Northern Ireland is probably one of the World’s best kept secrets when it comes to incredible trails all packed in a small geographical area, and thankfully Rock and Ride are based right in the epicentre. Within twenty minutes of us are the Castlewellan, Rostrevor and Tollymore trail centres as well as a superb range of natural/semi-natural trails at Tollymore Forest, Donard Forest, Kilbroney Forest, Castlewellan Forest and Bigwood.
The few reviews of the region in the mountain bike press have waxed lyrical about the quality of what we have but they only really scraped the surface, confined to the trail centre venues and unable to sample the full delights.
There is a serious lack of decent information for those seeking to explore beyond the sanitised all-weather surfaces of the official trails and so we’ve compiled the first ever proper rider’s trail guide to Northern Ireland.
Flick through the pages to gather the knowledge you need to track down the venues and to explore them to the max. A keen eye will help you spot some of the trails but obviously a bit of local knowledge goes a long way to maximising your fun, and making sure you get the best of your time here.
Rock and Ride guides are all locals who are qualified to the highest level MBLA Mountain Bike Leader standard. They are fully insured, first aid trained and ninja bike mechanics who’ll be carrying all sorts of tools, spares, and jelly babies to keep you and your bike running sweet throughout. They’ll pick the trails most suitable for you and your group, regale you with useless chat to while away the climbs and generally give a local slant to the ride to prevent you missing the juicy bits and riding around in circles.
Where are Rock and Ride Outdoors?
We’re extremely privileged to be located in the heart of the Mourne Mountains, County Down, Northern Ireland. You can reach the trails within an hour from either of the Belfast airports and the Belfast ferry port and easily in ninety minutes from Dublin airport or Dublin ferry port. We can provide all sorts of useful advice on travel arrangements and local accommodation as well as the best cafes, pubs and restaurants.
What Does Guiding Cost?
A guide for a three-hour ride costs £120 regardless of group size (maximum 8)
How Fit Do You Need to Be?
It doesn’t matter! The fitter you are, the more trails you’ll ride. The pace, distance and technicality will be dictated by your abilities.
Where Will the Ride Be Based?
Again, that’s largely up to you. Have a read of our Northern Ireland Mountain Bike Trail Guide and decide for yourselves where you’d like to go. We’ll have a chat before you arrive just to iron out the fine details and make sure you’ve made the right choice and then send you details of exactly where to go. Your guide will be there waiting for you.
What Do You Need to Bring?
- Mountain bikes in good working order (can be hired with advance notice)
- A suitable bike helmet (will be provided with hire bikes)
- Gloves and eye protection (highly recommended)
- Clothes suitable for a day of biking including a waterproof jacket
- Any food and drink you’ll need to keep the energy levels up
Full details are provided upon booking. Contact ian@rockandrideoutdoors.com to arrange a session or if you have any questions.
