Plantation Road

The hills of Drumsurn, on the outskirts of Limavady, act as a bit of a no-man’s land between the two cycling playgrounds of Binevenagh and the Sperrins. And it’s slap bang in the middle of this undulating terrain that you find the punchy Plantation Road.

Wind your way out of Garvagh, and stay on the same road (Limavady Road) following signs for Dungiven. Before long everything straightens out and you’ll see it loom into view up ahead. The first time you catch sight of it, it will momentarily take your breath away. Thankfully there’s a good run up to it so you’ll have plenty of time – as the road rolls gently – to make sure you’re sitting in a sensible gear beforehand.

But when it arrives, it shoots up. So you can’t really save your effort for later. The one positive is that you know what you’re aiming for. There aren’t any twists or turns to leave you second guessing. If you’re able to crane your neck upwards for long enough, the peak is right there in front of you in the middle of the trees. It just takes a lifetime to arrive!