FACILITIES
Car park and charges: Yes; free
Cafe: No
Toilets: No
Showers: No
Bike wash: No
Nearest bike shop: MBW, Unit 5, Moycullen Business Park, Moycullen, Co Galway (353-91 556525)
Bike hire: No
Accommodation: B&Bs, hotels, camping and self-catering accommodation in and around the area.
Other trails on site: Natural trails and forest roads.
ENJOYMENT FOR SKILL LEVEL
Beginner: 3/10
Intermediate: 7/10
Advanced: 8/10
Getting there: From Galway head west to Clifden on the N59. Take a right turn just as you enter Rosscahill signposted for Brigit’s Garden. The car park for the trails is on your right in just under 1km.
Grid ref: M 178 380
Sat nav: Rosscahill
More info: www.trailbadger.com
TRAIL 1
On-site grade: None given
Clive’s grade: Red with Black sections
Distance: Various., our loop was 6km
Technicality: 8/10
Ascent: 80m
ENJOYMENT FOR SKILL LEVEL
Beginner: 3/10
Intermediate: 7/10
Advanced: 8/10
There is a large network of natural single-track trails here that can be connected by forest roads. The sections of single track and forest road can be ridden in any direction and order. You’re likely to encounter other trail users so take care when descending and joining on to trails and forest tracks.
Although there is minimal elevation to this area, the trails themselves will make you work hard. There are smooth chunks of rock and large boulders strewn all over the trail. The soil can become quite soft and sticky and lots of sections will be tough work on a wet day.
You will find the occasional arrow and sign but there is no obvious loop. It is worth taking either a paper map or GPS units and spending a few hours getting your bearings to find out what’s where and how to link up all the available trails.
To get to the first section of single track from the car park, head round the gate and down the forest road until you see a climb to your left. This links you into a ridge line in the trees. Here there are multiple options and trails running off in all directions. If you follow your nose in this general direction you can’t go wrong.
You will find our short 6km route available on the Garmin connect website.
Technical climbs may be short but there are plenty of them
Testing natural trails are all over the forest