There is no better time to be in mountain forests than spring. Bluebells and daffodils blossom, bringing bursts of colour. Soothing sunlight rays shine through the trees, which are now fully clothed with their green leaves, as the wildlife reawakens and the sweet song of birdsong fills the air.
Spring offers the perfect balance of pleasant weather, accessible trails, and vibrant nature, making it an ideal season for mountain biking. There’s no better way to see the vibrancy of nature in spring than by getting on your bike and going exploring.
But whether it’s a foggy morning or a bright sunny day, the Slieve Bloom mountains can be an incredibly atmospheric place to be.
Here, we share some tips on what to know about mountain biking in the Slieve Bloom mountains:
Know your trail grades
Spanning over 2,300 hectares across Offaly and Laois, the Slieve Bloom mountains offer over 80km of purpose-built, single-bike trails to explore. Within the mountains, there are a variety of graded routes to choose from for various abilities.
The blue trails are moderate and suitable for intermediate mountain bikers with basic off-road cycling experience – expect some slight challenges throughout. The red-graded routes are more challenging and are suited to those with experience in mountain biking, while the black grade is severe throughout with greater challenges and difficulties and is suited for expert mountain bikers with high levels of fitness.
All trails are waymarked in one direction and will take you through a mix of beautiful forests, riverside routes, open land with fantastic panoramic views, as well as some sections of public and forest roads.
Whichever type of trail you take, you can be sure to expect sweeping turns, flowy downhills, rocky parts and small jumps on these thrilling tracks that climb high into the mountains!
Discovering the biking routes – Kinnitty
Kinnity has a network of purpose-built singletrack trails and forest roads that are designated for use by mountain bikes on a waymarked circular route. Forest road climbs lead you into tight twisty singletrack with lots of fast descents, ups and downs, tight turns and technical rocky bits, guaranteed to leave you smiling!
The trails are waymarked in one direction, and the route uses multiple sections of forest roads and crosses many walking trails. You should expect to encounter vehicles and other forest users at any time, so be prepared!
• Blue route – Leaving Kinnitty Village the route follows the public road, caution with other road users is needed. Turning right into Kinnitty GAA club, pick up the wide ‘dual direction’ trail which leads to ‘The Hub’, a key point on your journey in the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails.
The route climbs uphill from ‘The Hub’ on the ‘Bluebell’ trail all the way to ‘Waypoint 1’, where riders should bear right, following the blue directional arrows. Trail highlights include ‘Cool Runnings’, ‘Rock & Roll’ and ‘The Full Hog’. The full distance of the Kinnitty Blue route is 9km taking 1-2 hours, but there is an optional shortcut which reduces the distance. The trails vary from fast and flowing to tight and technical – sometimes steep and narrow, with variable surfaces including rock, roots, mud, loose stones and gravel. This trail is for proficient cyclists only.
• Red route – The 23km red grade route is difficult throughout with numerous severe sections along the route. It shares the same outward leg as the Kinnitty Blue route, climbing from Kinnitty Village, through ‘The Hub’ and past ‘Waypoint 1’. Follow the red directional arrows to the next junction until you arrive at ‘Waypoint 2’. Once here, there are two red-grade routes to choose from, ‘Mountain Top’ to the left or ‘River Run’ to the right.
The ‘River Run’ route begins with a climb on the ‘Yellow Brick Road’ trail, followed by the fast, rocky descent of ‘ASAP,’ leading to a road crossing at ‘The Blue Gates Upper.’ Next, ‘The Cobbler’ trail winds through the Connor’s homestead and climbs through towering pines before descending to the Camcor River. The ‘Valley Run’ trail crosses Stillbrook Hill into the next valley, where the main descents – ‘Secret Squirrel,’ ‘Yeti,’ and ‘Last Chance’ – take you down to the river again. After crossing back at ‘The Blue Gates South,’ a final climb leads to ‘Waypoint 4.’ From here, you can either shortcut via the ‘Cool Runnings’ trail or continue uphill. The climb culminates in a thrilling 4km descent, ‘Space Jam,’ which returns you to the trailhead in Kinnitty Village. The ‘River Run’ route is 23km, taking between 2-3 hours.
If you opt for the ‘Mountain Top’ route, expect some amazing singletrack descents, starting with ‘Twist & Shout’, a beautiful flow trail with over 40 berms and zero pedalling! A short forest road climb leads to ‘Road Runner,’ a high-speed swoop down to the historic Lime Kiln. Caution is needed when crossing the road at ‘The Lime Kiln North.’ Next up is ‘Mitchells,’ a winding trail past the homestead, down to ‘Waypoint 3.’ Riders can continue on the Mountain Top route or take the red-grade ‘Crystal Maze’ trail to the Laois network (for experienced riders only). Then, ‘Flintstones’ delivers a short, fun descent, followed by a climb to the iconic ‘Donkey Kong’ and ‘Nature Valley’ trails. The route finishes by merging with the River Run back to Kinnitty Village. Mountain Top is a distance of 31km, with 570 metres of climbing, taking between 2-4 hours.
• Black route – The black grade route offers a challenging experience, featuring severe difficulty throughout. Riders will encounter rapidly changing trail conditions, ranging from fast and flowing sections to tight and technical terrain. Prolonged, steep, and narrow paths are common, often with drop-offs and variable surfaces such as rock, roots, mud, loose stones, and gravel, which can become slippery when wet.
This black route is best suited for highly experienced and competent mountain bikers. The route includes highlight trails like Renegade and Reactor, covering a total distance of 16 km, typically requiring between 1.5 to 3 hours to complete.
Discovering the biking routes – Laois
Like the Offaly route, Laois has a network of purpose-built singletrack trails and forest roads that are designated for use by mountain bikes on a waymarked circular route.
There are also three grades of trails to choose from, and the route uses multiple sections of forest roads and crosses many walking trails. Here are the highlights of the Slieve Bloom mountain trails in Laois:
• Blue route – The 11km Baunreagh Blue Route takes you through the entire Baunreagh Valley, starting at Baunreagh House. You’ll begin with the ‘Monkey Puzzle’ and ‘Take 2’ climbs. The first descent, ‘Free Wheel,’ is a fast, flowing trail leading to ‘Waypoint 1.’ Follow the blue arrows left, avoiding the red trail to the right. The ‘Stairway to Heaven’ climb leads to ‘Waypoint 2,’ where you can either stay on the blue route or take the challenging red grade ‘Drop and Roll’ trail to Offaly (for experienced riders only).
Next, a steep forest road climb brings you to the highest point of the valley, followed by the thrilling ‘Thunder’ descent to ‘Waypoint 3.’ Continue left on the blue route, then tackle the ‘Lightning’ trail to ‘Waypoint 4.’ From there, the ‘Return of the Jedi’ and ‘Tetris’ trails complete the descent, returning you to the Baunreagh trailhead. This moderate blue grade trail includes technical sections, with varying surfaces like rock, roots, mud, and gravel. Steep and narrow in places, it’s suitable for proficient riders only and takes between 1.5-2.5 hours to complete.
• Red route – The 12km Harrier Route shares the first leg with the Baunreagh Blue Route, starting at Baunreagh Car Park. Follow ‘Monkey Puzzle,’ ‘Take 2,’ and ‘Free Wheel’ to ‘Waypoint 1.’ At this point, the Harrier route branches right onto ‘Hippity Hop,’ which follows the Delour River down to the valley floor.
After a long climb back up, enjoy the views as you ascend through Baunreagh Valley. It’s all downhill from there, continuing on the high-speed ‘Doom’ trail at ‘Waypoint 4.’ ‘Joy Rider,’ ‘On the Edge,’ and ‘Boiler’ follow, requiring minimal pedalling before reaching the Baunreagh trailhead. For an extra thrill, climb back up to ride the ‘Bippity Bop’ trail for one final descent. This difficult red-grade route is a distance of 12km, 250m elevation.
• Black route – The 13km Jailbreak Route offers an extra challenge for advanced riders. Start by following the Baunreagh Blue route to ‘Waypoint 2,’ then turn right to begin the black trail. This nearly 2km descent features steep berms, rocky pitches, and rooty sections. A large rock step marks the beginning, setting the tone for the rest of the trail. At the bottom, take a moment to catch your breath before joining the red grade ‘Harrier’ route, either right to ‘Bippity Bop’ or left to ‘Doom.’
This severe black-grade trail includes steep, technical sections with drop-offs and varying surfaces like rock, roots, mud, and gravel. The distance is 13km, with 310m elevation (via Doom) and the route can be completed in about 90-150 minutes. This trail should not be undertaken unless you are a highly experienced and highly competent mountain bike rider.
Bike rentals
While many experienced mountain bikers will likely have their own bike, if you’re looking to rent a mountain bike, Bloom E-Riders and Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Centre, both in Kinnitty, offer rentals (including electric bikes) for exploring the trails.
Located in Kinnitty Village, they provide a range of bikes suitable for different levels of mountain biking, from beginner-friendly models to more advanced options for experienced riders. Their knowledgeable staff can also offer trail advice to help you make the most of your adventure in the stunning Slieve Bloom area.
Staying safe on the mountains
When mountain biking in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, safety and proper gear are essential. Always wear a helmet, gloves, and suitable protective gear to reduce the risk of injury on the trails. Dress in moisture-wicking layers to stay comfortable, as temperatures can change quickly, especially at higher altitudes.
Don’t forget to bring a map (available on www.slievebloom.ie), sufficient water, and snacks, and be prepared for variable weather conditions. It’s also important to check your bike’s condition before heading out, and that you have an appropriate level of fitness and skill, to ensure a safe and enjoyable ride.
Happy mountain biking!