{"id":3709,"date":"2022-05-12T13:14:52","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T13:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/?p=3709"},"modified":"2022-05-12T13:14:52","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T13:14:52","slug":"slieve-bloom-a-brand-new-cycling-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2022\/05\/12\/slieve-bloom-a-brand-new-cycling-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Slieve Bloom – A brand new cycling experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

An array of brand new cycling trails have been popping up in Co. Offaly, earning The Faithful County a place in the list of Irish cycling hotspots. The Slieve Bloom<\/a> Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges in Europe, now includes over 80kms of bespoke trail riding \u2013 with designs on boosting local business and tourism in the area in the process.<\/p>\n

This newly-promoted initiative, which is a partnership between F\u00e1ilte Ireland, Coillte and Offaly and Laois County Councils, endorses not only a whole host of hiking and biking trails, but also heritage attractions, angling and bird-watching opportunities; basically, just about everything an outdoor enthusiast could fancy. We\u2019ve put the spotlight on what you should expect on a visit to Slieve Bloom..\u2026<\/p>\n

Happy trails<\/strong><\/p>\n

With its rolling hills, paths and roadways, Slieve Bloom offers a stunning setting for both road and mountain biking \u2013 and whether you\u2019re a beginner looking to learn the ropes on flat surfaces, or an experienced biker awaiting a new challenge, you\u2019ll find the right terrain for you.<\/p>\n

For those on the hunt for high speed thrills, there are 35kms of brand-new mountain biking trails, with trailheads being situated at Kinnity and Baunreagh. These are specifically marked trails designed for MTBs, with varying difficulty levels catered for. You\u2019ll find these waymarked trails colour-coded<\/a>, ranging from blue, (moderate with some single-track sections) to red (difficult, with climbs and tricky descent).<\/p>\n

For a cycle that\u2019s breathtaking in every sense of the word, we recommend a trip towards \u2018The Cut\u2019, which sits at an elevation of 430m, promising views across the Midlands; if you\u2019re really lucky, it\u2019s said you can see as far as Armagh on a clear day!<\/p>\n

To delve more into the world of cycling at Slieve Bloom, check out the array of trails on this map <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. And, if you\u2019re feeling inspired, we\u2019ve got even more <\/em>recommended mountain biking trails for beginners in our shortlist.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Location, location, location<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sitting just over an hour from Dublin and Limerick, Slieve Bloom\u2019s central location makes it an entirely accessible option for both day trippers and those looking to staycation. For those planning on staying, there are plenty of accommodation options nearby; some recommendations include Kinnity Castle Hotel, Barrow View B&B, Streamstown Caravan & Camping Park and O\u2019Brien\u2019s Cottage. For more accommodation ideas, check out Slieve Bloom\u2019s Where to Stay guide.<\/a><\/p>\n

Once there, you\u2019ll find something of an outlier in Irish terms; considering the country isn\u2019t flush with forestry, the Slieve Bloom area is altogether special. Dominated by the coniferous woodland of Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine, it\u2019s also home to a 2,300 hectare nature reserve<\/a>, Ireland\u2019s largest state owned Special Area of Conservation. Families can enjoy wildlife walks which are guided by local conservation rangers, bringing you up close and very personal to a true haven for flora and fauna.<\/p>\n

Watch out for the Hen Harrier, one of the rarest birds of prey in Ireland, as they can often be seen nesting on the ground on the bog and heath!<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, if you fancy trading your bike for a different type of saddle then the Birr Equestrian Centre<\/a> offers hourly, half-day and full-day trekking in the mountains \u2013 perfect for those looking to keep things active. Mind, there\u2019s been plenty of praise reserved for the area\u2019s charming country pubs, too \u2013 so you should well entertained whether in the saddle or out\u2026<\/p>\n

The road ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Whilst the development of Slieve Bloom\u2019s mountain biking trails is welcome news, it\u2019s likely to just be the beginning; the Irish Government\u2019s \u2018Our Rural Future\u2019 policy has set out to invest more than \u20ac11 million in cycling trails across the country.<\/p>\n

Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development, spoke about the importance of outdoor recreation for mental health and wellbeing, in addition to local and international tourism.<\/a> With a number of projects on track to develop further MTB centres in Limerick, Sligo, Dublin and Wicklow, the goal of the overall initiative is to position Ireland as a leading international destination for trail cycling.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for more recommended cycling trails to explore, check out <\/em>our guide on the best cycling routes located across Ireland<\/em><\/a>, with varying difficulty catered for!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An array of brand new cycling trails have been popping up in Co. 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