Description
Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails sit in the Ballyhoura Mountains near Ardpatrick, County Limerick, and form the largest mountain bike trail network in Ireland at 98km. Coillte manages five waymarked loops here: two blue (Greenwood and Mountrussell) and three red (Tech Loop, Garrane and Castlepook), running from a gentle 7km warm up to the 51km Castlepook epic. The forest roads that link the singletrack also carry some of the best gravel riding in Munster.
The Trails
- Greenwood Loop (Blue, 7km): the easiest of the five, one gradual climb followed by one long descent on mostly narrow, twisty singletrack. A good introduction to the network.
- Mountrussell Loop (Blue, 17km): a longer version of Greenwood with more climbing and descending, still on flowing, well surfaced trail.
- Tech Loop (Red, 28km): tight, bermed turns and short jumps mixed through more technical sections.
- Garrane Loop (Red, 35km): technical singletrack throughout, with tight turns, steep descents, rock steps, exposed roots and elevated timber boardwalks.
- Castlepook Loop (Red, 51km): the longest and most demanding loop on the network, a full day out with sustained climbing and technical descending through the remoter parts of the forest.
Gravel Riding
Ballyhoura's forest road network is worth riding in its own right, not just as the climbs that link the singletrack loops. The gravel roads climb steadily through mature forestry plantations to ridgeline viewpoints over the Golden Vale, and loops from around 20km up to nearly 50km are possible starting from the same trailhead. It is a good option on a gravel bike or for a mellower day than the red loops offer, and Trailriders on site also rent gravel bikes.
Facilities
- Car park at the trailhead: pay and display, card only, currently €5 per car
- Toilets and hot showers (€2)
- Bike wash
- On site café and bike shop, run by Trailriders (see Guides, Shuttles and Hire below)
Prices are correct as of September 2026 but subject to change, so check current rates on the Coillte Ballyhoura page before you visit.
Guides, Shuttles and Hire
There is no lift or shuttle here: the network is entirely pedal access, linked by the forest road climbs between loops. For hire, guiding or a skills session, the trailhead's own bike shop covers it.
- Trailriders: hardtail, full suspension, e-bike and gravel bike hire with helmets included, plus guided rides and bike training for visitors short on local knowledge, based at the trailhead in Ardpatrick.
Getting There from the UK
Ballyhoura is in the south west of Ireland, reached from the UK by ferry or by air. Car ferries run from Holyhead or Liverpool to Dublin, from Fishguard or Pembroke to Rosslare, and from Cairnryan to Belfast, with a drive south from any of the three: Rosslare is around two hours forty minutes from the trailhead by road, Dublin around two hours fifty, and Belfast a longer four and a half hours.
By air, Shannon and Cork are both around an hour and ten minutes from the trailhead and are the closest options, with Dublin Airport about two hours fifty away by road. There is no direct public transport to Ardpatrick, so hire a car at whichever airport or port you arrive at.
Ireland drives on the left and uses the euro, not the pound. The trailhead itself is signposted from Ardpatrick village on the R512 (see Getting Here below). Riders staying a few extra days sometimes add a second network to the trip: the smaller, club-built Ballycuggaran Mountain Bike Trails, near Killaloe, are about an hour and fifteen minutes north.
When to Go
The trails at Ballyhoura are open all year, and the forest roads that link the loops stay rideable through winter, but the singletrack gets greasier after heavy rain and the upper sections are exposed to wind, so a spell of settled weather makes for a noticeably better day. Spring to autumn generally gives the easier riding.
The trailhead hosts a run of races and events most years, including mass-start cross country days and enduro rounds organised by the local club, so expect the car park to be busier on those weekends. Outside of them it is a quiet forest most of the time. Irish weather is changeable at any time of year, so check the forecast and carry a waterproof layer whatever the season.
Where to Stay
Ardpatrick itself is a small village, so most riders base themselves in one of the nearby towns: Kilfinane, Mitchelstown and Charleville are all within about half an hour of the trailhead and have everyday services, hotels and guesthouses. A handful of places closer to the forest cater specifically for mountain bikers, with secure bike storage, a wash area and a drying room.
Accommodation runs from hostels and self-catering lodges to a campervan park and small hotels, several of which offer packages aimed at cycling groups. Riding here is free, so accommodation and hire are the main costs to plan for rather than any lift pass or activity card.
Local Organisations
Team Ballyhoura MTB is the local club, meeting at the trailhead on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings and welcoming riders of all levels. Find them on Facebook. For wider updates on the trails, check the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trail Facebook page.
Trails at Ballyhoura are subject to periodic closures and diversions due to forestry operations. Always check the Coillte Ballyhoura page for current alerts before travelling.
Getting Here
The car park and trailhead is 2km south of Ardpatrick village in Co. Limerick, off the R512, at Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trailhead, Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick, V35 H263.
From Limerick: take the N20 south through Charleville and on to Ballyhea. Turn left just after Ballyhea church and follow the road for 10km to Ardpatrick village. Turn right and continue for 2.5km, then take the turn signposted Ballyhoura Forest. The car park is 1km up this road.
From Dublin: take the M7 south to Limerick and join the N20 as above. From Shannon: take the N18 south to Limerick and join the N20.
From Cork: take the N20 to Mallow, then the N72 signposted Waterford through the town. Shortly outside Mallow, turn left onto the N73 signposted Mitchelstown and travel around 13km, then turn left onto a minor road signposted Ardpatrick. The car park is around 10km up this road. Alternatively from Cork, take the M8 to exit 13, signposted Mitchelstown, follow the bypass, take the second exit at the third roundabout signposted Kildorrery, then in Kildorrery village turn right onto the R512 and continue for about 11.5km. The turn for the car park is on the left.
The car park is pay and display, card only.
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