Cycling and Mountain Biking

With cycling routes, family friendly cycling trails and mountain bike trails, you can see a lot of Mid Ulster on two wheels.

Time to get on your bike in Mid Ulster

With a wide range of bike facilities to enhance the natural landscape we’re already fortunate to have in this part of the world, Mid Ulster is a great place for a mountain biking or cycling holiday in Ireland. The 40-mile expanse of peaks and valleys that forms the Sperrin Mountains makes for great cycling — especially when you factor in the sensational views of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A series of cycling routes and trails meander through this beautiful landscape, offering everything from gentle, family friendly pedals around loughs and through forest trails, through to challenging mountain rides through the Sperrin Mountains. Since the Sperrins form the largest mountain range in Ireland, it’s no surprise that Mid Ulster is also a great destination for mountain biking. We’ve got the trails and tracks that make Mid Ulster one of the top destinations for mountain biking in Ireland.

Your kind of bike ride

Whether you want to go cycling or mountain biking during your visit, or you want to make your bike the focus of your visit as part of a cycling holiday in Northern Ireland, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Mid Ulster.

For experienced cyclists, the Slieve Gallion Cycle Route is one of the best cycling routes in Northern Ireland. This challenging and scenic 25-mile ride takes you on some steep climbs as you circumnavigate the 528m mountain of Slieve Gallion. Other longer rides include the hilly 15-mile course of the Swatragh Cycling Route; the 40-mile Carleton Cycle Trail around the quiet country roads of the Clogher Valley; and the steep climbs, sensational scenery and fascinating archaeological heritage along the 41-mile Lough Fea Cycle Route.

There are also lots of options for more leisurely and family friendly bike rides in Mid Ulster. The cycling trails at Davagh Forest range from two miles to 11 miles, while the 80-mile Loughshore Trail Cycle Route along the shores of Lough Neagh has been designed to cover mainly flat county lanes that are suitable for family rides.

Go mountain biking in Mid Ulster

The mountain bike trails at Davagh Forest, near Cookstown, vary from relatively gentle mountain biking through to a 16km red trail and some unforgettable rock slab drops. Magnificent forests, endless mountain views and exciting single-track trails - whether you're thinking of getting into mountain biking or already addicted and want to try somewhere new, put Davagh Forest firmly on your list. 

Blessingbourne Estate, in Fivemiletown, boasts 13km of mountain bike trails cutting through the estate’s 550-acre grounds. The routes include flowing blue trails that are suitable for mountain bikers of all ages and experience levels, as well as technical red trails that include derms, log rides and rock drops. The trails were designed by Architrail’s Phil Saxena, who designed mountain bike trails for the Beijing Olympics and the Downhill World Cup. There’s also a pump track and skills area in which to have some fun and work on your handling before heading out on the trails.