The road that defies gravity

BBC Autos invited the actor, director, travel writer and Ireland devotee to pick his favourite Emerald Isle road trips.

The Magic Road. A road that defies gravity. It’s said that a car left in neutral will roll up hill of its own accord. It couldn’t be true…even in Ireland.

A fool’s errand such as this should only be undertaken in the proper vehicle. I chose a 1976 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE named Martha.

The Magic Road doesn’t appear on any map, but rumor said I should go north. I eased Martha onto the M1 from Dublin. At Dundalk I swung east out toward Carlingford. I asked anyone I could find — many looked at me as if I was mad. Others had heard of it, one even claimed to have driven it — but couldn’t remember exactly where it was. I followed my nose, turning down narrow, hedge bound lanes. I got lost. I grew frustrated and almost gave up.

Then, suddenly…