Ballyhoura Adventures

Quench your thirst for speed at the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails which are nestled in the beautiful Ballyhoura mountains straddling the counties of Cork and Limerick. The most extensive bike trail network of its kind in Ireland it provides many options for off-road cycling.

Immerse yourself deep in the lush forest alive with native wildlife. 98km of trails including forest road climbs, tight twisty singletrack with a rollercoaster of ups and downs, boardwalk, tight turns and technical rocky sections are guaranteed to leave you smiling.

The trails range from the moderate 6km Greenwood loop to the demanding Castlepook loop, over 50km in length! Take on the trails at a speed suited to your current skillset. Park your car, rent a bike of Trailriders and off you go. Showers and changing facilities are provided.

After your adrenaline-fueled adventure, you can sate your appetite at the nearby Spruce & Willow Café in Ardpatrick.

Download Mountain Bike Trails Brochure.

Do you have a head for heights? A longing for watersports or a secret addiction to axe throwing?

Ballyhass Activity Centre has it all. Stay at Ballyhass Lakes Holiday Homes or nearby Springfort Hall Country House Hotel and experience the thrills of the inflatable aquapark or splash around in kayaks. Take your adventure to the next level and learn some skills on the unique cable wakeboarding attraction.

If you want to stay dry you can scale a natural rock face or fly through the air on the 160m long zipline. Why not take the leap of faith or the gladiator challenge? All activities can be suited to various groups and abilities.

Feed your adventure at the nearby delicious Longueville House Mallow or stop by at Charleville Park Hotel for some wellness & leisure centre treat.

Put on your hiking boots and get ready for a challenge. The infamous 500km Beara-Breifne Way winds through Ballyhoura Country.

The Ballyhoura Way section is a long-distance walking route (89 kilometres) which begins at St John’s Bridge, near Kanturk, County Cork and ends at Limerick Junction, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in four days.

Follow the route along forestry tracks, open moorland, tarmac roads, and field paths. The combined ascent over the route is just over 1700m. The route traverses four upland stretches, over the Ballyhoura Mountains, Benyvoughella Hill and Slievereagh, and then a long traverse on the southern flanks of the Slievenamuck ridge, overlooking the beautiful Glen of Aherlow.

There are many accommodation providers along the way, choose the type that suits you or your group.

If you decide to choose one of the Ballyhoura Loop Walks, don't forget to download Ballyhoura Trails Guide App and find the starting point of your trails.

Ballyhoura Cycle Routes - Kilmallock Cycling Hub

Hop up on your bike to discover magnificent views of the Ballyhoura and Galty Mountains from the road, as well as ancient sites preserved in an unspoilt landscape. As part of the National Cycle Network, there is a range of looped cycle routes which traverse across the Ballyhoura region.

These are half-day or full-day cycles that guide you through forest and farmlands. You can base yourself at Kilmallock the historic walled town at the centre of these loops. Here you can find welcoming accommodation in the Deebert House Hotel & Restaurant.

Download Ballyhoura Cycling Hub Map here.

Saddle up to discover the landscape of the Ballyhoura hills. Enjoy a horseback expedition through the forests and feast your eyes on majestic mountains ranges such as the Galtees, Knockmealdowns and the Ballyhouras.

There is an excellent choice of riding an horse trekking providers in Ballyhoura:

• Ballyhoura Horse Trekking
• Boskill Equestrian Centre & Trekking
• Clonshire Equestrian Centre

Adventure Events & Festivals

Ballyhoura is an adventure mecca of Ireland and hosts some of the best adventure based events and competitions. The Coillte Biking Blitz is an annual mass start cross country mountain bike event, aimed primarily at beginners but with something for everyone. Suitable for both children and adults.

Local MTB club Team Ballyhoura also organises an exciting format of Enduro racing Ireland. 2NDURO Mountain Bike Event is double the fun as you get to race with your buddy. The minimum age for 2NDURO is 14. This event guarantees lots of fun and competitive spirit.

Ballyhass Adventure Centre runs regular competitions and adventure-based activities during the season. They also host an exiting Ballyhass Open for all the wakeboarding enthusiasts, designed completely from the ground up introducing new formats, encouraging new competitors and attracting professional riders from the UK to compete for cash prizes.