Mountain Bike trails in the Galway area

Tormentd

Not sure if this was posted before, i couldn't find anything. Does anyone know of good mountain bike trails around Galway, where you can have a bit of fun throwing the bike around?

Interceptor

Depends where you are and how wild you want things to get. Barna woods is harmless fun but it gets old quickly due to being small. There are lots of places out near Moycullen and further toward Oughterard with woods, hills and jumps. There aren't many places in the city but if you are prepared to travel there are lots of good spots. For some of the fastest offroad in the county, head for Belclare (near Tuam) cycle up Cnocma, then turn around and hope a tree doesn't get you.

'cptr

ciaranr

Nearer the city, try the beaches between Nimmo's pier and Mutton Island, ok for an hours diversion and bike-beating. Also woods around Daingain sports grounds in Newcastle, had a great afternoon there in a complete downpour, mud flying everywhere. There're a few small hills, nice climbs and general forest-fun.

Tormentd

cheers lads.

I've been to Barna woods loads and I'm bored of it now and sick of having to stop every corner to avoid killing little mongrels and their disgruntled owners! I've started exploring the forestry to the left of oughterard but so far I havn't found anything too exciting. It's a balls having to drive there, find a forestry road, put the bike together, and find out it only goes 200yds!!

Where abouts in Moycullen do you go Interceptor? And how do you get to that Belclare spot? Is there much of a run?
Been to the parks around newcastle, was ok, but I get bored easily!!

BTW, Have any of ye heard of plans to make a mtb track in oughterard direction. Apparently coilte is looking for planning permision for it? Probably just wishful thinking though!

Morgan

A bit about the Oughterard trail:

http://www.mtbireland.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=6615.0

Interceptor

Tormentd wrote:

Where abouts in Moycullen do you go Interceptor? And how do you get to that Belclare spot? Is there much of a run?

On the far side of Moycullen - about a half mile from the 60kmh signs on the RHS of the road there are entrances to gravel paths and plenty to explore. The best stuff in Moycullen is if you turn right in the village (coming from Galway) and down about a mile there is a wooded area and it has plenty of muddy trails and paths.

Belclare is on the R333 off the N17 and a mile on the far side of it is the old Castlehacket estate. The hill of Cnocma is on the left hand side of the road and is 75% forest with a few trails running up it. You would easily get a day out of riding up and down it a half dozen times and there are lots of paths to explore.

'cptr

Tormentd

Cheers 'cptr I'll check them out, what kind of bike do you ride? Seen a few posts on the irish mtb site about trails in the clarinbridge area. Has anybody been there or know where they are, I hear theres bits of northshore...?

Interceptor

I have a Marin Rift Zone which doesn't get dirty nearly often enough! I'm sure there are plenty of places down around Clarinbridge but its out of my way so I don't know...

'cptr

dinneenp

Hi,
I created a thread with the same question!
As you're coming out of Clarinbridge (from Galway) there's a big entrance on the left (there's a swimming pool/ nurses home down there I think).
cycle/drive down and park at the grotto.
Then cycle back towards the entrance and about 100m on your left is a path into the woods.
There's some big paths (can walk on, would fit a 4*4), off road paths and general woods area.
It's massive, I spent about an hour cycling around. You can come out at the far end onto road and cycle back into Clarinbridge again. (about 5km)

The park next to Gort would be another good place I'd reckon.

Tormentd

hi dinneenp
There's also nice trails in Roscahill woods. Roscahill is past Moycullen on the oughterard road. Take a right turn after the pub on the right hand side and the woods are about a mile down that road.

Gort is ok but it's very flat...

RedPlanet

Since you have a car maybe you should try Glann (Hill of Doon). Turn right in Oughterard and the road eventually cul de sacs. I've seen a few mountain bikers there. It's a pretty long trail, i haven't walked the whole of it yet.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=53.478878,-9.47&spn=0.016831,0.027852&t=h&z=15&om=1&msa=0&msid=103878279652003479366.000001132f78dac64f359

Trail goes thru that forest there, pan left and you'll see a narrow wooden bridge over a river. It continues around that forest but that's where i stopped.

dinneenp

Thanks.
It's be nice for MTB website or some other site to have a listing of all the places around the country that are good for mountain biking.
If you're new to it it's hard to find places....

renmorescout

Hello ! That trail is part of the western way, and continues all the way to Keanes pub in Maam. I have hiked it many times and am pretty sure you could cycle it. The western way then goes over the pass at Maumeen, where there is a lovely little church, hidden in the hillside, and you can get back to the main Galway clifden Road! A check of the OS map should show the trail. The western way runs from Oughterard to Wesport, if you are feeling energetic !!

Tormentd

I checked out that hill of doon(gloom) place... just a forestry road without much single track...unless I missed it, it was pretty boring stuff. Last time I was there it was all thorn up with the logging that was goin on. If you like forestry roads and the likes theres loads of them on the other side of oughterard towards the sea. Take a left after the outdoor shop and continue on up the mountain for about 8 miles, there's an entrance into the forestry on your left, it's pretty vast with loads to explore. Like renmorescout said, an OS map comes in very handy for finding spots like these and its a matter of trial and error. Does anyone know where the mtb trails are being built in the oughterard area?

dineenp - have you checked out barna woods? it's small but there loads to do.

liko

For real fun MTB head out to Derroura near Oughterard. Trail very well prepared, lots of rocks , some climbing and generally lots of downhill on the rocky paths There are also wooden gangways - funny to fell out of :P

http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/index.php?id=53&rec_site=111&no_cache=1

yer man!

liko wrote: »

For real fun MTB head out to Derroura near Oughterard. Trail very well prepared, lots of rocks , some climbing and generally lots of downhill on the rocky paths There are also wooden gangways - funny to fell out of :P

http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/index.php?id=53&rec_site=111&no_cache=1

Is ther anywhere you could rent a proper mountain bike for this track? I have like a €300 mountain bike but I don't know if it would be up to the job. Just recently discovered proper mountain biking through the Ballyhoura track and I love it now.

derv

there's a bike shop in moycullen that rents decent hard tails,

it's called moycullen bike works, or MBW
i rented to 3 kona hard tails there a few months ago with some mates.
they charge 40-45 euro for rental which is ridiculously expensive in my opinion.

you get a bike rack with the rental too, because the derroura trail is about 20 mins from moycullen.

in galway city you can also rental good bikes from west side cycles.
not sure what the charge but they also give you a bike rack to drive out to derroura.

briN_s

I have rented bikes in this place before: http://www.derrouramountainbikehire.com/ The bikes are a higher spec than you will get in West Side Cycles in Galway, but are not as well maintained. I think its 25 euro for a hard tail, full sus also available. The bike rental place is right on the trail so no need for bike racks etc.

yer man!

briN_s wrote: »

I have rented bikes in this place before: http://www.derrouramountainbikehire.com/ The bikes are a higher spec than you will get in West Side Cycles in Galway, but are not as well maintained. I think its 25 euro for a hard tail, full sus also available. The bike rental place is right on the trail so no need for bike racks etc.

Could you use a simple hybrid bicycle for this rather than renting a proper bike? I have my own hybrid bicycle and i'm looking to getting a mountin bike eventually but I just want to try out a few trails first.

derv

i would not recommend using a a hybrid on an MTB trail,
i don't think it would be a very enjoyable experience.

my advice would be to rent a proper hard tail with good disc brakes.

yer man!

Ya seeing as it doesn't have disc brakes I don't think i'd trust it, one muddy patch and I'd be off it.

at1withmyself

yer man! wrote: »

Ya seeing as it doesn't have disc brakes I don't think i'd trust it, one muddy patch and I'd be off it.

You could check out places like Barna Woods or Renville or just some urban biking around the city.

The second part of Deroura could be done on a hybrid but the first half is tough. Basically if you follow the main path to the back of the trial and then come back in on the official section could be an option for a hybrid.