The best trail centres in Northern Ireland | Whatever-the-weather riding for mountain bikers of all abilities

Our extensive guide to the best trails, who they’re suitable for and how to get there

By Nick Clark

Published: Monday, 04 March 2024 at 11:00 AM

Northern Ireland is becoming a popular mountain biking destination, home to three dedicated national trail centres in Davagh Forest, Rostrevor and Castlewellan.

Trail centres offer whatever-the-weather riding, with hardpack, well-drained trails enabling you to ride your mountain bike year-round without worrying about sloppy conditions.

Many trail centres will have onsite or nearby bike shops that sell necessary spares for day-saving fixes, as well as cafes to feed up pre- and post-ride.

In this guide, we’ll give you all the information you need on Northern Ireland’s best trail centres.

While the list isn’t fully comprehensive, we consider these trails to offer some of the best riding in the country.

We also have guides to the best trail centres in England, Scotland and Wales.

The list includes trails for all abilities, from seasoned pros to those who are just starting.

The best trail centres in Northern Ireland

Castlewellan

Andrew McCandlish

Castlewellan’s trails, minutes from the town of the same name, are situated in the beautiful forested grounds of Castlewellan Castle and circumnavigate the beautiful lake, which is the centrepiece of the area.

There are trails for all abilities, ranging from greens to blacks, that all start at the same location.

What facilities are there at Castlewellan?

Castlewellan is located in the town of the same name, so you should have no trouble finding supplies for the day.

The Life Adventure Centre offers bike hire, including an off-road e-trike.

There is also a coffee station and cakes are available, but for more substantial sustenance you’ll have to roll down to Castlewellan itself. 

Toilets are also located in the centre and there is extensive parking, but be aware this costs £5 for a day.

The Life Adventure Centre stocks some spare parts, but for everything else Green Bikes in Newry is your closest option.

How to get to Castlewellan

Located just 30 minutes from Belfast, Castlewellan Forest Park is clearly signposted from Castlewellan Main Street at the end of a forest road.

What are the trails like at Castlewellan?

Castlewellan features a gentle 4km green trail around the lake, a 4.5km blue trail that also circles the lake, a 19km red trail that weaves around the whole forest park and two black-graded descents.

The views from the far northern end of the trail centre, near the top of The Great Escarpe, are phenomenal, with sweeping panoramas of the central hills of County Down.

The well-made and extensive pump track, which is located next to the car park, is also a highlight.

Green Trail

The Green Trail stays near the lakeside and is ideal for anyone new to mountain biking, thanks to its gentle nature and short inclines.

Blue Trail

This trail takes in undulating woodland singletrack with swooping rollers for developing bike control, before joining the Green Trail.

Red Trail

The Red Trail is the longest at Castlewellan and features two black-graded trail options to Dolly’s Chute and The Great Escarpe.

Davagh Forest

Rider wearing red descending through saplings at Davagh
Simon Nieborak

Davagh Forest delivers a truly rural and adventurous mountain biking experience within the confines of a really fun, expansive and well-made trail centre. More impressively, Davagh does all of this within a 1.5-hour drive from Belfast.

The trail centre is based in an enormous forested and moorland area located just north-west of Cookstown.

What facilities are there at Davagh Forest?

The facilities at Davagh Forest are very basic but serviceable, with a bike wash supplied in the form of a hose and bike stand.

Parking provisions are also extensive and free, and there is a large play park for children.

Bikes can be hired for the day at Sperrin Bike Hire on a pre-booked basis, enabling you to hit the trails without bringing your own bike.

The nearest bike shop is Cookstown Cycles, where you can buy any spares you may need for your bike.

How to get to Davagh Forest

Davagh is six miles from Cookstown, off the A505.

What are the trails like at Davagh Forest?

Davagh Forest has a swooping trail network and several rock features to explore.

There is a gentle, beginner-friendly green loop, an engaging and twisty blue trail and a truly rocky and challenging red trail. There is also an extensive skills area with green to red-graded features and a pump track next to the car park.

All of the trails are exceptionally well-made, with a hardy surface and clever design meaning they drain incredibly well.

The same can be said of the connecting fire roads, which in some areas are tarmacked.

The landscape may look rolling from the outside, but the Davagh Forest packs in a number of serious climbs and steep descents that make for a challenging day out.

On the conditions, it’s worth stressing just how rural Davagh is. So, if visiting, it’s important you arrive prepared for all conditions and consider bringing a trail map, because pinpointing your location in such a large area in the event of an accident could be challenging.

Green Trail

The Green Trail is suited for families and those new to mountain biking. It starts on wide forest roads before heading into woodland to meander back to the trailhead alongside the river.

Blue Trail 

This trail climbs up the forest road between woodland and open hillside before picking up speed on fast-flowing singletrack down to the trail centre.

Technical rocky sections feature, and there’s an optional rock slab section for more experienced mountain bikers.

Red Trail

The Red Trail is the most technical and longest at Davagh, featuring fast-paced singletrack, berms, rock drops and extreme slab features.

Gortin Glen Forest Park

Gortin Glen is one of Northern Ireland’s newest mountain bike trail centres, offering riding for various abilities with blue and red trails.

What facilities are there at Gortin Glen Forest Park?

The trail centre has decent facilities, with a cafe on site for pre- and post-ride fueling, as well as ample car parking.

Those arriving by car will be pleased to know there’s a bike wash to avoid a muddy boot, and there are toilets on site.

There is no bike hire at the centre, but there is a bike shop in the nearby town of Omagh, should you need any spares.

How to get to Gortin Glen Forest Park

Gortin Glen is located inside the Sperrin Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just outside Omagh on the B48.

What are the trails like at Gortin Glen Forest Park?

The park has access to good elevation, with both routes taking in the hills, giving you good views of the surrounding area.

Smooth, flowy trails are on offer for those looking to hit the dirt at high speed.

The Roller Coaster section enables you to fly through the forest before taking in some small turns and features toward the bottom.

Blue Trail

This trail offers a good introduction to mountain biking and sees fast flowy singletrack and well-built berms and features.

Red Trail

The Red Trail ascends Mullaghcarn before heading back down, taking in plenty of open berms and switchbacks.

Rostrevor

Rider wearing green descending at Rostrevor
Simon Nieborak

Traversing the hills of Kilbroney Forest Park above Carlingford Lough, Rostrevor – with its 27km red trail, 19km black trail and two dedicated downhill runs – is guaranteed to deliver a scenic and enjoyable day out for more experienced mountain bikers.

What facilities are there at Rostrevor?

Rostrevor is one of the better-equipped trail centres in Northern Ireland, with the Synge & Byrne cafe at the trailhead the perfect place to pick up some pre-ride fuel.

There is a wide selection of hot and cold food available, that can be consumed with spectacular views up the Lough towards Warrenpoint.

Bike hire is available from Bike Mourne, which also offers an uplift service should you want to skip the hills.

There is extensive free parking at the trailhead and toilets are in the reception building. A bike wash, which costs £1 to use, is also available.

How to get to Rostrevor

Rostrevor is on the east coast of Northern Ireland, about an hour from Belfast.

What are the trails like at Rostrevor?

The ride starts with a stiff climb from the trailhead, which is followed by a short but fun descent. 

A very extended but fairly mellow climb then takes you up to the summit of Slieve Martin.

It’s all downhill from there, with an extended descent taking in steep chutes, drop-offs, challenging flat corners, seriously rocky sections, fun bike-park like segments and pretty much everything else you can imagine.

Both trails follow the same line from the bottom of Boulderdash, with a long, mellow and twisty descent taking you back to the trailhead.

While there are only red and black-graded trails at Rostrevor, beginners shouldn’t be put off immediately. 

There are lots of challenging sections, but these can usually be rolled and the lower half of the trails are fairly tame.

Red Trail

This climbs the heights of Slieve Martin before heading back down, enjoying several exciting descents that include sections of Northshore before following the Kilbroney Valley back to the trailhead.

Black Trail

The Black Trail also starts by summiting Slieve Martin, but splits off to access a technical singletrack that takes you back to the trail centre.

Mega Mission

This is one of the two downhill tracks that start at the top of Slieve Martin, featuring high-speed jumps and berms.