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Antrim
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Antrim Hills Way
Brilliant figure of 8 loop taking in much of the Antrim Hills Way, including the excellent ridge above Sallagh Braes. Open mountain, with links on minor roads.
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Antrim Town
Mix'n'match your own route from the Antrim Castle Grounds, Rea's Wood, and the Sixmile River path.
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Ballyboley Forest
A decent amount of forest track, some single-track, and options for exploration outside the forest itself. Subject to recent extensive felling, so lots of the previous trails destroyed.
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Ballycastle / Coolaveely Forest
Rough forest tracks with some fantastically fast descents. Also a great fun grassy descent to the forest off the open mountain of Knocklayde.
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Ballycastle to Fair Head
A four to five hour loop epic taking in the fantastic views at Fair Head.
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Ballypatrick Forest
A reasonable amount of forest track and a waymarked path, but no single track known. Good tourist facilities.
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Barnett Demesne
The Barnett Demesne Trails consist of a shared-use 3.4km green trail and a 3.9km blue trail with 3 red loop options (1.5km). Good for a blast round if you're in the area. With Ireland's first official purpose-built jumps park boasting no less than 6 lines of mouth-watering table-tops, doubles and hip jumps, if you like big air, you're in the right place!
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Belfast Hills
Lots of options for a quick blast or a long epic with superb views overlooking Belfast City.
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Belfast Loop Epic
An excellent 50km+ loop taking in a lot of the best Belfast riding spots. 90% off road, with a mix of single track, urban cycle paths, forest trails and open mountain riding. Some spectacular views on a fine day.
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Belvoir Forest
Network of forest tracks provide some good riding, about 4km of built (and lots of natural) single-track, and lots of bumps and jumps in through the trees. Loads of options along towpath to Mary Peters track, where further single track and jumps can be enjoyed.
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Causeway Coast Way
Portstewart to Ballycastle along the 33-mile waymarked way, part of The Ulster Way. Lots of twisting singletrack, and more climbing than you would imagine. Superb scenery and great fun.
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Cave Hill
Lots of twisting single track descents, including several downhill trails, through the trees. Great descents off the summit to both north and south, including the fantastic "quarry trail", and some other cool stuff over on the zoo side too.
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Glenariff Forest
Some very steep climbs on forest paths, and a superb ridge ride, but riding fast downhill here is FAR TOO DANGEROUS for you and the families using the forest.
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Moyle Way
27 miles of way-marked way, following The Moyle Way section of The Ulster Way. Tremendous scenery, isolation, and the bike over the shoulder a time or two!
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Ormeau Park, Belfast
Ormeau Park is the oldest municipal park in Belfast and possesses a variety of riding from tight twisty natural singletrack to tree lined bitumen paths. There’s even a BMX track to brush up on your racing and jumping skills.
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Randalstown Forest
Forest on flat terrain on the shores of Lough Neagh, with a matrix of forest tracks, 3 way-marked routes, the World of Owls, and lots of deer. Great for a quick blast, and brilliant for young family, given the easy cycling.
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Rathlin Island
A very scenic and enjoyable 20 miles, mainly on small roads, around this gem off the North Coast. Well worth the trip. A birdwatcher's heaven, if that's your thing.
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Slieveanorra Forest
Remote in the Heart of the Antrim Plateau. Extensive forest with many kms of forest track including a good tight climb to the radio masts on the summit.
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Tardree Forest
Lots of mature singletrack through the trees, and plenty of fire-road options. Great when dry. Very enjoyable for a few hours, with flowing loops possible once you get to know the forest.
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Woodburn Forest
Network of forest tracks (13kms), with lots of short single-track loops built by local riders.
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Down
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Ballyhornan Coastal Path
Part of the Lecale Way - some fantastic scenery, reminiscent of the scenery on the north coast between PortStewart and Ballycastle. A nice grassy path, a beach, and some tricky stuff.
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Banns Road, Attical, Mournes
Double track with plenty of loose rocks in a beautiful part of the Mournes, following Banns Road to Lough Shannagh (the lake of foxes).
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BigWood, Warrenpoint
Recreation consultation currently underway in Big Wood, involving CAAN. We were getting asked all the time why BigWood was not on the site, as we used to have loads of info. The landowner at Narrow Water very courteously requested that we take the info off the site, so we removed the detail and don't have plans to promote it until the current recreation analysis is concluded.
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Cairn Wood
Plenty of height to play with, with some great singletrack and forest paths in this semi-natural deciduous forest.
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Castle Ward
Nearly 40kms of off-road multi-purpose trails for walking, cycling and horse riding are currently in development. Includes about 15km of singletrack, purpose-built for mountain-biking and designed by world-class MTB trail designers. Open to the public 25 June.
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Castlewellan Forest
With superb red (including black options), blue and green grade trails, and a pump-track, Castlewellan is a must-visit for mountain bikers of all ages and abilities. Really does have plenty for everyone.
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Donard Wood
Some tight fire road climbs and descents, and sections of single track. Some nice technical descents along the Glen River.
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Drumkeeragh / Slieve Croob
A small forest with a network of fireroads on the slopes of Slieve Croob. Rideable ponytrekking tracks at either end of the forest, otherwise mostly fire-road with limited but nice singletrack descent for about 500 meters.
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Lead Mines & Helens Tower
Lots of technical drops, rocky sections, etc in lead mines. Link with Helens Tower for a good XC loop and some nice single track. Also the now popular "Dufferin Trail" and the Sunday Breakfast Run.
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Loughmoss, Carryduff, Belfast
23 miles, some tarmac and gravel riding, but loads of fantastic off-road trails, everything from fast flowing stuff to tight and technical. About 3 hrs door-to-door, depending on levels of fitness and faffing about!
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Moneyscalp Forest
A compact forest but a number of well-trodden technical XC and downhill tracks within its perimeter. Has hosted lots of races, and was once the Mecca of Northern Ireland MTB - still lots of good stuff.
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Mourne 7 Sevens
A popular challenge on foot every August, not too many have topped the 7 mountains over 700 metres in the Mournes wielding a bicycle. A long, tough day, with plenty of carrying, but some great descents and very technical riding. Get yourself a map of the Mournes, and throw in a spare set of legs as well.
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Mournes Epics
The Mournes have lots of potential for epic rides. Any of Newcastle, Tollymore Forest, Donard Wood or Rostrevor Forest are perfect locations to start and finish.
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Mournes Trassey Track
A great launch point for a day in the Mournes, and very popular with the hiking fraternity, Trassey Track is a great climb and descent on a broad rough path - an exhilarating descent. The track itself leads up to Hare's Gap, and is also easy to link through to Tollymore.
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North Down Coastal Path
The North Down Coastal Path takes you along the south shore of Belfast Lough, past many of the scenic, historical and ecological attractions of North Down. For the most part the path follows the grassy flats just above the shoreline and is well surfaced for almost all of its 12 mile length.
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Rostrevor Forest
With a mouth watering 27km red trail and a hair raising 19km black trail Rostrevor is believed by many to be the top spot for mountain biking in Ireland. When you add not just one but two purpose-built downhill trails to the mix, there’s no denying it… Rostrevor is a mountain bikers’ heaven!
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The Mourne Way
The 26-mile long Mourne Way marries many of the best features of Mourne country. Following a mixture of forest trails, mountain paths and open mountain, this route is almost entirely off-road as it travels through the foothills of the Mournes, from Newcastle to Rostrevor (or vice versa).
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Tievenadarragh Wood
A tough, technical bike-breaker that will make you a better cyclist. Fairly short and there are not many opportunities to extend the run without laps, so good for the locals but not one to travel significant distance for.
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Tollymore Forest
Labyrinth of single track sections and fast fire-roads all throughout the forest. Has previously hosted Irish downhill championship races. Super place for a day out. Also an official skills course with approximately 1.5 km of singletrack trail, with a wide range of features, including rollers, berms, drop offs, table tops, rock sections, northshore and log rolls. The variety and size of the features ensures that there are plenty of opportunities for all bikers to develop their riding and concentrate on specific skills in a progressive manner.
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Londonderry
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Ballycarton / Binevenagh
A good sized forest providing plenty of forest track, some challenging climbs and sections of single track. A breath-taking ride along a grassy path near the cliff edge leads to nice but steep singletrack off the ridge into the forest. Has hosted Downhill races in the past, and is currently enjoying lots of work that will meet the approval of the braver amngst you!
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Ballykelly Forest
Small forest with network of forest tracks, and some singletrack loops inside and round the perimeter.
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Banagher Forest
An extensive, remote forest containing quite a few miles of forest track and the picturesque Altnaheglish Reservoir.
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Cam Forest
Plenty of fire-road tracks, with numerous loop options. Some great climbs, including one to the windmills on the top of Rigged Hill with great views. Also possible to ride a steep technical descent from the top to the west. Single track unknown.
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Castlerock Dungiven Epic
An epic of mostly forest tracks combined with occasional sections on minor roads. Possible to extend into Banagher Forest and over Mullaghmore into Glenshane Forest. A tough day's ride.
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Downhill Forest
Very easy with a few steep sections (not counting the steps!). Great for families or beginners.
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Garvagh Forest
11km of forest paths, and lots of new sections of singletrack. There are some excellent xc trails, about 1.5 to 2hrs riding to be had.
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Glenshane Forest
A limited number of forest tracks, a good climb along the Ulster Way to the southern end of the forest. From here, it is possible to follow the Ulster Way on over to Moydamlaght or strike for the summit of Mullaghmore.
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Iniscarn Forest
Superb descent off the top of Slieve Gallion, the trail zigzags down the hill before entering the forest, with twisting singletrack and jumps by the river. A very enjoyable 8-9km loop with about 400m of climbing/descending and some amazing views. Well worth a visit, it is superb stuff.
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Loughermore Forest
An expansive forest with a number of route options on the forest tracks and lots of altitude gain possible and accompanying high speed descents! Location of a former XC race, but exact location and condition of former race trails unknown.
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Mountsandel Wood
Single track, with bumps twists and bends trough trees. Some short challenging climbs but full of fun. It's a complete circuit streching round 3km so you can easily race round numerous times.
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Moydamlaght Forest
A compact forest with a waymarked trail on the southern slopes of Mullaghmore. Plenty of forest tracks to keep you busy with the gradient providing leg-burning climbs and high speed descents. Easy to combine with Banagher and/or Glenshane Forests.
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Slieve Gallion
If you have not biked on Slieve Gallion, go there! A road to the top (if you need it), lots of height, firetrack, singletrack, gravel, mud, water, open mountain, jumps, forest (Iniscarn), it's got the LOT! Superb!
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Sperrins Epic
This epic type trail is best done on a good sunny day, after a long dry period or good hard frost, as it entails crossing open mountain and some boggy sections.
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Westmeath
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Mullaghmeen Forest
Plenty of marked fire road trails but also a fair bit of single track. On the west side of the forest there's a nice descent with some jumps there as well. Good climbs up to The Cairn (highest point in Westmeath)
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Armagh
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Clare Glen
Short but fun, with a variety of jumps from one foot to eight feet, and also a road gap! If you're in the area they are definitely worth a blast.
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Craigavon Lakes
10Km of purpose-built trail around the lakes, nice twisting sections of single-track. Mostly on the flat, but great fun and well worth a visit. A good family spot.
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Gosford Forest
This 6.6 km family cycling trail is a circular route through Gosford Forest park. The trail combines forest roads with 2 short sections of singletrack. A great spot for the family.
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Slieve Gullion Forest
Some steep climbs and nice tarmac descents on the Forest Drive, most of which is one-way for cars. Also a great rough walking trail off the top of the mountain, but you need to carry your bike to the summit.
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Cork
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Ballyhooly Trail
A variety of enjoyable and technical trails including jumps and other features to entertain you. Located in the village of Ballyhooly. Well worth a visit if in the area. Approx 8km of trails in total.
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Ballyhoura MTB Centre
Ballyhoura MTB Centre is the largest mountain bike trail network on the island of Ireland with over 50km of waymarked trails. It offers world-class trails borne out by the fact it played host to the Single Speed World Championship in August 2011.
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Ballyvourney Loop
A 26km loop consisting of quiet roads, forest tracks and open mountain riding across the scenic Deerynasaggart Mountains.
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Carriganimmy
An enjoyable loop on the slopes of Mullaghanish, mostly on quiet road and forest track. Loads of options to extend or shorten this route depending on how much time and energy you’ve got.
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Clashnacrona / Dunmanway
A small compact forest that has previously hosted NPS DH races as well as XC races.
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Nagles Mountains
A variety of great routes across the Nagles Mountains north of Cork. Loads of options, most riding is on stony double track so rideable in all weathers. Very enjoyable with some good challenges in places.
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Sheeps Head Loop
A fantastic loop on Sheeps Head Peninsula in the most SW of Ireland. Stunning views all round and many route choices depending on whether you fancy the quiet roads or the more adventurous walking trails (weather permitting).
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Donegal
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All of Coastal Donegal
Donegal genuinely contains some of the best biking country in Ireland, IF you like to explore...
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Ards Forest
On the coast with lots of facilities for families, Ards is one of Ireland's finest forest parks. Lots of options and great scenery, and plenty to see and do. Well worth a visit if in the area. Be especially mindful of other forest users, as this is a popular attraction.
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Arranmore Island
A fifteen minute ferry journey from Burtonport. A great day out with spectacular scenery, lung-busting climbs and exhilarating descents. All rough double-track and tiny tarmac roads. There are tracks and trails all over the island, so the possibilities are endless.
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Glenveagh / Gartan Loop
Some great climbs and fast rough descents, with a mix of tarmac and rough tracks. The scenery is fantastic on this 25-30 mile loop.
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Summit Mt Errigal
Get your bike up Donegal's highest mountain, at 750m, if you fancy a long carry, and a VERY technical and tricky steep loose-rock descent.
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SW Donegal Epic
Starting and finishing in Ardara, taking in Maghera, Port, Glencolmbkille, Teelin, climbing Slieve League, then back to Ardara via Glengesh. This is an all-day epic, only to be undertaken if you are used to long days in the saddle, and you don't mind hills! There are lots of opportunities to cut it shorter though if required (or indeed, make it longer!). 80Km and over 2300m of vertical climbing.
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Dublin & Wicklow
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Ballinastoe MTB Centre
Ballinastoe is Ireland's first red-standard (difficult/severe) dedicated mountain bike trail centre. Well worth a day trip.
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Cloon Wood
Cloon Wood has long been a popular DH track in close proximity to Dublin, regularly hosting rounds of the NPS DH Series.
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Djouce Wood
An excellent MTB location close to Dublin that has hosted many NPS XC races. Contains an extensive network of single track trails built originally over some years by a local MTB legend, with some further input from the good people at EPICMTB. Technical in places with some DH style descents. Possible to link to Ballinastoe via the Wicklow Way to extend the riding further.
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Glendalough
A variety of riding in and around the world famous Monastic site. Some big climbs rewarded by fantastic single-track descents and amazing views.
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Kindlestown Forest
Plenty of brilliant trails to choose from here which will throw everything at you from switchback climbs to roots, twists, turns, rocks and more roots. Relatively short trails but technical and flowing in places and well worth a visit if in the area.
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Lead Mines
Overall you have two forests to explore, the second forest has a downhill course and some great XC forest singletrack. Lots of great trail building and maintenance work by Epic MTB and other local clubs. Get out and explore it!!
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Saggart Wood, Slade Valley
Slade Valley has hosted various XC events in the past including Leinster League and NPS races. For the past number of years the IMBRC (Irish Mountain Bike Racing Club), with much help of a local EPIC MTB member, have been building and maintaining the many km's of trails there.
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The Wicklow Way
This popular way-marked route may be the traditional stomping ground of the red-sock brigade, but is a SUPERB setting for great mountain-biking.
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Ticknock / 3 Rock
A popular biking spot for years due to its close proximity to Dublin City and now with sanctioned XC trails. Lots of variety in other unsanctioned trails around the hill.
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Kerry
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Glenbeigh Loop
A fantastic 30km loop consisting mostly of quiet roads and forest tracks. Some single track sections and some difficult climbs but the stunning views make it all worthwhile. Options to extend to over 45km or shorten the route as required.
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Louth
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Bellurgan Park, Dundalk
An 8km XC loop that is undergoing further development. Part of a private estate SO DO NOT TURN UP WITHOUT CONTACTING THEM FIRST - contact Bellurgan Park for further details and permission.
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Cooley Mountains
Quite possibly some of the best open mountain XC trails on the island. Savage climbs, spectacular scenery and amazing descents all combined with a real wilderness feeling in places make this a must ride location.
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Sligo
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Knocknarea
Good climb to the top from the car park in the Glen road. Once there you can bomb back down the side you came up (pretty open mountainside onto a rocky path) or else you can try heading down the back of the mountain to Strandhill. Takes about an hour.
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The Sligo Way
74km of forest tracks, tiny roads and open moorland paths. Lots of options to plan your own routes that take in part of the route. About 50% of it is on tiny tarmac roads. A great epic day (or couple of days) out.
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Union Wood
A good mixture of forest track and singletrack trails. Trails include a mixture of jumps, downhilling and many obstacles to overcome. A brilliant way to spend your weekend and get your adrenaline pumping.
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Tyrone
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Blessingbourne Trails
Circa 8km of cross-country MTB trails, including a pump track and skills area. The trails cater for all abilities, with snaking single-track, lots of trail features including jumps, table-tops, berms, rock-gardens and drops; and chicken-runs for the kids and the faint-hearted, of course! Work is underway on the Phase II trails to double the length available, and there may be some disruption to the current trails through September 2013.
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Davagh Forest
Davagh Forest lies in an untouched rural landscape of rolling hills and sweeping forests. Davagh Forest offers 16km of sweeping, swooping XC red trails with some rock slab drops you will never forget! Also gentle mountain biking and walking trails as well, there is plenty there for all the family. Part of the MountainBikeNI trails network.
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Gortin Glen Forest
A number of sanctioned trails exist including a downhill course, in the North part of the forest above Glenpark Road. Also great technical purpose-built singletrack, with 90-degree switchbacks, steep descents, jumps and various other obstacles. You will not be disappointed, but be ready for the climbs!
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Knockmany Forest
A small forest with some reasonable trails and good height to play with - if in the area, worth a visit. Singletrack unknown.
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Parkanaur Forest
A small forest park, but some good trails including nice singletrack. A mixture of 60% singletrack and 40% gravel double track, with some good technical XC climbs and descents.
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Fermanagh
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Castle Archdale
The 10Km family trail is made up of forest roads and tracks, with two sections of singletrack.
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Corralea Pumptrack
New pump-track just opened April 2011. Check out the centre website, as they have lots of organised MTB.
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Mullaghfad Forest
Lots of fireroad, the labyrinth of tracks could have you in there for weeks. A good place to do some exploring and test your navigation skills. No known singletrack.
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Mayo
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Cong Woods
Huge area of woodland with miles of forest road. Used for Connaught League XC races.Cong Wood is a fine forest track, not very technical, and no serious ascents to talk about. But the woods offer the opportunity for some nice free flowing cycling.
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Westport
Not very technical, but a nice singletrack circular trail that has been used in Connaught League XC races.
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Tipperary
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Clogheen Loop
A mixture of quiet roads, forest tracks and open mountain single track which takes you all the way to the top of Knockolugga starting in Clogheen Village. A challenging but rewarding loop of about 22km with loads of options to extend or shorten as you desire. Great in the dry but much more of a challenge if it’s wet.
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Galway
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Clarenbridge / Kilcornan
Hand built cross country trail including a 6 km race loop mostly on single-track; has been used for winter league XC races in the past. Super single track; no hills but still plenty of fun. Follow the wooden white arrows.
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Derroura MTB Centre
Derroura Mountain Bike Trail Network, is a purpose built, Coillte sanctioned 16km trail that offers fantastic mountain biking amongst the scenic wilds of Connemara.
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Gort Road, Loughrea
Nice quick fun open mountain loop, over-grown in places, only at its best after a dry spell.
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Kylebrack, Loughrea
Known locally as “The Pretender”, this 13km mostly single-track trail is the ongoing obsession of one man. It’s a bit of a maze if you haven't been there, so worth referring to the maps provided and contacting the locals.
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Moycullen
On the loop of Lough Corrib, Moycullen is a small forest trail. Worth a stop if you happen to be in the area or a local.
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Rosscahill Woods
Hand built cross-country style narrow single-track through the trees, with lots of interconnected short loops, roots and rocks. The trail can get very greasy after rain but dries out quickly.
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Tuam DH Trail
Lots of trails, jumps and gaps and all sorts of fun within a small area. Plenty of height to play with.
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Limerick
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Ballyhoura MTB Centre
World-class trails, but a mighty slog, so bring extra legs! The trails are located in the Ballyhoura mountains which cover south Limerick and north Cork. They are accessed from a trailhead near Ardpatrick in County Limerick.
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Wexford
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Kilbrannish, Bunclody
Kilbrannish has hosted various XC events in the past including Leinster XC League. The trails are forever evolving and contain loads of exciting single track. Some DH trails have been constructed in the area recently.
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Clare
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Black Head
An excellent day out, with varied riding and amazing views. One really hard technical XC/downhill run. Quite a few gates, which is a shame, but still a great loop.
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Cratloe Woods
Lots of singletrack and fire-road trails to explore. The woods are popular with walkers, so be careful and courteous to others.
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Killaloe Woods
Very scenic and technical, with a big climb at the start, this is a circa 5km XC loop, which has been used previously for NPS races. It links up with the East Clare Way, which is also worth exploring.
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Antrim
- Antrim Hills Way
- Antrim Town
- Ballyboley Forest
- Ballycastle / Coolaveely Forest
- Ballycastle to Fair Head
- Ballypatrick Forest
- Barnett Demesne
- Belfast Hills
- Belfast Loop Epic
- Belvoir Forest
- Causeway Coast Way
- Cave Hill
- Glenariff Forest
- Moyle Way
- Ormeau Park, Belfast
- Randalstown Forest
- Rathlin Island
- Slieveanorra Forest
- Tardree Forest
- Woodburn Forest
- Dublin & Wicklow
- Louth
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Down
- Ballyhornan Coastal Path
- Banns Road, Attical, Mournes
- BigWood, Warrenpoint
- Cairn Wood
- Castle Ward
- Castlewellan Forest
- Donard Wood
- Drumkeeragh / Slieve Croob
- Lead Mines & Helens Tower
- Loughmoss, Carryduff, Belfast
- Moneyscalp Forest
- Mourne 7 Sevens
- Mournes Epics
- Mournes Trassey Track
- North Down Coastal Path
- Rostrevor Forest
- The Mourne Way
- Tievenadarragh Wood
- Tollymore Forest
- Cork
- Kerry
- Tipperary
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.