Taking mountain biking to new levels

Taking mountain biking to new levels

8 May 2013

OVER 25 kilometres of world-class mountain bike trails were officially unveiled in Castlewellan Forest Park this week.

The £1.8m cross-country trails and purpose built pump track are expected to attract upwards of 13,000 visitors in the first year alone.

Coupled with a further 50 kilometre trail network in Rostrevor, the wider Mournes region is expected to see a significant boost to the local economy.

With a wide variety of colour-coded mountain biking trails, from the gentle green and blue graded loops, to the more invigorating red graded trail with hair-raising black options, Castlewellan has attracted the attention of mountain bikers all across Ireland. Major events such as the Single Speed European Championships are already planned for April next year.

The Castlewellan Mountain Bike Trails, powered by Chain Reaction Cycles, have been made possible with funding from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Down Council, Newry and Mourne District Council and Sport NI with support from Forest Service of Northern Ireland and Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland.

Welcoming this week’s launch, Down Council chairman Mickey Coogan said mountain biking was enjoying surge in popularity.

“Despite having the ideal landscape for trails, we are only beginning to harness the huge benefits that this growing adventure activity can bring to Castlewellan and the surrounding area,” he said.

“Combining the stunning trails here in Castlewellan with the trails in Rostrevor allows us to create a short break mountain biking destination here in the Mournes. As such, our project contribution of £175,000 will not only provide unique recreational facilities for the local community but will also result in a positive injection of activity tourists to our corner of Northern Ireland.”

Chris Scott, from MountainBikeNI.com, which provides detailed route deions, interactive mapping and information on bike hire, said: “We are very excited about the new mountain bike trails here in Castlewellan. From the outset we have striven to develop trails that will complement Castle-wellan’s stunning surroundings and could not be happier with the results that we can see here today.”

One local businessman, John Ross, from Ross Cycles said the new trails were a major boost to the Castlewellan area.

“It’s tremendous what they have done. You are about 12 foot from the path, in some cases beside the path, then you go off up a mountain,” he said.

“I have been in the bike business for 44 years and I have never seen as much of a boost in outdoor activities as in the past two or three years, when more people have been getting involved. We have had an increase in every field from hire bikes to going off road to explore the park.

“People are coming here at weekends from the rest of the UK, which you can see from hire cars and hear in voices, so Castlewellan is going to be a booming place soon.”

Members of Dromara Cycle Club, which have already started using the new mountain bike trails in Castlewellan, are also giving it the thumbs up.

Martin Grimley said it will be good for winter training, for all year round cycling, for families and good for Castlewellan.

“Mountain biking is on the rise and trails are on the crest of a wave at the minute. As more people are out on bikes there will be an awful lot of bikes sold so bike shops will do very well,” he said.

“We welcome Down Council’s involvement in financing and the design of the tracks which are top quality trails to rival the trails in Scotland.

The Shimna Wheelers are a Newcastle based cycling club and are looking forward to using a trail close to home for their winter training.

Eugene Carville, secretary of Shimna Wheelers, said the trail is unbelievable and people are saying good things about it. “The designer has brought hints and tips from Barnard Demense and Rostrevor to Castlewellan,” he said.

“It’s only a few miles from Newcastle and it’s a very natural course, it will flow very well.

“Mountain biking is very popular with cycle clubs. Lots use it over the winter as it is a bit of fun and keeps up the muscles for spring and summer. It is safe cycling in forest parks with lights on, safer than the roads in winter, so it will take off really well with everybody.

“I am delighted with it and can’t wait to use it.”