FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: MOUNTAIN BIKING

Where do your Mountain Biking tours go in Ireland?

Our Mountain Biking tours go to Ballyhoura, Limerick. Ballyhoura is the largest mountain biking trail network of it’s kind in Ireland and provides many options for off-road cycling in the mountains. Forest road climbs lead you into tight twisty singletrack with loads of ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits. The trails range from a moderate 6 kilometre Greenwood loop to the demanding Castlepook loop, over 50 kilometres in length!

Do you supply the mountain bikes?

Yes! All bikes are supplied through our local agent in Ballyhoura. All mountain bikes are maintained to the highest standards and come supplied with a helmet, pump and repair kit.

Can we bring our own bikes?

No. At the moment we are only catering for those totally new to the sport but we are currently developing tours for those with their own bikes. Check the News pages for updates.

Tell me more about the trails!

The trails are laid out as ‘stacked loops’ - this means that each loop leads onto the next and rejoins it on the way back. The loops are waymarked in one direction – just pick the colour of the loop.

The trail system, designed by one of the world leaders in the sport, is a challenging, one-way system constructed to give a challenging and rewarding ride. Please ensure you are equipped fully to undertake this adventure sport and respect other trail users at all times.

Greenwood Loop

This is the first of five loops in the trail system in the Ballyhouras and is called the Green Wood loop. This trail takes you through the lush hillsides underneath Seefin Mountain and Black Rock and is used as the outward and inward legs for the rest of the trail network.

Length: 6 kms
Colour: Green

Mountrussell Loop

The Mountrussell Loop is a more technical and physically demanding version of the Greenwood Loop and follows this as far as Waypoint 1, from where the trails become a bit more technical, narrower, rockier and steeper with more climbing and more descending.
Length: 17 Km
Colour: Brown

Garrane Loop

The Garrane Loop ventures westwards from Waypoint 3 taking in some long and fast singletrack descents as well as some long and demanding climbs on forest roads, tracks and singletrack trails
Length: 35 Km
Colour: White

Streamhill Loop

The Streamhill Loop provides an initial detour from the Garrane Loop giving a longer ride before rejoining to climb higher into the mountains. It detours again from the Garrane Loop higher up and starts some of the most demanding of the trails here with fast descents and longer climbs.
Length: 41 Km
Colour: Blue

Castlepook Loop

This is the ultimate loop of the Ballyhoura trails, being the longest and most demanding. It goes right to the southern fringes of the forest and presents you with the biggest climbs and most rewarding descents. Be prepared!
Length: 51 Km
Colour: Red

What should I bring on a Mountain Biking Tour?

Apart from a typical overnight bag you will need the following:

• Clothing – light rain jacket, shorts or tracksuit pants, wicking top or thermal, old runners(not hiking boots)
• Food - Snacks, energy bars
• Water or Sports' Drink (At least 500mls for every hour)
• Sun Screen
• Sun Glasses
• First Aid Kit
• Small back pack
• Camera