Vanishing Lake

Before you get to the top and tell us you can’t see any lake, time for a disclaimer.

That is the whole point.

Some days you’ll reach the summit and find a beautiful, still lake. Other days, it might just look the same as any old field.

Loughareema, also known as the Vanishing Lake, lies on top of the lump in the landscape between Cushendall and Ballycastle – and it’s the approach from the Ballycastle side that makes our list.

Starting off near the old ruins of Bonamargy Friary, you’ll tackle a steady incline up to the village of Ballyvoy, and pass a handful of farms in the open countryside until the tall trees of Ballypatrick Forest gather around you.

Keep pushing and you’ll emerge out on to the other side for the exposed finale, with all manners of wicked crosswinds whipping around you. The worst of the climbing is now behind you, and you can start to picture the finish line.

Eventually the lake appears on your left, with three streams flowing into it and a sink at the base to mysteriously drain all the water back out again. More often than not it’s covered in a thick blanket of fog, which adds to the otherworldly feel of the place.

It might be spectacular when you get there. It might not. Nice cycle, either way.

The pros of the Giro d'Italia conquered this climb on day 2 of the event in 2014 when Northern Ireland hosted the opening 3 stages. You can watch the breakaway battle it out at the summit for the KOM points here on a day where the vanishing lake was very visible!