Is the best road in Newry the road out of it?

As champions of Newry us lot at Newry.ie can get a little bit paranoid at times with some things noticed by our 'highly tuned' brains that others might not even think of. 

The latest batch of paranoia came when we got a copy of the beautifully produced cycling leaflet "10 Magnificent Cycling Routes Through the Region" from Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion. Now as you know I certainly love my cycling. It is one of the best ways to clear the head and keep you positive. Basically anything that encourages more people to take to two wheels has to be applauded.

It was produced back in 2018 but little has changed in the region cycling wise since then. The tourism leaflet gives great background detail and includes a very useful map of each of the 10 routes. Two of the routes are Newry connected but here's the rub .... yes I'm getting more paranoid as I write this ... Eight out of the ten routes encompassing the district start and finish in the same spot (a very useful idea really) while two don't. Which two - Yes you guessed it - The two Newry ones! The first one starts in Newry and finishes in Slieve Gullion and the second one starts in Newry and finishes in Portadown! - Not even in the district that Mourne Mountains and Ring of Gullion serve!

Is the best road in Newry the road out of it?

A not so subliminal message that if you are planning on going on a cycling spin in Newry to see the sights, the best thing you could do is get to h*** out of there! Yes the Newry Canal Towpath which one of the routes take is a fantastic facility and I'd recommend anyone to cycle on it, but even if the leaflet had mentioned that the intrepid tourist could get a train back to Newry it might have helped my paranoia a little. Surely the best road in our city isn't the road out of it?

The eight routes start from Newcastle, Finnis, Castlewellan, Rostrevor, Mullaghbane and Kilkeel and are all highly recommended and you're back from where you left no doubt with renewed vigour for life a few hours after departing. A total of three of the routes start and finish in Kilkeel, with participants spending their money in the fishing town before they leave and after they return. No such luck in Newry! 

The leaflet is a wonderful idea and I salute those who painstakingly put it together. A great idea to promote cycling throughout Newry, Mourne and Down but please get us back to Newry.