i was out to ballinastoe last weekend for the first time in a few years the new trails were savage well done to everyone who built them alot of hard work went in up there im now thinking of taking a day trip to ballyhoura this weekend to check the trails there is it worth the travel only for the day or is ballinastoe a better trial also im in kildare so wicklow,s obviously alot shorter travel..cheers
ballinastoe or ballyhoura
I went to Ballyhoura a last weekend and had an excellent time. There is a green, brown, white, blue and red route. Each one longer than the one before in that order. We did the blue route which is 41km and takes in a lot of green, brown and white. If I was doing it again I'd stick to the white route (35km I think) as the extra km's for the blue one was mainly on fire access roads and not single track, through the forest stuff. Other than that we had a great time. Drove from Dublin and thought it was well worth the drive.
Derk,
You could do an over-nighter or weekend in Ballyhoura forest lodges / cabins? (I think they're called). Only 15min spin to the trail head. Nice warm up. Lovely log cabins. Bike friendly and its single track from the cabins to the tarmac for 8 of that 15mins.
Got family, the kids will love it. Got friends? bring them and split the cost. Heck post it here and you may get some takers.
Why suggest an over-nighter? You'll get more time to spin around at leisure plus if you bomb down and back in a day you run the risk of sleep driving home after 40km of single track and a good feed after. Its a good 1.30 to 2hrs from Newlands Cross.
Oh and the quality.... all good, as fast and technical as you want it. Nothing too taxing. Nothing too extreme... actually nothing extreme.
Remember, do 2days and hit section faster the second day. Each of the 4 routes can be done as 1 big loop or 4 individual fast short loops.
Enjoy and let us know
You could do an over-nighter or weekend in Ballyhoura forest lodges / cabins? (I think they're called). Only 15min spin to the trail head. Nice warm up. Lovely log cabins. Bike friendly and its single track from the cabins to the tarmac for 8 of that 15mins.
Got family, the kids will love it. Got friends? bring them and split the cost. Heck post it here and you may get some takers.
Why suggest an over-nighter? You'll get more time to spin around at leisure plus if you bomb down and back in a day you run the risk of sleep driving home after 40km of single track and a good feed after. Its a good 1.30 to 2hrs from Newlands Cross.
Oh and the quality.... all good, as fast and technical as you want it. Nothing too taxing. Nothing too extreme... actually nothing extreme.
Remember, do 2days and hit section faster the second day. Each of the 4 routes can be done as 1 big loop or 4 individual fast short loops.
Enjoy and let us know