Riding in Northern Ireland

Off to NI for the New Year and planning to take the bike. Can anyone recommend some decent trails? We’ll be staying on the north coast near Ballycastle. Ta.

http://www.trailbadger.com/ is probably your best bet.

how far do you want to travel?

Try http://www.mtbrider.com/content.php

Bigwood is superb and recently held an Enduro event it is just outside Newry you can make a full day of it and have a break for some lunch plenty of locals will show you round.

Thanks folks, much appreciated, that gives me somewhere to start.

Trailbadger is a great wee site for finding somewhere close but if you want to sample the best riding in the country, you’ll be wanting to head to the Mournes in Co. Down. It’s a 2 hour+ drive, but trust me, it’ll be worth it. 😀

What type of riding are you looking for, and what bike?

Don’t know that there is much up the north coast, stick a wee post on mtbrider and ask, davagh (cookstown) is being made into a trail centre but has decent existing trails.

If your heading south, tollymore forest park is great (Newcastle) depending on which day you free I could show you around there.

As said before bigwood is running well at the mo, all good natural trails in quite a small area.

There is a large get together there on the Sunday after Christmas you could tag along with

You need to head for Donegal and, Glenveagh national park ,its about 1 and a 1/2 hours from Ballycastle, otherwise there is some cracking moorland above Downhill/Benone and the moors of Limavady 20 mins away .Im afraid there is some cracking senery but elevation is limited to Donegal side of Loch Foyle where you are ,but its worth a venture over ther foyle from Magilliagans Point to Donegal but remember you are then in the south(technically) and they are all boney arsed bog men!(probably) 😉

Trailbadger as mentioned before. They used to run DH races in Coolaveely (sp?) forest near Ballycastle. Binevenagh (aka Ballycarton) between Castlerock and Limavady is fairly close, and has a stunning trail off Binevenagh lake down into Ballycarton forest. Further south, Garvagh has some trails in the forest there, Belfast has Cavehill (scene of the recent Red bull Foxhunt event) and Belvoir forest (Belvoir is pretty boggy).

The mournes have the best riding, Tollymore and Donard near Newcastle, Castlewellan for some xc stuff, and Rostrevor for a good day in the hills. Bigwood is great, however it is private land but that doesn’t stop anyone, just be careful if they are shooting in there. Post on MTBrider and get a local guide, the best way to find the best places.

Same question as above, but will be based around Ballyclare till the 28th.

Any suggestions for something local given some of the local forests closed due to tree disease(according to trail badger)?

Given family commitments, I will probably only have one day to explore on the 26th most likely. Any suggestions for an introduction to Norn Ireland trails?(Live in Innerleithen, something along the same lines would be ideal)

Ps Would be bringing a fully coiled Nukeproof Mega or singlespeed c456 depending on recomendations

re Bigwood there is no more shooting in there, the gun club have vacated it so it is for mtb and walkers only now.

thv3 – Member
Same question as above, but will be based around Ballyclare..Live in Innerleithen, something along the same lines would be ideal…Nukeproof Mega

You’ll be going to Cavehill, thv3. It’ll be a bit of a mess but still great fun. This might convince you, or put you off 😉

Cavehill it is then! 😀

I take it the trails will be fairly obvivious if I have a scout around? Where’s the best place to park?

This is where you want to go I go here every weekend its awesome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kUKdSsfp_c
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsAH47A2Jzc
or

I’m near Ballycastle too.
I usually head over to Garvagh Forest.
Post up on MTBRider nearer the time and there may be some rides organized

If you’re heading to Cavehill give me a shout, it’s my local and I do quite a bit of building there so could show you around! Give me shout.