Bike
MTB
The Top 7 MTB destinations in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is fast becoming a bright star on the map of top MTB destinations, one that shouldn’t be overlooked. That next bike holiday might be closer to home than you think.
Part of this story
When you think of MTB destinations you think of the Alps, Spain, Whistler, maybe even Scotland or Wales but if you look much closer to home there are a wealth of World class trail centres in Northern Ireland offering a little something for everyone.
"It's super easy as there are so many trail centres in Ireland now [and] many great ones up North," says Irish downhill star Ronan Dunne, who has just enjoyed his best season yet. "The best way is to go to these places and rent a bike for a day.... and if you really get hooked you won't look back. Rent a bike, have a bit of craic, see how you get on. There are so many trails everywhere and they're all getting up to standard now, they’re pretty amazing tracks, which is pretty sick."
6 top tips to improve your uphill riding
When have decided where to head in Northern Ireland your first port of call should be the excellent Mountain Bike NI website which has a wealth of information and can tell you whether a certain trail is suitable for your abilities.
"Mountain biking in Northern Ireland has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years,” says Ethan Loughrey of Mountain Bike NI. “Our trails offer a huge variety - from gentle greens and blues to challenging reds and blacks - they cater to every type of rider. Whether you're after flowy singletracks, technical descents, fast downhills, or heart racing rock drops, Northern Ireland has it all."
So then, what's stopping you? Go forth and test your mettle in the great outdoors, starting with these home favourites...
01
Rostrevor, County Down
Rostrevor MTB trails.jpg
© Mountain Bike NI
First up is the jewel in the crown - Rostrevor on the shores of Carlingford Lough. Along with sweeping views over Mourne Mountains and Carlingford Lough, it’s the biggest trails centre with several excellent loops including a 27km Red loop, a 19km Black loop and two downhill runs (one jump orientated, one more natural) that are served by uplifts. The trails are fantastic with stunning views (check out Kodak corner) as you climb up to the high point (also the start of Red Bull Foxhunt) before plunging down some fantastic winding single track on the run back into the trail centre. The climb is broken into sections which makes it more fun than it should be. The descents will get your heart racing with a good range of technical ability in all weather conditions. There’s on-site camping and an excellent cafe for refuelling. This is an excellent base for a weekend getaway with some top accommodation options nearby ranging from self-catering cabins to beautiful hotels – none of which are afraid of muddy bikers. To give you a taste of the trail, watch this video of Claudio Caluori tearing it up.
Where to hire a bike: Rostrevor now has resumed doing bike hire and uplift via BikeMourne.
How to get there: Click here
A beginner's guide to cycling that might change your life
02
Castlewellan, County Down
Castlewellan
© Mountain Bike NI
Next up is Castlewellan. An old favourite for years on the XC circuit, the trails wind their way around a lake, up the Beleevnamore Mountain and back down again, taking in some excellent single track laced with rock drops, superb slab, berms and rock drops. With 19km of trail options, the Red route has something for everyone (it's flowly but technical), while two Black options spice it up even more should you want a challenge. Elsewhere, a family-friendly Green route will let you loop the lake with ease, and a Blue graded trail along with a pump track offers the perfect way to end a day out if you have any energy left. And don’t let the elevation fool you on many of the flatter areas – there is plenty of climbing to be found the deeper you go. It’s one of the most popular MTB locations in Northern Ireland for good reason. Give it a go.
Where to hire a bike: Bike hire is available at Castlewellan's Life Adventure Centre.
How to get there: Click here
How Ronan Dunne rewired his mind to reach insane speeds
03
Davagh, County Tyrone
Davagh Forest Trails
© Mountain Bike NI
Around six miles northwest of Cookstown nestled among the Sperrin mountains, Davagh regularly hosts Enduro races and boasts a good mix of terrain and features (climbing switchback, technical insides, rock rolls, drops offs, rock causeway, log rides) without a large amount of climbing. If you’re relatively new to mountain biking this is a good place to start. It's worth the trip alone to sample a 16km red route with memorable rock slabs, with a 7.5km Blue loop and pleasant 3km Green loop also well worth a ride. Word to the wise: there’s also a very nice pump track where riders can refine their balance with a mixture of rollers and berms. There’s nothing like a weekend away to improve your skills. Just keep an eye out for walkers on the green trail who are permitted access in the opposite direction to cyclists. In addition to all that, Davagh Forest has glamping pods available to book, as well as a new Dark Sky Park and Observatory to make the most of, too.
Where to hire a bike: Sperrin Bike Hire
How to get there: Click here
Greg Callaghan’s guide to the best MTB trails in Ireland
04
Blessingbourne, Country Tyrone
Blessingbourne
© Mountain Bike NI
A blessing indeed: from the mind of Architrail’s Phil Saxena, who also designed trails for 2008’s Beijing Olympics and the Downhill World Cup, this set of sprawling 16km routes etched into the grounds of the Blessingbourne private estate close to Enniskillen are a must-try for MTB riders. Whether it’s the tricky red and black trails to get the pulse racing, or the more easy-going blue trails to simply go with the flow, you'll want to go for hours on these loops. And if you’re really working up a sweat, fear not about trudging back to the car park and making your way home – there are luxury lodgings on site, providing the perfect excuse to do it all again the following day.
Where to hire a bike: Estate management have a wealth of mountain bike types available from the trailhead at Blessingbourne.
How to get there: Click here
9 powerful benefits of mountain biking
05
Barnett Demesne, Belfast
Barnetts Demesne Mountain Bike Trail
© Outdoor NI
The location – a mere (bunny)hop, skip and jump from Belfast City Centre – is a real boon for this top-class trails hub, Barnett Demesne. Tourists can tack a day on the bike here onto any city break, while locals have the perfect excuse to enjoy nature and test their limits on two wheels whenever they like. Packing a punch, it really makes the most of having a small space by adding sections of Red trail onto Blue and Green routes. For those looking for a challenge, Serpentine is the longest red option and is packed with surprises on a twisty and technical singletrack. Lose your Barnett, meanwhile, can be directly linked the former trail and will keep riders on their toes. At Ireland's first official purpose-built jumps park you’ll also find six lines of tabletops, doubles and hip jumps. Best of all, with Lagan Towpath in close proximity and rideable from the centre, there's the option for even more scenery to enjoy from behind the handlebars once you've bossed the trails.
Where to hire a bike: Riders can hire a bike from £39.50 (plus drop off) from BikeMourne.
How to get there: Click here
Everything you need to know about downhill MTB racing
06
Gortin Glen Forest Park, County Tyrone
If you want a view every bit as breathless as you’ll be after pedalling 14km of flowy trails, look no further than Gortin Glen Forest, where you can soak in mountainous views of The Sperrins. But not without a bit of legwork first. There’s a rich tapestry of tracks here, including a looped blue trail with a gradual climb, and a linear red route which will sap your leg strength with the Mullaghcarn ascent, before dropping you onto The Mountain, a riveting series of curves, berms and switchbacks sure to take those who are ‘economical’ with the brakes into some seriously fast terrain. By far one of the most beautiful places to pedal around in the country, you'll be channelling your inner Ronan Dunne in no time.
Where to hire a bike: Riders can hire a bike from £39.50 (plus drop off) from BikeMourne.
How to get there: Click here
How to better absorb shocks in downhill mountain biking
07
Gosford Park, Armagh
If you’re lacking experience and still looking to go up the gears in MTB, why not pay a trip to this bustling woodland paradise close to Markethill? Nestled in 240 acres of forest and teeming with wildflowers and red deer – there are adventures to be had on foot, on bike or even on horseback around Gosford Park. MTB-wise, the majority of its trails are perfect for rookie mountain bikers. Wider and gentler on the bike than many of those trails listed above, you needn't worry about steep rock faces or looking over your shoulder for faster riders on any of these routes. The Blue trail alone has 11km of fun turns and stunning nature, and over on the much shorter red trail, there are enough technical parts to keep things exciting for seasoned riders, it's not too taxing. Once you've finished for the day there's a nice cafe in the the area (Barista Express) and plenty of photo opportunities to be had at Gosford Castle, which you may have seen pop up in Game of Thrones. Oh, and don't forget to dress appropriately whichever trails hotspot you visit – winter is coming.
Where to hire a bike: There are no options in the area at the moment.
How to get there: Click here
Part of this story
