25,000 cyclists flock to Castlewellan bike trails

25,000 cyclists flock to Castlewellan bike trails

2 April 2014

OVER 25,000 mountain bikers have flocked to Castlewellan’s new purpose built trail since the summer — double the number of visitors expected.

Outdoor Recreation NI revealed the figures as part of an update of their work on the Mourne mountain bike trails and Castlewellan Forest Park to Down Council on Monday.

Claire Jones from the organisation said their vision for Castlewellan was of a vibrant, modern, welcoming outdoor facility.

As well as local community day use she said she wanted it to be considered as a “premiere tourist attraction” comparable with other forest parks in Great Britain.

Developing equestrian facilities, concerts, pod camping accommodation, the arboretum and cafe facilities are all being considered. A gondola lift is also on the wish list.

In total the projects currently being worked on come to a value £0.5m.

Councillors also saw a proposed new bilingual sign for the Peace Maze in Castlewellan and heard plans for a similar sign indicating the different mountains of Mourne in Irish.

The two national mountain bike trail centres opened in Castlewellan and Rostrevor

last summer, with backers including the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Down Council and Newry and Mourne District Council, Sport Northern Ireland, Forest Service of Northern Ireland and Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland.

Councillor Stephen Burns said people travelling in cars with their mountain bikes was now becoming a common sight in Castlewellan.

Welcoming the news of 26,348 visitors so far to the 25km of cross-country trails, coun-

cillor Burns said: “We have people coming from all over the world.”