{"id":3784,"date":"2022-08-23T14:27:25","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T14:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/?p=3784"},"modified":"2022-08-23T14:27:25","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T14:27:25","slug":"challenge-yourself-with-irelands-toughest-hill-climbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2022\/08\/23\/challenge-yourself-with-irelands-toughest-hill-climbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenge yourself with Ireland\u2019s toughest hill climbs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cycling up steep terrain isn\u2019t for the faint hearted, but the adrenaline rush a challenging cycle promises is second to none. Ireland\u2019s dramatic scenery includes a whopping 31 mountain ranges, and as you\u2019d expect they\u2019re an oasis for anyone who fancies themselves a keen climber.<\/p>\n

The Emerald Isle boasts some seriously testing \u2013 and hugely rewarding! \u2013 climbs for road cyclists and MTBers alike \u2013 so let\u2019s take a look at some recommended routes and facilities, focusing on what you should expect if you\u2019re heading for the hills…<\/p>\n

Ballyhoura<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Located in the south west, the Ballyhoura Mountains are the largest trail network in the country, providing over 98km of breathtaking routes \u2013 which include a fair share of tough forest road climbs and twisty turns to please the most enthusiastic of challenge-seekers!<\/p>\n

The Castlepook route<\/a> is a 51km loop, and one of the most demanding routes of all. Starting and finishing at the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails car park, you\u2019ll traverse over mud, rocks and plenty more besides along challenging course which takes you through the length and breadth of the mountains.<\/p>\n

The en-route peak of Knockaclouracaun sits at an elevation of 310m, providing stunning views across the counties of Cork, Limerick and Tipperary \u2013 and the perfect place for a pit stop and refuel!<\/p>\n

For a bit more of an easier cycle, the 6km Greenwood loop<\/a> allows you to explore mountain biking with some moderate climbs, and is done in a jiffy too.<\/p>\n

In the nearby area, you can immerse yourself in the lush surroundings of Lough Gur, a horseshoe shaped lake which is regarded as one of Ireland\u2019s archaeological gems as humans are known to have lived in this area since around 3000 BC. The Norman town of Kilmallock, nestled at the foot of the hills, is also steeped in history with its heritage centre also worth a visit.<\/p>\n

For all your bike hire needs, the locally run Trailriders<\/a> offer expert advice on all things mountain biking in the area so you\u2019ll have everything you need to jump into the saddle.<\/p>\n

Coolaney<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Located in Co. Sligo, Coolaney offers a network of purpose-built MTB trails surrounding the Ox Mountains. Promising views across Sligo Bay and over towards Ballisodare, these trails form part of an exciting new development with new routes currently under construction.<\/p>\n

One of the most challenging routes at the moment is the red grade trail<\/a>; its varying terrain and steep incline makes it unsuitable for inexperienced riders.<\/p>\n

The loop starts at Coolaney village, and then follows the route towards the \u2018Two Way Junction.\u2019 With a shorter (10km) and longer (20km) route to choose from, riders can expect to cycle on singletrack paths which are extremely narrow and open to the elements, taking you through thick forest and heathland; hard work, but the sense of achievement makes it more than worth it!<\/p>\n

The nearby small town of Coolaney offers the perfect after cycle rest stop with its collection of restaurants and bars. Sligo Town is also only a 20 minute drive away, hailed as an ideal staycation destination.<\/p>\n

Glencullen<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Nestled on the Dublin\/Wicklow border and just a 20 minute drive from Dublin city, Glencullen is a village which can be found at the foot of the Dublin Mountains \u2013 a popular location for day trippers, cyclists and walkers alike due to its location.<\/p>\n

The Glencullen Adventure Park (GAP) is a gravity bike park with trails open between Wednesday and Sunday. They also offer bike rentals, have an on-site caf\u00e9 and run a series of \u2018pedal up\u2019 sessions making it a fantastic amenity for all of the family.<\/p>\n

Their advanced red trail<\/a> features a variety of steep descents and varying surfaces making the route only suitable for the most enthusiastic cyclists with an advanced level of off-road bike handling experience. Along the route you\u2019ll find the \u2018Giant\u2019s Grave\u2019, an ancient megalithic tomb which has been regarded as one of the most in-tact in the whole of Ireland.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re also only a 20 minute cycle away from Enniskerry, where there are a further 41 cycling and walking trails to explore, such as the Ballinastowe route with its breathtaking views out towards the Sugarloaf Mountain.<\/p>\n

Now that you\u2019re up to speed with the toughest hill climbs for MTB enthusiasts, take a look at our <\/em>shortlist of the best affordable mountain bikes<\/em><\/a> out there on the market.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cycling up steep terrain isn\u2019t for the faint hearted, but the adrenaline rush a challenging cycle promises is second to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":3785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"global-categories":[73],"class_list":["post-3784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cycling-in-ireland","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nChallenge yourself with Ireland\u2019s toughest hill climbs - \u0160koda We Love Cycling - Ireland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2022\/08\/23\/challenge-yourself-with-irelands-toughest-hill-climbs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Challenge yourself with Ireland\u2019s toughest hill climbs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cycling up steep terrain isn\u2019t for the faint hearted, but the adrenaline rush a challenging cycle promises is second to […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/ie\/2022\/08\/23\/challenge-yourself-with-irelands-toughest-hill-climbs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u0160koda We Love Cycling - 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