Mountain Biking in Ireland

Mountain Biking in Ireland

Ireland offers some of the best mountain biking trails in Europe, with a variety of scenic routes, challenging terrains, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider, there's something for everyone.

Disclaimner: There are two types of trail networks, official Coillte trail centres and unofficial trail networks managed by local clubs. The official trails are usually well maintained and signposted, while the unofficial trails may be more challenging and require a bit of navigation via Strava or Trailforks.

Here are some of the best places to mountain bike in Ireland. We will cover trails starting in Tipperary, Limerick and Wexford with a foccus on some of the most popular spots.

Ballyhoura Mountains, Limerick

Difficulty: Beginner Friendly. Green, Blue, Red and Black Trails

For those looking for natural trails there are some in Ballinaboola close by. Get Directions

Located in the south of Ireland, the Ballyhoura Mountains offer a range of trails suitable for all skill levels. The area is known for its well-maintained paths, stunning views, and diverse wildlife. Riders can enjoy both cross-country and downhill trails, making it a versatile destination for mountain biking enthusiasts.

https://www.coillte.ie/site/ballyhoura/

This is a network of purpose-built singletrack trails and forest roads that are designed for use by mountain bikes on a waymarked circular route. There are five fantastic routes to choose from! Two blue grade routes, the 7km Greenwood loop and the longer 17km Mountrussell loop. For those seeking more challenging red grade routes there three options, the 28km Tech Loop, the 35km Garrane loop and the 51km Castlepook loop.

The trails take the riders through beautiful forest and open land with fantastic views over Limerick to the north and Cork to the south. Forest road climbs lead you into tight twisty singletrack with loads of fast descents, ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits, guaranteed to leave you smiling! The trails are waymarked in one direction, please follow the arrows. The route uses multiple sections of forest roads and crosses many walking trails.

This is an official Coillte trail centre and so trails are marked by difficulty, with blue being the easiest, red being more difficult and black being the most difficult. The trails are open all year round and parking is €5. There is a car park at the trailhead with toilets and picnic tables. There is also a bike hire shop on site.

For More information visit https://visitballyhoura.com/explore/ballyhoura-mountain-biking/

Clonmel, Tipperary ( Unofficial Trail Network )

Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced. Blue, Red and Black Trails

Managed by Clonmel Mountain Bike Club. These trails have hosted the Enduro National Champs and the XC National Champs and offer some of the best mountain biking in Ireland. The trails are not way marked so you will need to use Strava or Trailforks to navigate. The trails are open all year round and are free to use. See contact details for the local club

See trail map on Trailforks

Kinnity, Offaly & Slieve Bloom Trail Network (Coillte Official Trail Network )

Difficulty: Beginner Friendly. Green, Blue, Red and Black Trails

https://www.coillte.ie/site/slieve-bloom-mtb-trails-offaly/

Kinnity Forest offers a variety of trails suitable for all skill levels. The trails are well-maintained and signposted, making it easy for riders to navigate. The forest features a mix of cross-country and flow trails, providing a great experience for mountain biking enthusiasts.

This is a network of purpose-built singletrack trails and forest roads that are designed for use by mountain bikes on a waymarked circular route. There are four routes to choose from, two of which are blue grade, the other two are more challenging red grade options. The trails take riders through beautiful forests and open land with fantastic views over Kinnitty Castle and beyond.

Forest road climbs lead to twisty singletrack with lots of fast descents, ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits, guaranteed to leave you smiling! The trails are waymarked in one direction, please follow the directional arrows.

Slieve Bloom Trail Network, Laois (Coillte Official Trail Network)

Difficulty: Beginner Friendly. Green, Blue, Red and Black Trails

https://www.coillte.ie/site/slieve-bloom-mtb-trails-laois/

Mountain Biking in Dublin and Wicklow

There is a lot to mention here as there are a lot of trail centres in the Dublin and Wicklow area. The trails are a mix of official Coillte trail centres and unofficial trail networks managed by local clubs.

Here is a list of the trails around Dublin and Wicklow. For more information on each trail please click on the links provided.

Ticknock, Dublin (Coillte Official Trail Network) https://biking.ie/destinations/ticknock-mountain-bike-trails/

The Gap ( Bike Park with Uplifts )

Get ready to shred with The GAP; also known as Glencullen Adventure Park. One of Ireland’s leading, purpose-built mountain biking centres with over 35 downhill MTB trails.

https://thegap.ie/

Ballinastoe, Wicklow (Coillte Official Trail Network)

https://biking.ie/destinations/ballinastoe-mountain-bike-trails/

Ballinastoe is located in the heart of the wild Wicklow Mountains, yet is just 45 minutes from Dublin City centre. If you are looking to experience some of the best mountain biking in Ireland then you have come to the right spot. The scenery is just out of this world, with some spectacular views over the Irish Sea and Lough Tay, also known as the Guinness lake. The trails are all sign posted and there are map boards at multiple locations along the route.

Unofficial Trails you can search for on Trailforks include:

• Djouce
• Hush MTB
• Bree MTB Wexford

Looking for accommodation for your mountain biking trip in Ireland?

We have a secure premises with gated cottages in Tipperary, just off the motorway. We are ideally located for exploring the Ballyhoura Mountains, Clonmel MTB trails and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. We are only a 2 hour drive to the Dublin trails. Contact us about booking