Cycling to Ireland, Travels Round Northern Ireland

I’d never been to Ireland before and so Siobhan and I decided to cycle there. I’d convinced S to buy a bike for commuting in London and now I had the chance to introduce her to cycle touring.

I planned a route and I got my dad to drive us to Tamworth to miss out the first bit in the midlands. Then we made our way via smaller roads through Staffordshire towns and villages into Wales, to Llangollen and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and onward to Anglesey.

At Anglesey we got the ferry over to Ireland, took the train up to Newry. We visited the Carlingford Lough, the Mourne Mountains and then drove over to Donegal.

That area feels like one of the most ancient and special places I’ve ever visited because it feels remote and the landscape is familiar but slightly different and adventurous.

• Ireland