Anyone on here live and ride in NI? I travel there regularly for work and to see my girlfriend and have been riding the trails at Castlewellan, Rostrevor and Barnetts Demesne. Still to get to Davagh but if it’s like the others, it should be good.

I live in Peebles so I’m pretty spoilt for all types of trail so didn’t have high expectations for the NI trails as they are blue/red trailcentres. I’ve been riding a lot more natural stuff after the Tweedlove enduro but these NI trailcentres are great especially Barnetts, its like a big pump track in the forest. Short, tight, twisty and only 15 mins form the city.

I can’t wait to get back next week.

The local forum for NI is http://www.mtbrider.com/forum.php

Worth a look on there. Sounds like your riding at the main spots. If you want somewhere in Belfast then Cavehill is also quite good.

Thanks for the link. dhrider, I’ll head over there now.

My office is in Newtonabbey so have been to Cavehill a couple of times. Good descents.

This is a decent site that covers all over Ireland, so you can plan some different days out.
http://www.trailbadger.com/
Hope this helps.

Lead mines/Helen’s tower is a good spot for a few hours if its been dry for a while, it’s between newtownards & Bangor.

I take it you have looped over to belvoir while at barnetts?

Tollymore is a good spot for natural stuff, near castlewellan which is pointless at the minute as they are felling diseased trees 🙁

I am based in Belfast and the Barnett Demesne trails are really good for a short blast if you are visiting the city. Here is the official website – http://www.mountainbikeni.com/

I haven’t been yet – but a few friends have said the Rostrevor trails are pretty amazing. Here are a few videos off youtube (not me) to give you a taster. https://www.youtube.com/user/honchoNI/videos

Its also worthwhile checking the dirt jumps at Barnett Demesne as they are pretty immense!

For more natural trails try tollymore in Newcastle or Bigwood just outside Newry these are “natural” trails and not your trail centre groomed trails as in Rostrevor and Castlewellan (those trails are awesome but can be very crowded especially at weekends)

Cheers folks. I’ve been down to Tollymore once but was with some DH riders so didn’t find the best of the trails. I’ll need to head back down there soon.

Is Castlewellan a no go at the moment then? Heading over for 2 weeks to see the in-laws on 9 July and want to get to as many as possible while I’m there. Davagh is not far from where my wife’s house is in Moneymore and Rostrevor looks good fun.

Castlewellan is partially closed due to tree disease & felling of same. Updated route is available on the mountainbikeni website I think.

Davagh is definitely worth a look if you’re in the vicinity, but bring your climbing legs for the opening section. Some brilliant descents make a 2nd lap well worthwhile though 🙂