Mountain Biking Trails in Galway, Ireland
I have been working in the hospitality industry in Ireland for many years and in recent years there has been huge rise in popularity of activity holidays. I work for the Drury Court Hotel which is located in Dublin, however a lot of our guests would travel from here to Galway, in the west of Ireland for its mountain biking. Although, there is very good biking trails located in the Dublin Mountains and the Wicklow Mountains. Below I take a look at two of the most popular Mountain Bike trails in County Galway.
Derroura Mountain Bike Trail
Bike: On this trail it would be advisable to use a mountain bike with full suspension because of the terrain. However there are people that bike this trail with a range of bikes from basic to high quality mountain bikes.
Close By: The closest town to the trail car park, which has parking for approximately 30 cars, is Oughterard. The town of Oughterard is approximately 6km away and has a variety of shops and restaurants.
The Trail: The Derroura Mountain Bike Trail is a forest trail and has quite a variable terrain and begins with a winding single track over natural granite. This leads to a steady climb which soon turns into very stoney ground, this is why we advise bikes with full suspension. When you reach the summit you will be treated to incredible views of the surrounding landscape. The descent is my favourite part of this trail and is made up of a long north shore that brings you through the beautiful Connemara bogs. This is not a difficult trail but it is a lot of fun and the country side location makes it all the better.
Derroura Mountain Bike Trail
Graph of Bike Trail Elevation
Portumna Mountain Bike Trails
Bike: This trail is suitable for riders of any type of mountain bike or even hybrid.
Close by: This trail is located just 1km away from the town of Portumna. This is a wonderful town and there are plenty of restaurants and bed & breakfasts in the town itself and the surrounding areas. There is also a car park and toilet facilities at the beginning of the trail.
The Trails: There are three mountain bike trails at Portumna, these are called Bonaveen, Rinmaher and Woodland. They are all relatively easy trails which makes them ideal for younger riders as well as those who may be just starting off in mountain biking. More experienced riders would definitely prefer the Derroura trail. The terrain is made up of compacted hardcore which means that it can be a little loose but it is ideal for these short and quick trails. There can also be walkers on these trails so it is advisable to visit the Portumna trails during the week when it is quieter.
The weather in Ireland can often be cold and wet, even in the summer months, so it is advisable to bring appropriate clothing if you are planning on biking in Dublin or in Galway.
3 comments
Ah Ireland. Reading this post brings back very fond memories of when I was there in ’93.
You’ve been a lot of great places, Barry. I look forward to reading your upcoming blog posts about the new bike routes in Japan.
Thanks Kevin. Once I get my a-into-g, and check-out some of those new trails,I can start posting them.