Where in Northern Ireland can I cycle off road?
Unfortunately, access to safe off-road routes in Northern Ireland is extremely limited compared to the rest of the UK. Unlike England and Wales, where cyclists can access bridleways, byways and cycle paths, or Scotland, where everyone can access most land for recreational purposes including cycling, cyclists in Northern Ireland don’t have a general right to access bridleways or similar routes.
This is partly because Northern Ireland lacks a general public right to wander freely across open land, mountains, moorland, or woodlands. Instead, access is restricted to public land – which comprises just 6% of the country’s total land mass. Northern Ireland has just 245km of asserted public rights of way or designated public paths.
There are three types of these public rights of way:
- Footpath – open to walkers only
- Bridleway – open to walkers and horse riders
- Carriageway – open to walkers, cyclists, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles and motor vehicles
As you can see from the list above, very paths and ways are open to cyclists, and those that are, are shared with motor vehicles. An online map by GreenspaceNI shows how little of Northern Ireland’s green space is publicly accessible.
Permissive access
Off-road riders in Northern Ireland rely on permissive access agreements, in which landowners allow public access to their land under specific terms for activities such as cycling. This picture is further complicated by land ownership in Northern Ireland, with holdings being significantly smaller than other UK nations, and a higher number of landholders.
This makes it difficult for local authorities to negotiate public access to land because they have to deal with a much higher number of people than would be the case in Great Britain.
Permissive access can also change depending on the time of year – being restricted during breeding seasons, for example. Cyclists need to be aware of these restrictions as there are potential legal consequences of riding where you shouldn’t – including fines and bike seizures.
Where you can go off road
It’s not all bad news, though. There are still plenty of places you can ride off road in Northern Ireland – and most of them are stunning. They include forest parks, cycle paths and country estates. There are also several trail centres and bike parks.
The National Cycle Network is a UK-wide network of routes for walking, wheeling and cycling, developed by Sustrans. There are currently more than 1,300km of cycle paths in Northern Ireland, with around 170km of traffic-free trails which include disused railway tracks and canal towpaths and are suitable for all skill levels. As this article by Laura Laker argues, this network isn’t perfect, but it is a good start.
Several forest parks have trails where you can ride off road. These range from family-friendly routes to hardcore hills for experienced mountain bikers. Forests you can cycle in include:
- Castle Archdale Forest, Co Fermanagh: a 520-hectare forest on the shore of Lough Erne with waymarked trails accessed from the car park.
- Castle Ward Forest, Co Down: follow the lough trail or cycle on tracks through sheltered woodland.
- Castlewellan Forest Park, Co Down: 450 hectares of forest north of the Mourne Mountains with mountain biking trails; bike hire is available.
- Davagh Forest, Co Tyrone: features a number of mountain bike trails managed by Mid Ulster District Council.
- Garvagh Forest, Co Londonderry: just over 10km of purpose-built green, blue and red bike trails and a skills loop.
- Gosford Forest Park, Co Armagh: a network of cycling routes and tracks through 240 hectares of forest and parkland.
- Rostrevor Forest, Co Down: experience magnificent views and beautiful woodland via waymarked mountain bike trails and cycle routes.
The majority of forests in Northern Ireland are managed by Forest Service Northern Ireland and you can find more information on the nidirect website.
The National Trust’s Crom Estate, Co Fermanagh, has a range of gentle, family-friendly paths to more adventurous trails. Blessingbourne Estate in Co Tyrone has 13km of mountain bike trails for all ages and abilities.
Keep in mind that you will have to travel to all these places. If you’re going by bike, you’ll be riding on sometimes busy roads. Otherwise, you’ll need a car. It’s also up to you to familiarise yourself with the specific rules and guidelines for each trail. Keep in mind that forestry vehicles may be encountered on any forest trails.
You can also consider joining a local cycling group. They will be able to advise you on where you can ride off road safely and legally, as well as providing company. They might also have agreements in place with local landowners to access their land.
Other resources
Outmore NI is an interactive map which you can filter by activity, such as mountain biking, walking or canoeing. You can also filter by place type, including forest, park or beach. It was created by Outscape, a non-profit organisation promoting the great outdoors.
MountainBikeNI runs trail centres at Barnett Demesne, Belfast, Blessingbourne, Co Tyrone, Davagh Forest and Gortin Glen Forest Park, both Co Tyrone, and Castlewellan and Rostrevor, both Co Down.
It also has an interactive map, blog, news and plenty of useful information on mountain biking in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland might not have the same sort of access to open space as in England, Scotland and Wales, but armed with the right information, there are still plenty of places you can cycle of road.
