Best Cycling Routes in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is built for cycling in ways you might not expect. The distances between towns are short. The roads, once you’re off the motorways, are quiet. The scenery shifts from coast to mountain to farmland within a few miles. And a growing network of traffic-free greenways and dedicated cycle paths means you don’t always need to share the road with cars.

Whether you want a gentle towpath ride, a coastal route with Atlantic views, or a climb into the mountains that’ll make your legs hurt for days, Northern Ireland has it. Here are the best routes.

The Causeway Coast: Ballycastle to Portstewart

Distance: Approximately 50 km (30 miles) one way Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (hilly coastal roads) Surface: Road

This is the showpiece. A route along one of the most dramatic coastlines in Europe, passing the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, the Dark Hedges, and a string of bays and headlands that will make you stop repeatedly to stare.

The route follows a combination of the A2 coast road and quieter back roads between Ballycastle and Portstewart. The terrain is hilly — the coastline rises and falls as it crosses headlands — and some sections of the A2 carry traffic, especially in summer. But the rewards are extraordinary. You’ll pass Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, ride through the village of Ballintoy (the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones), coast past Whitepark Bay, and climb to views of the Giant’s Causeway from above.

Tips: Start from Ballycastle heading west for prevailing winds at your back. Allow a full day — not because of the distance, but because you’ll stop constantly. The stretch between Ballintoy and the Giant’s Causeway is the most scenic. Our Causeway Coastal Route guide covers the same stretch by car if you want to plan stops in advance.

The Lagan Towpath: Belfast to Lisburn

Distance: 19 km (12 miles) one way Difficulty: Easy Surface: Paved and compacted gravel, traffic-free

The perfect introduction to cycling in Northern Ireland, and one of the best urban-to-rural rides anywhere. The Lagan Towpath follows the River Lagan from Belfast’s Odyssey complex south through parks, woodland, and countryside to Lisburn.

You start in the city — bridges, apartments, the Waterfront Hall — and within a few kilometres you’re in parkland. By Clement Wilson Park, the city has disappeared entirely. The towpath follows the old Lagan Navigation canal, flat and straight, with the river beside you and woodland on either side. Herons stand in the shallows. Kingfishers flash past if you’re lucky.

At Lisburn, you can continue south on the towpath toward Moira, or return the way you came. The round trip from Belfast to Lisburn and back is a comfortable 38 km on flat ground — a perfect half-day ride.

Tips: The towpath gets busy near Belfast on sunny weekends — pedestrians, runners, dogs. Be patient and use your bell. Bike hire is available in Belfast.

The Comber Greenway: Belfast to Comber

Distance: 11 km (7 miles) one way Difficulty: Easy Surface: Paved, traffic-free

A converted railway line running from east Belfast to the town of Comber in County Down. Completely flat, completely traffic-free, and one of the most popular cycling routes in the greater Belfast area.

The Greenway passes through Orangefield Park, across the Knock dual carriageway (via a bridge), and out through suburban Belfast into countryside. The final stretch into Comber runs alongside farmland with views toward Strangford Lough and the Mourne Mountains on clear days.

From Comber, confident riders can continue on quiet roads to Strangford Lough’s western shore — one of the most peaceful cycling landscapes in Down. Our Strangford Lough guide covers the area in detail.

Tips: This is ideal for families and beginners. From Comber, you can pick up the route toward Newtownards and around the Ards Peninsula on road.

The Newry Canal Way: Newry to Portadown

Distance: 32 km (20 miles) one way Difficulty: Easy Surface: Compacted gravel and paved sections, traffic-free

The Newry Canal — built in the 1730s and one of the oldest summit-level canals in the British Isles — has a towpath running its full length from Newry to Portadown. It’s flat, quiet, and remarkably beautiful in a understated way.

The route passes through gentle farmland, alongside the canal and the Upper Bann river, through villages and under stone bridges. It’s not dramatic in the way the Causeway Coast is dramatic — it’s the other kind of beauty, the kind that comes from quietness and space and the slow movement of water.

Birdlife is abundant along the canal: swans, moorhens, herons, and in winter, large flocks of whooper swans. The towpath is well-maintained and suitable for hybrid or touring bikes (thin road tyres may struggle in places after rain).

Tips: The canal can be ridden in either direction. Portadown to Newry is very slightly downhill. Combine with a visit to Newry or the Ring of Gullion for a fuller day.

Strangford Lough Loop

Distance: Approximately 80 km (50 miles) full loop Difficulty: Moderate Surface: Road (quiet lanes)

A circuit of Strangford Lough — Northern Ireland’s largest sea inlet — on quiet country lanes through some of the most gentle and beautiful landscape in County Down.

The route follows both shores of the lough, connecting Newtownards, Comber, Killyleagh, Downpatrick, Strangford village, and Portaferry (with a short ferry crossing). The roads are mostly flat to gently rolling, traffic is light outside main towns, and the views across the lough — especially in the golden light of late afternoon — are superb.

Points of interest along the way include Castle Ward (Winterfell in Game of Thrones), Nendrum Monastery on Mahee Island, the medieval tower houses that dot the lough’s shoreline, and Portaferry’s Exploris Aquarium.

Tips: The Strangford to Portaferry ferry shortens the southern loop and is a pleasant crossing. Break the loop into two days if you want to explore stops properly. The eastern shore (Ards Peninsula side) is quieter than the western shore.

The Great Eastern Trail: Belfast to Whitehead

Distance: 24 km (15 miles) one way Difficulty: Easy to moderate Surface: Mix of greenway and road

This route follows the shore of Belfast Lough from the city north to the seaside town of Whitehead, passing through Holywood, Bangor, and Carrickfergus. Parts of it follow dedicated cycle paths; other sections use coastal roads.

The highlights are the views across Belfast Lough — on a clear day, you can see both shores — and the seaside towns along the way. Holywood has good cafés. Carrickfergus has its Norman castle. Whitehead is a quiet Edwardian seaside town with a railway museum and a lighthouse you can walk to.

Tips: The route is being developed further as part of the National Cycle Network, so conditions improve year on year. Check for the most current route guidance from Sustrans NI.

The Sperrins: Gortin to Draperstown

Distance: Variable (40-70 km depending on route) Difficulty: Challenging Surface: Road

The Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone are Northern Ireland’s least-visited upland area, and that’s precisely why they’re brilliant for cycling. The roads are empty. The landscapes are vast — rolling bogland, heather moorland, river valleys, and open sky. You will see more sheep than cars.

A route from Gortin through the Sperrins to Draperstown — or variations through Plumbridge, Cranagh, and the Glenelly Valley — offers proper mountain cycling. The climbs are long and steady rather than savage, but the exposed uplands mean wind can be a factor.

This is cycling for those who want solitude and space. There are no cafés on the mountain roads — carry food and water. The reward is a landscape that feels almost uninhabited and views that stretch to Donegal, the Mournes, and on rare clear days, Scotland.

Tips: Check weather before heading into the Sperrins. Cloud and rain can descend fast. Roads are generally in fair condition but narrow in places. This area is best appreciated by experienced cyclists comfortable with remote conditions.

Ring of Gullion

Distance: Approximately 60 km (37 miles) loop Difficulty: Moderate to challenging Surface: Road

The Ring of Gullion in south Armagh is a volcanic ring dyke — a geological feature visible from space — that creates a natural circular route through some of Northern Ireland’s most underrated landscape.

The route follows quiet roads around Slieve Gullion, passing through villages, past archaeological sites, and through a landscape steeped in mythology (this is Cú Chulainn country). The ascent of Slieve Gullion itself (from the Forest Park) is a rewarding detour on foot if you’re willing to lock the bike and hike.

Tips: South Armagh is beautiful, quiet, and rarely visited by tourists. The roads are good, the traffic is minimal, and the Ring itself is a natural route that doesn’t need much navigation.

Practical Information

Bike Hire

Bike hire is available in Belfast from several operators — Belfast Bikes (the city’s public bike-share scheme) for short urban rides, and private hire shops for day or multi-day hires of road bikes, hybrids, and e-bikes. Hire is also available in some tourist towns along the Causeway Coast.

E-Bikes

E-bike hire is increasingly available and makes the hillier routes (Causeway Coast, Sperrins, Ring of Gullion) accessible to riders who might otherwise find them too demanding. The Causeway Coast on an e-bike is an outstanding experience.

Maps and Navigation

Sustrans maintains the National Cycle Network in Northern Ireland and provides route maps. OpenStreetMap and cycling-specific apps (Komoot, Ride with GPS) have good coverage of Northern Ireland’s routes.

Weather

Pack a rain jacket. Always. Northern Ireland can deliver four seasons in a day, and getting caught in rain on an exposed coastal or mountain road is miserable without waterproofs. Layering is key: a base layer, a windproof, and a rain layer will see you through most conditions.

Safety

Northern Ireland’s roads are generally safe for cycling. Drivers are mostly courteous — this isn’t London. However, rural roads can be narrow, and some lack hard shoulders. Use lights, wear visible clothing, and be cautious on blind bends.

When to Go

May to September gives the best weather and longest daylight. June and July are peak, with daylight lasting until 10 p.m. or later — long enough for an evening ride after a full day of sightseeing. Spring and autumn are quieter on the roads and often have excellent cycling weather between the rain.

Northern Ireland’s cycling infrastructure is growing fast, and the landscape was always there. Two wheels and a willingness to get rained on occasionally will show you a side of the place that car windows can’t.