioned below or any others that you find…
There are quite a number of places that you could potentially stop at (some with a minor detour from the suggested route) for a drink and snack.
The list below is not exhaustive but consider:-
- Rabelo - Carlingford Marina
- An Tain Cafe Bar - Baile Beag
- Cafe Rosa - Omeath
- Granvue - Omeath
- Howe's Bar - Omeath
- Martin's Pub - Riverstown
- Lily Finnegan's - Whitestown
And with a few detours:-
- Lumper's Bar - Ravensdale
- Fitzpartick's - Jenkinstown
- Ferguson's - Gyles Quay
- Coast & Co. - Greenore
- Greenore Co-op - Greenore
- Greenore Golf Club - Greenore
And of course, when you get to Carlingford, you have a world of choices of places to rest your weary legs and linger a while.
Very fit cyclists could do this in half a day but assuming you are not training for Ride London or some extreme Sportive, it is a decent day out that has it all.
We do NOT recommend this route for children because it is ALL ‘on the road’ biking and it is pretty arduous.
OnYerBike provides bikes, helmets, high-vis jackets and a bike lock with every hire.