NORTHERN IRELAND
CYCLING
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The information given here is not all encompassing but it
is as up to date as possible. |
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The
province has National Cycle network routes and many local high quality
cycle routes exist. |
| ROUTE
91 The Kingfisher Trail (300 miles) starts at Enniskillen and follows a figure of eight around the Fermanagh and Leitrim lakes, criss crossing the border several times. |
| ROUTE
93 The Belfast to Ballyshannon (230 miles) route runs through the Sperrin Mountains to the Fermanagh Lakeland and beyond to the Donegal coast. The route starts at Whiteabbey village, just to the north of Belfast then to Oxford Island on Lough Neagh and to Portadown. From there it goes to Armagh, Tynan and the Ulster American Folk Park to Enniskillen, picking up Route 91 to end at Rossnowlagh in Donegal. |
| ROUTE
94 The Loughshore Trail (110 miles) is a bi-directional route around Lough Neagh, The largest fresh water lake in Ireland and the UK. Points of interest include the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Holy Well and Cranfield Church. |
| THE
CARLTON TRAIL Starting from Clougher, there are three routes running around the locality. The Black route (8 miles) passing William Carleton's birthplace. The Green route (28 miles) is a quiet country trail. The Red route (28 miles), going past St. Patrick's Chair & Well, passing rough ground with an alternative route. |
| THE
CAUSEWAY COAST Starting at Portrush, this route (27 miles) gives great views of Rathlin Island and the Scottish coast as well as local wonders like the Giant's Causeway. Also on the route is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. |
| CRAIGAVON
TRAIL Starting at Oxford Island this 32 mile route runs along waterways, rivers and canals. Lots to see on this route before returning to Lough Neagh. |
| FOYLE
VALLEY A 21 mile route connecting Strabane and Derry City but crossing the border. |
| THE
GLENS OF ANTRIM TRAIL This begins at Ballycastle and runs for 46 miles up the steep glens to the level Antrim plateau. Passing the vanishing lake, fairy mounds, Neolithic burial mounds and, of course, great scenery. |
| MOUNTAINS
OF MOURNE Another circular route, this time 25 miles. It starts in Newcastle's northern end and runs past Castlewellan Park, then Tollymore Park and on to Lough Reavy Reservoir and turning at Leitrim to return to Newcastle. |
| NEWRY
CANAL WAY Starting at the Bann Bridge, Portadown (not the town of Banbridge!), this route runs 20 miles to Newry following the towpath of the old Newry Canal. This operated for about 200 years and has fourteen locks. |
| SPERRINS
SPRINT 47 miles of the wild side of Mid-Ulster. From Cookstown to the Sperrin Heritage Centre (with the lure of finding gold) and on to Gortin and back to Cookstown via stone circles and a beetling mill. |
| STRANGFORD
LOUGH This 60 mile circular route starts at Newtownards and runs along the Down coastline passing the National trust property of Mount Stewart and maybe sample the Exploris Centre at Portaferry . As its name suggest, you catch a ferry across the Lough (every half hour) to Strangford. From there to Downpatrick and Castle Espie with Ireland's biggest collection of wild water birds. Then on to Scrabo Tower and back into Newtownards. |