Castle Ward MTB Trails Open to the Public

21 June 2011

20km of new trails open on 25 June 2011!

More on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=218603454829299

Like buses and policemen, NI Trail centre openings seem to come along in 2s - first Blessingbourne and now Castle Ward Demesne. Having ridden these trails recently by invitation I can thoroughly recommend them if you like your tight, twisty and flowing single track - there's simply miles of it.

This new trail network is a flagship product for the National Trust and is the largest recreational project that has ever been undertake...n by them in the UK. These trails are set to make Castle Ward one of the best outdoor recreation venues in Northern Ireland.

The trails were designed by renowned trail designer Dafydd Davis MBE who says that with a unique mix of rural farmland and forests set within the stunning backdrop of Strangford Lough, Castle Ward is simply breathtaking.

The design and construction of the trails has been funded through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s Tourism Development Scheme, Down District Council, The National Trust and The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas programme. The trails are fully waymarked and there is also a bike wash on site. Café facilities and bike hire, including 2 KHS tandem bicycles are also available.

Normal Castle Ward entry times and entry fees apply ( at the minute ;-) ).

NOTE: The trails on this site have been ridden before, but you should not interpret their inclusion as an indication that mountain-biking is officially sanctioned on them. Seeking permission from landowners is your own responsibility, as is conducting yourself in a manner that is courteous, respectful to the environment, and conscious of the safety of others.