Organiser: Kevin O’Sullivan
Address: Dromcarrig, Roxborough, Midleton, Co. Cork.
Entry Fee: €5 (download Event Entry Form). CI license required.
Closing Date: 16th March 2011
Start Point: Midleton (carpark next to Supervalu)
Start Time: 8am, Saturday 26th March 2011
Facilities: Parking and supermarket at the start.
Starting off with a flat section and a bit of island hopping from Fota and onto Great Island we take the ferry to Glenbrook onto Monkstown and continue on the flat to Carrigaline. From here it starts to gently roll. The first major town on the route is Kinsale – the Gourmet Capital of Ireland. Along the Pier Road past the yacht club and marina gives a good view of the harbour with Charles Fort on the left and James’ Fort on the right. Should you wish to stop for coffee/breakfast Vista on the Pier Road would be a recommendation. A little outside the town the Blackwater is crossed and some more gently rolling countryside awaits. On the approach to Ballinspittle you will pass the famous moving statue before hitting the village itself. Again, coffee is an option at Diva. After leaving Ballinspittle the route heads through Harbour View and past “The Pink Elephant” where you will get a good view of your upcoming control at Courtmacsherry across the water. First of all you will need to enjoy the coast hugging flat section through Timoleague and around to Courtmacsherry itself. This last tour of Ireland used this section from Timoleague to Kinsale on the last stage – the one Armstrong didn’t finish!!!
Clonakilty is the next major town to be visited via a predominantly coastal route through Butlerstown, Dunworly, Grange and Ring. Again Clon has a number of suitable stops for coffee. Hart’s midway on the main street is my favourite although the Super Valu at the east end of the town was also rated highly by those on the PE 200 and Borlinn 300 last year. After passing through the town the route starts to head in a northerly direction through Enniskean, Poulanagrid and down to Lissarda. This is the hilliest section of the route and the highest point is achieved during this stretch. On a clear day stunning views of mountains and the Lee reservoir make it all worthwhile. Should you feel the need for more coffee then a slight detour (eastwards) of 1.5km to the Crows Nest would be worthwhile. The reservoir is crossed by the national rowing centre a few km south of Coachford which, will serve as the next control. Continuing north from coachford for a few km we start to head east through Berrings and onto Blarney. From here it starts to roll again as we stay north of Cork City before descending rapidly into Glanmire and onto Riverstown. Having turned east from Riverstown we start the last climb of the day. A gently enough affair on a good day. Having crested the climb it is essentially downhill through Leamlara and onto Midleton to make plans for the Borlinn 300….
