Mountain Bike Trails
designed by one of the world leaders in the sport
The Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails are the largest trail network of its kind in Ireland and provides many options for off-road cycling in the mountains. Forest road climbs lead you into tight twisty single-track with loads of ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits.
The trails range from a moderate 6 kilometre Greenwood loop to the demanding Castlepook loop, over 50 kilometres in length!
The trails are laid out as 'stacked loops' - this means that each loop leads onto the next and re-joins it on the way back. The loops are waymarked in one direction – just pick the colour of the loop.
The trail system, designed by one of the world leaders in the sport, is a challenging, one-way system constructed to give a challenging and rewarding ride.
Please ensure you are equipped fully to undertake this adventure sport and respect other trail users at all times.
Listed in order of increasing difficulty
Greenwood Blue Loop
This is the first of five loops in the trail system in the Ballyhouras and is called the Green Wood Blue Loop. This trail takes you through the lush hillsides underneath Seefin Mountain and Black Rock and is used as the outward and inward legs for the rest of the trail network.
Mountrussell Blue Loop
The Mountrussell Loop is a more technical and physically demanding version of the Greenwood Blue Loop and follows this as far as Waypoint 1, from where the trails become a bit more technical, narrower, rockier and steeper with more climbing and more descending.
Garrane Red Loop
The Garrane Red Loop ventures westwards from Waypoint 3 taking in some long and fast single-track descents as well as some long and demanding climbs on forest roads, tracks and single-track trails. This route is difficult throughout with numerous severe sections along the route. The trails vary from fast and flowing to tight and technical.
Tech Red Route
This red grade route is difficult throughout with numerous severe sections along the route. The trails vary from fast and flowing to tight and technical. It includes all Mountrussell blue route trails plus – Tech 1 and Tech 2.
Castlepook Red Loop
This is the ultimate loop of the Ballyhoura trails, being the longest and most demanding. It goes right to the southern fringes of the forest and presents you with the biggest climbs and most rewarding descents. Be prepared!
