cycle northern ireland pedal quiet laneways through stunning scenery cycleni.com northern ireland best discovered by bike... accessible fun Fly from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in less Have fun with your family, clear your mind, or enjoy than one hour. Drive from Dublin in less than two hours. quality time with friends on the many cycle routes. compact breathtaking Cycle the entire length or breadth of Northern Ireland in The backdrop to your cycle will be nothing short of less than one week. The National Cycle Network is breathtaking, as you pass undulating glens, stunning clearly signposted, making your cycling experience as coastline and quiet villages. easy as possible. FRONT COVER: HERITAGE RAILWAY PATHWAY, PORTBALLINTRAE, COUNTY ANTRIM. BACK COVER: BENONE BEACH, COUNTY LONDONDERRY. LOUGH NAVAR FOREST VIEWPOINT, COUNTY FERMANAGH. COUNTY VIEWPOINT, FOREST NAVAR LOUGH 01 | cycleni.com cycleni.com | 02 1 4 contents 1 05 Welcome to Cycling in Northern Ireland Downhill Demesne and Mussenden Temple Causeway Coastal Route A county by county guide of cycling St Patrick’s Trail 07 Antrim Rathlin Island • Antrim Town Loop • Carnfunnock Country Park • 19 17 Giant’s Causeway to Benone • Lower Bann Cycleway 21 2 22 11 Armagh 18 3 Loughgall Country Park • Gosford Forest Park Family Cycling Trail • Craigavon Cycle Trail • Craigavon Lakes Family Mountain Bike Trail • Newry Canal Towpath • Ulster Canal Cycle Trail 20 5 15 Down 27 28 2 Rostrevor Cycle Route • Castlewellan Forest Park Family Cycling Trail • Legananny Cycle Route • Knockchree Cycle Route • Castle Ward 3 35 23 26 19 Londonderry 24 33 34 Foyle Valley Cycleway • Claudy Country Park • Eagle’s Glen Cycle Route • Moyola Cycle Route • 25 11 Faughan Valley Cycleway • Banagher Cycle Route 9 30 23 Tyrone 10 8 White Hare Cycle Route • Omagh Riverside Path to Gortnagarn • 4 6 14 Dungannon Park • Lough Fea Cycle Route • Gold Cycle Route • 16 Derg Valley Cycle Route 29 31 7 27 Fermanagh 13 Murlough Castle to Castle • Castle Archdale Family Cycling Trail • Nature Reserve West Fermanagh Loop • Crom 32 30 Belfast 5 Ormeau Park • Comber Greenway • 12 Lagan and Lough Cycleway ABCDE15 F G 33 National Cycle Network and Long-Distance Routes Details of the network of signed cycle routes throughout Northern Map Reference Ireland, ideal for long-distance touring 47 Directory of Cycle Routes ANTRIM 10 Newry Canal Towpath (p14) D4 20 Moyola Cycle Route (p21) D3 FERMANAGH A list of all cycle routes in Northern Ireland 01 Rathlin Island (p7) E1 11 Ulster Canal Cycle Trail (p14) D4 21 Faughan Valley (p21) B2 29 Castle to Castle (p27) B4 02 Antrim Town Loop (p8) E3 Cycleway 30 Castle Archdale (p28) A4 DOWN 49 Practical Information for Cyclists 03 Carnfunnock Country Park (p8) E2 22 Banagher Cycle Route (p22) C2 Family Cycling Trail Bicycle hire, safety and cycle tour companies 12 Rostrevor Cycle Route (p15) E5 04 Giant’s Causeway (p9) D1 31 West Fermanagh Loop (p29) B4 13 (p16) E5 TYRONE to Benone Castlewellan Forest Park 32 Crom (p29) B5 51 Planning your trip in Northern Ireland Family Cycling Trail 23 White Hare Cycle Route (p23) C3 05 Lower Bann Cycleway (p10) D3 14 Legananny Cycle Route (p17) E4 BELFAST Whether you visit by land, sea or air find all the information you will need 24 Omagh Riverside Path (p24) B3 ARMAGH 15 Knockchree Cycle Route (p17) E5 to Gortnagarn 33 Ormeau Park (p30) E3 06 Loughgall Country Park (p11) D4 16 Castle Ward (p18) F4 25 Dungannon Park (p24) C4 34 Comber Greenway (p31) E3 For detailed information on each of the routes check out 07 Gosford Forest Park (p12) D4 26 Lough Fea Cycle Route (p25) C3 35 Lagan and Lough (p32) E3 LONDONDERRY Family Cycling Trail Cycleway 27 Gold Cycle Route (p25) B3 08 Craigavon Cycle Trail (p12) D4 17 Foyle Valley Cycleway (p19) B2 18 Claudy Country Park (p20) C2 28 Derg Valley Cycle Route (p26) B3 CycleNI.com 09 Craigavon Lakes Family (p13) D4 Mountain Bike Trail 19 Eagle’s Glen Cycle Route (p20) D2 Your guide to cycling in Northern Ireland 03 | cycleni.com cycleni.com | 04 Antrim: Armagh: Down: welcome to cycling in northern ireland... 1 Dramatic Coastlines 2 Rolling Countryside 3 Stunning Mountains Cycle through Northern Ireland and you will be rewarded with incredible views of vast and varied landscapes, from dramatic coasts to patchwork fields that blanket the rolling hills. Come to County Antrim to cycle through the The ‘orchard county’, as Armagh is often Exploring County Down by bike is the perfect stunning rugged coastline that merges referred to, is a beautiful cycling destination way to experience the dramatic mountainscape seamlessly into a landscape of historical and one of the true hidden treasures of rural and coastline. Two spectacular cycle routes of glens. There is no better way to see some Ireland. Explore the country roads by checking note are Knockchree (p.17) and Rostrevor of Northern Ireland’s top tourist spots out the cycling guide on Armagh & Down (p.15). The long distance trail around including the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills (p.48). May is a great time to visit when the Strangford Lough (p.41) is picture perfect and Distillery (p.9) than from two wheels. orchards are a mass of pink and white flowers. great for spotting wildlife – look out for brent geese and seals. These bike rides are not to Why not take a ferry over to explore Rathlin Alternatively, go off-road in Gosford Forest be hurried! Island (p.7) by bike? If you are lucky, this Park (p.12) or on the Craigavon Lakes Family tranquil setting will provide a chance Mountain Bike Trail (p.13), two great Also explore the woodland areas in the pretty encounter with puffins and seals. destinations for those seeking an adventure estates of Castlewellan (p.16) and Castle Ward by bike. (p.18) which provide great off-road routes. Fermanagh: Londonderry: Tyrone: 4 Lakeland Treasures 5 City and Sea 6 Peaceful Valleys Fermanagh is renowned for its lakelands and A county of unparalleled beauty, cycle along The top attraction for cyclists in Tyrone are laid back pace of life. The iconic Kingfisher the coastline and discover award winning the Sperrin Mountains. A designated Area Trail (p.35) takes you through some wild and beaches and stunning seascapes. The walled of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this region is beautiful country, over bridges and past old City of Derry is of enormous historic interest a natural blend of peaks, forests, valleys, cottages. You will experience great views of and it can be explored by bike on the Foyle lakes and rivers. The Derg Valley (p.26) and Lough Erne as well as some of Fermanagh’s Valley Cycleway (p.19). the Gold cycle routes (p.25) are two of the top attractions including the Marble Arch many stunning routes where you will Caves and numerous National Trust properties. In the south of the county, meander through frequently find yourself cycling in solitude. the Sperrin Mountains and you will discover The lush forests also provide wonderful a unique landscape, rich in natural and Tyrone offers some interesting locations for opportunities to cycle in tranquility. Check archaeological heritage as well as folklore. safe cycling and an entertaining family day out Castle Archdale (p.28) for a family Banagher Cycle Route (p. 22) is one of the out. Check out Dungannon Park (p.24). adventure by bike. most beautiful to explore. Belfast: tell me more 7 Urban Oasis Armagh and Down Tourism www.armaghanddown.com Our county by county guide will give you a flavour of the variety on offer as well as a brief Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau description of some of the top cycle routes and trails. www.gotobelfast.com This victorian city, steeped in culture and Causeway Coast and Glens Tourism industrial heritage, is just waiting to be www.causewaycoastandglens.com ...the adventure begins! discovered by bike. Also, the city's many parks and green spaces, such as Ormeau Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau Park (p.30) provide family-friendly bike rides. www.derryvisitor.com Belfast boasts two mainly traffic-free routes. Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism The Comber Greenway (p.31) follows the www.findfermanagh.com CAAN is grateful to the following for providing photography for this publication: trail of a disused railway line as far as the edge of Strangford Lough and the 21 mile Sperrins Tourism Alan Pentland • Armagh City and District Council • Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council • Mourne Heritage Trust • Lagan and Lough Cycleway (p.32) passes www.sperrinstourism.com NITB • Sperrins Tourism • 10on12.com • Sustrans – Lorcan Doherty • The National Trust • www.thinkstudio.co.uk along the River Lagan and Belfast Lough, right into the heart of the city. ANTRIM. CASTLE,DUNLUCE COUNTY 05 | cycleni.com cycleni.com | 06 antrim town loop antrim... The lapping water of Lough Neagh and a fast flowing mill race create a perfect contrast through Antrim's ancient heart. From Antrim Lough Shore Park look across Nearest Town: Antrim the massive expanse of water towards the Distance: 4.5 miles (7km) circular Sperrin Mountains on the western shore. Traffic : Mostly traffic-free with linking Travel along Lough Neagh into Rea’s Wood main roads on a forest gravel path. Points of Interest: Antrim Lough Shore Park, Rea’s Wood, Clotworthy Arts Centre Periodical lowerings of Lough Neagh has Map: The Loughshore Trail – formed one of the largest unspoilt areas of www.sustransshop.co.uk natural woodlands in the country. Pedal Start Point: Lough Shore Park, through the willow and alder into the Antrim J 135 867 stillness of the wood and then make your Finish Point: Lough Shore Park, way to Mill Race Trail, a traffic-free section Antrim J 135 867 along the Six Mile Water river.