cycling in northern ireland www.discovernorthernireland.com CONTENTS A great way to see Northern Ireland is from a bicycle saddle. More roads, fewer cars and views to take your breath away Long distance routes Page Distance Ballyshannon-Ballycastle 4 236 miles/380 km await you and your bike when you come to Belfast-Ballyshannon 5 231 miles/372 km this charming country for a cycling holiday. Kingfisher Trail 6 230 miles/370 km The Loughshore Trail 7 110 miles/184 km Four magnificent long distance National Cycle Network routes – Dayrides and other information fully signposted and mapped – mostly follow minor roads and The Causeway Coast 8 27 miles /43 km traffic-free paths through parks, forests and canal towpaths. These The Glens of Antrim 9 46 miles /74 km Strangford Lough 10 60 miles /97 km include the ‘figure-of-eight’ Kingfisher Trail encompassing County Mountains of Mourne 11 25 miles /40 km Fermanagh and the border counties, the B2B-Belfast to Foyle Valley Cycle Route 12 21 miles /34 km Ballyshannon route, the Ballycastle to Ballyshannon route via the Newry Canal Way 13 20 miles /32 km north coast and the Loughshore Trail route around Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland Route Map 14-15 the UK and Ireland’s largest freshwater lake. Mountain Biking 16 The Carleton Trail 17 28 miles /45 km Local high quality cycling routes have also been developed Lagan and Lough Cycle Way 18 21 miles /34 km throughout Northern Ireland such as the Foyle Valley, the Newry Belfast Guided Tour 19 Sperrins Sprint 20 47 miles /76 km Canal and the Mourne & Slieve Croob Cycle routes. Craigavon Trail 21 32 miles /51 km In summary Northern Ireland has lots to offer both the Events 22 experienced and novice cyclist. Good quality accommodation to Organising your holiday suit every pocket is plentiful, and the routes outlined in this Need to Know 23 publication are always within reach of a good bed for the night Cycling Holidays 24 and a hearty breakfast in the morning. Hire and Repair 25 Useful Contacts 26 Maps are available for all featured routes. TIC Network 27 Visit www.sustransshop.co.uk or contact the nearest Tourist Information Centre. Charges may vary, check when ordering. Te r rain Rating 1 2 3 4 5 EASY MED TOUGH 4 5 Ballyshannon to Ballycastle Belfast to Ballyshannon Distance: 236 miles/380 km plus Rossnowlagh 5-mile spur Distance: 230 miles/372 km plus extensions to Whiteabbey and Rossnowlagh The Ballyshannon-Ballycastle villages of Claudy and Park. After crossing the The Belfast-Ballyshannon cycle Tynan-Ulster American Folk Park cycle route takes you main Belfast to Londonderry road the route route runs from the industrial From Tynan a traffic-free cycle path leads through many interesting slowly rises to overlook the Roe Valley before heritage landscapes south- through Dungannon Railway Park and towns and villages and passing the Country Park Centre and enters west of Belfast on quiet afterwards you continue on quiet country opens up the wonderfully Limavady by a traffic-free path. roads and canal towpaths, laneways to Cookstown and through the diverse natural landscapes across the wild Sperrin Sperrins to Gortin. After Gortin the route typical of the north of Ireland, Limavady-Ballycastle Leaving Limavady you’ll mountains, and down to the drops down to the Folk Park north of from the wide Atlantic ocean on the west side, enjoy the most scenically dramatic section of the lakes of Fermanagh before bursting out upon Omagh. lovely lakes, open moorland and wooded river cycle network.The route climbs towards the magnificent sandy beaches of Donegal. valleys, to the dramatic headlands along the north Binevenagh from where there are magnificent Ulster American Folk Park-Enniskillen Antrim coast. views over Magilligan beach and the Atlantic ocean Whiteabbey-Belfast The route then follows minor roads and traffic- before descending once again to Coleraine via The route starts at Whiteabbey village, close to free paths to Omagh and passes through small Ballyshannon (Rossnowlagh)-Pettigoe Downhill and Castlerock. After crossing the Bann the entrance of the Glenavna Hotel, then follows country towns and villages towards Enniskillen. Starting from the beach at Rossnowlagh, a spur of at Coleraine take the cycle path through cycle paths beside Belfast Lough, passing through Pick up the Kingfisher Trail with its distinctive the Kingfisher Trail brings you into Ballyshannon Portstewart and Portrush.The route then heads Duncrue and the Clarendon Dock area to the brown signs at Ballinamallard and continue into and Belleek. Follow the route as it criss-crosses to the Giant’s Causeway before turning inland to Lagan Lookout and weir. Enniskillen town centre. the border to the north of Lower Lough Erne Ballycastle. A spur takes cyclists to the beach at before reaching Pettigoe. Whitepark Bay. The route ends in Ballycastle Belfast-Portadown Enniskillen-Rossnowlagh where cyclists have the option to continue to You then follow delightful riverside paths along Stay with the Kingfisher Trail to Ballyshannon, Pettigoe-Newtownstewart Rathlin Island by ferry or on towards Belfast the Lagan to Lisburn. Now continue along quiet passing Marble Arch Caves and through the Heading north, the route passes close to through the Antrim Glens. minor roads through Moira to Oxford Island and villages of Blacklion and Belleek. From St Patrick’s Retreat at Lough Derg before on to Portadown. Join the towpath on the Newry Ballyshannon a loop of the Kingfisher Trail commencing the slow descent on quiet laneways Canal to Moneypenny’s Lock and Knock Bridge. reaches the Atlantic ocean at Rossnowlagh along the Derg Valley, through Killeter and TERRAIN RATING 3 beach. Castlederg. From Castlederg it climbs up towards Portadown-Tynan After leaving the towpath at the forests and Baronscourt estate, past Harry Follow the signs: Kingfisher Trail, Route 9, 91, 92, 95. Knock Bridge the route follows quiet minor roads TERRAIN RATING 2 Map: www.sustransshop.co.uk - £5.99 (ex p&p) through Clare, skirts Gosford Forest Park and Avery’s Castle, and so into Newtownstewart. Follow the signs: Kingfisher Trail, Route 9, 91, 92 and 95 Links on to the Belfast-Ballyshannon route are possible from enters Armagh City on the east side close to The Map: www.sustransshop.co.uk - £5.99 (ex p&p) Newtownstewart-Londonderry Newtownstewart (through Gortin and Omagh) or from Strabane Mall. From the city centre you are heading west via Plumbridge. along the Callan riverside path and the Navan Links on to the Ballyshannon-Ballycastle route are possible at Continuing northward, the route follows the Fort road towards Killylea and Tynan. Strabane and Newtownstewart. Strule River Valley with its famous old railway OSNI 1:250 000 bridges before joining the Foyle Valley Linear Park OSNI 1:250 000 at Strabane. Sion Mills is accessible via the ‘swinging bridge’ over the Mourne river. After Strabane the route once again crosses the border at Lifford and continues north to Derry City. Enter the city by the traffic-free path on the route of the former Great Northern Railway line. A delightful riverside path takes cyclists through the city centre. Londonderry-Limavady Crossing Craigavon Bridge cycle towards Newbuildings before continuing south through the northern part of the Sperrin mountains and Silent Valley 6 7 Kingfisher Trail The Loughshore Trail Distance: 230 miles/370 km Lough Neagh Cycle Way - Distance: 110 miles/177 km The Kingfisher Trail was the There are wild orchids, bluebells and banks of The Loughshore Trail is a 110 Island in Craigavon, Cranfield Church and Holy Well first long-distance cycle trail primroses along the country lanes and great-crested mile (177 km) bi-directional or Crumlin Glen in the Antrim Borough. to be developed in Ireland. grebe, warblers and mute and whooper swans beside cycle route that encircles The Loughshore Trail caters for a wide variety of Based in Fermanagh and the lough.These lakes are also a haven for watersports Lough Neagh, the largest cycling types and levels. The majority of the route Leitrim Lakeland, it follows enthusiasts and history buffs.You can opt for a gentle freshwater lake in Ireland follows relatively flat terrain apart from a short a figure-of-eight through cruise on the lakes (day boats can be hired as well as and the United Kingdom. section south-west of Lough Neagh at Drumcairne varied countryside around the more luxurious cruisers) and discover the secrets of For the most part, Route 94 in the Cookstown District, where it rises to 100 lakes in this watery part of Ireland. Devenish Island,White Island and Inishcorkish. uses the network of quiet country roads metres above sea level and in so doing provides adjacent to Lough Neagh and Lough Beg. However attractive views over the Lough. The trail now partly coincides with both Route Fully mapped and signposted, the trail is suitable it also includes attractive traffic-free sections many For more information on attractions and 95 and Route 92, so you may encounter cyclists for independent or package tours.Alternatively the trail of which follow the shoreline.The Loughshore Trail accommodation visit www.loughshoretrail.com or heading from Ballyshannon to Ballycastle or going falls naturally into smaller sections for a morning’s ride is also linked to other main Network routes in contact the Tourist Information Centres in any of west towards Ballyshannon, nearing the end of and family outings. Northern Ireland namely Route 9 and 95 and the the larger towns bordering Lough Neagh. their 230 mile ride from Belfast. yet to be fully developed Route 96 (Toome TERRAIN RATING 2 - Coleraine). 110 miles Minor country roads criss-crossing the border Vintage Cycle Museum, 64 Main St, Brookeborough counties of Fermanagh, Leitrim, Cavan, Donegal ☎ +44 (0) 28 8953 1206.