North of Ireland

Map and Routes

Regional Details

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Getting There

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Airport Transfers

North of Ireland Bicycle Tours

Introduction

This region, centred on Belfast, is a great cycle touring destination. Besides a wealth of stunning scenery, the land has many relics of the past, including castles, chambered graves, prehistoric and early Christian remains.

The Giant’s Causeway is the focal point of a coastline of exceptional beauty that frames the north east corner of Ireland. Each of the nine Glens of Antrim, a series of beautiful valleys carved into the volcanic basalt of the Antrim Plateau, has its own special beauty and allure. West of the River Bann, the Sperrins is a cyclist’s idyll of wonderful scenery and deserted roads.

The Kingdom of Down to the south of Belfast has a great variety of superb landscapes with the Mourne Mountains as a dramatic centrepiece. The Cooley Peninsula to the south of Carlingford Lough is wild and remote, while The Ards Peninsula is a tranquil and charming hinterland. St Patrick’s Country, named for its many associations with Ireland’s patron saint, is a myriad of lakes, inlets, drumlins, and colourful villages.

Click here for detailed information about the region and its attractions »

Map of the Region

You may find it helpful to view and print off a copy of the regional map and cross reference with the description.

North of Ireland Biking Routes

Route	Start	Finish	Route options				En route
A^	BELFAST	ANTRIM					Lagan Valley; Lough Neagh; Loughshore Trail
B*^	ANTRIM	Coleraine					Toome; Bann Valley; Mountsandel
C	ANTRIM	Draperstown					Lough Neagh; Toome; Sperrins
D	Draperstown	Draperstown					Sperrins; Gortin Glen Forest Park; Beaghmore Stone Circles
E	Draperstown	Coleraine					Sperrins; Bann Valley; Mountsandel
F	Coleraine	Bushmills					Binevenagh Plateau; Mussenden Temple; Hezlett House; Dunluce Castle
G	Bushmills	Ballycastle					Bushmills Distillery; Giant's Causeway; Carrick-a-Rede
H	Ballycastle	Ballycastle					Torr Head; Cushendun; Rathlin Island; Vanishing Lake
I	Ballycastle	Cushendall					Glenshesk; Antrim Plateau; Glenaan; Glenarriff Forest park
J^	Cushendall	ANTRIM					Antrim Coast Road; Glenarm; Slemish
K^	Cushendall	BELFAST					Antrim Coast Road; Glenarm; Carrickfergus Castle
L	BELFAST	MOIRA					Shaw's Bridge; Lagan Valley Cycleway; Hillsborough Castle
M*	MOIRA	Newry					Newry Canal Path; Scarva; Loughbrickland
N	Newry	Newry					Carlingford Castle; CooleyPeninsula; Ring of Gullion
O*	Newry	Castlewellan					Warrenpoint; Silent Valley; Mourne Mountains; Spelga Pass; Tollymore Forest Park
P	Castlewellan	Downpatrick					Dundrum Castle; Tyrella Beach; Ardglass; Struel Wells; St Patrick's Grave
Q	Downpatrick	Downpatrick					Castleward; Strangford; Portaferry; Mountstewart; Greyabbey
R	Downpatrick	MOIRA					Inch Abbey; Rowallane; Saintfield; Hillsborough
S*	Downpatrick	BELFAST					Inch Abbey; Nendrum Monastic Site; Castle Espie; Comber Greenway
T^	MOIRA	ANTRIM					Hillsborough; Lough Neagh; Lagan Valley; Loughshore Trail
T^	ANTRIM	MOIRA					Hillsborough; Lough Neagh; Lagan Valley; Loughshore Trail
U	BELFAST	BELFAST					Tour of Belfast
X	Bushmills	Bushmills					Giants Causeway Coastal Hike; Bushmills Distillery

Note:

Towns above in CAPITALS are Trailhead towns.

^ = Public transport option available for part or all of route

* = Route can be divided into two shorter options (with an additional overnight)