ROUTES IN BELFAST
Giant's Ring - 10 ml round trip, flat.
out at the end of the Malone Road.
Huge megalithic henge. Click link above.
Falls and Shankill Rds - 10 mls rt, hilly.
Get your camera out for all those murals.
Cavehill - 10-15 mile rt, big final climb.
To the North, head to Belfast Castle from there take the trails to the summit. Big with MTBers but possible to get up there with a tourer and a push. Views for 40 miles.
Strangford Lough -70 mle rt, flat.
Full day's trip circling the unique coastal nature reserve. Includes ferry trip (app. £1.50)
Lagan Towpath - 25-30 mile rt, flat.
All the way to Lisburn and back and not a car in sight. Good route out of Belfast.
Belfast-Mallusk-Belfast 25 mile rt. Big Climbs - big views.
Up the Antrim road, through Glengormley, into Mallusk, through the industrial estate, left onto Sealstown Road, take 1st left after 3 mls and continue on to Flush Rd and the old Belfast Road, descend back into belfast.
Check your map. Views for 40 Mls.
ROUTE LINKS
GETTING OUT OF BELFAST >
As Belfast is hemmed in by both water and mountains you're limited to the number of routes out.
WEST
Probably the most scenic and traffic free route out of Belfast is the Lagan Towpath, part of the National Cycle Network it takes you from the City to the the ajoining City of Lisburn along the river Lagan. This traffic free route stretches for about 15 miles west. Once in Lisburn you are set to head south to the Mourne Mountains or further west towards Armagh and Tyrone and on to the Loughshore Trail. Starts at Stranmills in the south.
SOUTH
To explore Strangford Lough, one of Ireland's most important wildlife reserves, head east to Newtownards. The Newtownards road on the east of the city has been the scene of much disturbance over the past 30 years and boasts some of the city's more colourful murals (more on the About Belfast link). Once in Newtownards head towards the west of the Ards Pininsula and to Portaferry, a great route which hugs the coast for 10-15 miles. The ferry in Portaferry can carry you over to Strangford leaving you to explore the Mournes, Down and Armagh and Monaghan. Click MAP in top right corner for National Cycle Network.
NORTH-WEST
The Black Mountains and Cavehill both act as a natural barrier to the North. Leaving the city centre and going up the Crumlin road takes you on a 5 mile climb up and over the Cavehill mountains. This is also known as the Airport Road as it will take you towards the International airport. Stunning views from the top of the climb are worth the effort. You can now head either round the top of Lough Neagh or further Northwest to Derry/Donegal.
NORTH
North toward the Antrim Coast requires a trip through Carrickfergus and Larne. The NCN takes you traffic free as far as Newtownabbey but from there to Larne is a fairly busy road. Once in Larne the traffic dies down and you are on one of the most scenic routes in Ireland, through the Glens of Antrim toward Ballcastle, Bushmills and Portrush.
BIKE SHOPS / REPAIR / HIRE
McConvey's –Ormeau Rd Belfast (Road/MTB)
Lifecycles – Smithfield Market (Touring)
Wheels N Motion
– Finaghy - (Road)
BikeDock
– Ravenhill Road (MTB/Road/Urban)
Dave Kane – Upp Newtownards Road (Road)