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Rostrevor Mountain Bike Centre

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Rostrevor Mountain Bike Centre
Avg 4.29
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
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Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (15)
  • Information:
  • Type: Trail Centre Bike Park
  • Grades: Red Black Orange
  • Riding: Cross Country Downhill
  • Facilities: Car Park Toilets Cafe Bike Wash Bike Hire Showers Uplift Campsite Accommodation
  • Admission: Free access Uplift ticket
  • Season: Reduced in winter
  • Season detail:Kilbroney Park's gates keep seasonal hours, roughly 9am to 5pm in winter, rising to 9am to 9pm from May to August; closed Christmas Day.
  • Typical visit: Multi-day
  • Surface: Mixed
  • Grading: UK national
  • Run by: Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (Land manager) Bike Mourne (Operator)
  • Trail network:46km
  • Number:+44 (0)28 4377 0714
  • Country:🌍 Northern-ireland
  • County:Down
  • Website:Rostrevor ↗
  • Socials:

Trail grades, descriptions and other details on this page are provided for general guidance only and may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date. Always check on-site signage and current conditions before riding. See our trail safety disclaimer.

Description

Rostrevor Mountain Bike Centre sits within Kilbroney Park and Rostrevor Forest on the shores of Carlingford Lough, a short roll from Rostrevor village. The network covers all disciplines: a 27km red cross-country loop, a 17km black alternative, and two dedicated downhill trails served by uplift, making Rostrevor the most complete MTB venue in Northern Ireland. Bike hire, a cafe, showers and the Bike Mourne team are based at the trailhead.

The Trails

  • Red Trail (27km): A sustained loop climbing from Kilbroney onto Slievemartin, with wide views over Carlingford Lough and a mix of natural rock, flowy berms and singletrack descents back through Kilbroney Valley.
  • Black Trail (17km): Follows the red ascent to Slievemartin before splitting onto steeper, rockier terrain. Technical singletrack and sharp gradients throughout, for experienced riders only.
  • Mega Mission (DH): 1.7km purpose-built downhill with big berms, tabletops and jump sections. Served by Bike Mourne uplift.
  • On the Pulse (DH): 1.3km of steep, technical riding with rock gardens, drops and line choice. Uplift served. Also featured as the finale of the Red Bull Foxhunt course at Rostrevor.

Trails at Rostrevor are subject to periodic closures and diversions for forestry work and storm recovery. Always check Mountain Bike NI's Rostrevor page for current alerts and diversion signage before you ride.

Facilities

  • Large car park (charges apply), cafe (Forest and Field / Synge and Byrne), toilets, showers, bike wash, bike hire and uplift via Bike Mourne. Caravan and camping park on site.
  • Prices for hire and uplift via Bike Mourne: check the Bike Mourne website before visiting as prices and availability vary.

Guides, Shuttles and Hire

Bike Mourne runs the hire and uplift desk right at the trailhead, so bikes, uplift tickets and guided rides are all available on site without arranging a separate shuttle. Mourne Mountain Holidays also guides across the wider Mournes.

  • Bike Mourne: the trailhead's own hire, uplift and guiding operator, based at Kilbroney Park with hardtail, full-suspension and electric bikes, uplift for Mega Mission and On the Pulse, and self-guided or guided rides.
  • Mourne Mountain Holidays: mountain bike guiding and lessons across the Mournes including Rostrevor, with a women-only option available.

Getting There from Great Britain

Ferries from Cairnryan land at Belfast or Larne: Belfast is around an hour's drive from Rostrevor, Larne a little over an hour and a quarter. An overnight ferry from Liverpool also lands at Belfast. By air, Belfast International and George Best Belfast City airports are both a little over an hour from the trailhead by road; City of Derry Airport, at around two and a half hours, is a long way round and suits a trip based in the northwest more than a Mourne visit.

The trailhead is on the Shore Road between Rostrevor and Kilkeel, half a mile outside Rostrevor village, signposted Rostrevor Forest/Kilbroney Park (BT34 3AA). From Belfast, follow the A1 to Newry then the A2 through Warrenpoint; the park entrance is on the left on Shore Road. Parking charges apply and the park gates keep seasonal hours (roughly 9am-9pm in summer, 9am-5pm in winter), so check current times before you visit. Translink's Goldline Service 238 runs from Belfast (Europa Buscentre) to Newry daily and can carry two full-sized bikes in its luggage compartment free of charge (book ahead with Translink); from Newry it's about 10 miles by bike to Kilbroney Forest Park via Warrenpoint.

Where to Stay

Rostrevor village itself is the closest base, with Kilbroney Park's own caravan and camping site right at the trailhead. Newcastle, about 40 minutes away, has the widest range of accommodation and is also home to Bike Mourne's third outlet, and Warrenpoint offers a quieter alternative a few minutes from the trailhead. From Newcastle or Rostrevor it's easy to pair the trip with Castlewellan Mountain Bike Trails, about half an hour away, on the same weekend.

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