Skip Navigation

Find the Trails

Also in this county

Antrim Hills Way, Antrim

Badger Rating 3.8/5
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.

Getting There

Park in the car park above Cairncastle village, up on the ridge of the hills to the south-east of Glenarm.

Trail Description

Leaving the car park, turn left along the road, heading for Glenarm, and stay on the tarmac for about 6.5km until you come to The Ulster Way sign, pointing up the hill to the right (Watch! The sign may be facing the other way). Follow the Ulster Way / Antrim Hills Way marker posts from here on.

Head up onto the mountain (which is pretty much a walk for the first bit), and then start the draining climb up Black Mountain. The climbs are well worth it, with some great ridge riding and open mountain grass descents back to the car park, ready to start the second loop of the figure of 8.

Head through the back of the car park and up the steep grassy slope, again following the marker posts. Tricky in places, but a manageable path all the way to and beyond Sallagh Braes, and back down to the road, although it can be a bit of trial and error to find your way through the whin/gorse bushes down to the road.  Follow the road back up to the car park.

This all takes about 3 hours or so, if you don't hang about too much.  You could also follow a more extensive linear route from Glenarm to Ballynure on the Ulster Way Website.

Location

trail head marker Trail Head
 

Movies of Antrim Hills Way, Antrim

 

Reviews for this trail

Write A Review

3.8



Badger-o-meter
0 5
3
1= Rubbish      5= Badgertastic!
  • Biting winds, thick fog, driving rain, boggy, muddy, exhausting climbs and getting frequently lost. Great craic!
    Garret: about 14 years ago 
    Rating:4 badgers
  • Comments 30/12/09 - My mate Dave and I did parts of this ride today with Rick. Totally nuts - 40mph winds, sleet, snow drifts and ice - nothing could stop the boys today! We did the 2nd loop first over the brae first, back up the road, past the carpark and then up the farm trail to the top of the first hill. We'd had our fun and called it a day but we proved this ride is possible in all conditions - if your mad enough! The only downside was getting ripped off by Rick to buy a TrailBadger bike jersey. Cheers Rick!
    Name Aran: about 15 years ago 
    Rating:4.5 badgers
  • A fantastic open mountain yet compact ride through stunning scenery. Generally wet on at the start so perhaps one for the drier months but rideable most of the year if you don't mind that srt of thing. Other potential in the area linking to a variety or lanes and minor roads.
    DJ: about 16 years ago 
    Rating:4 badgers
  • Some energy-sapping soggy climbs, but the ridge-riding, the views, and the multi-option grassy descents are well worth all the effort.
    Rick: about 16 years ago 
    Rating:4 badgers

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.