Cycling in the City: Belfast Cycling Holidays

A stone’s throw away from the coast, Belfast is a city bursting with beauty, culture and heritage. The birthplace of the infamous Titanic, there are plenty of city attractions to enjoy, and with stunning scenery and greenery to discover, what better way to explore this city than by bicycle? Belfast is a top choice for cycling holidays with plenty of routes, tours and bicycle hire available.

Take a look at Leonardo Hotel's choices of top cycle routes in Belfast city centre.

Barnett Demense Mountain Bike Trails

Start/End: Mary Peters Track in South Belfast

Route Type: Forest

Distance: 5m /8 Km

Details: With three loops available, the mountain bike trails are perfect for cyclists of all abilities with each trail catering to different levels. The routes are purpose-built mountain bike trails and therefore offer a jumps park as well as plenty of challenging terrains to tackle. This is a great route for adventurous families, especially as the loops are not too long. The trails are a brief 23-minute warm-up ride from our hotel in Belfast.

Belfast Lough

 An Irish Bicycle by William Murphy / CC BY (image size has been modified)

Start: Whiteabbey

End: Belfast City Centre

Route Type: Coastal, Riverside, Urban

Distance: 7m /11.26 Km

Details: With three main points of interest and stunning views from the shoreline of Belfast Lough (including views ‘of a truly historic shipyard’), this cycle route is a Belfast gem. This linear and flat route has purpose-built cycle paths away from public roads making it an easy and safe route for all the family.

You can start the Belfast Lough trail either by getting a train up to Whiteabbey from Belfast central train station, or you can start from Belfast waterfront (an 8-minute cycle from Leonardo Hotel Belfast) and get the train back. Alternatively, if you are really brave, you can cycle the route twice (there and back).

Bog Meadows

Image by Rowan McLaughlin /Creative Commons(image size has been modified)

Route Type: Urban

Distance: 2.5m /4 Km

Details: This short circular route is a great scenic bike ride to enjoy some of Belfast’s lakes, meadows, marshes, and even some public art. The terrain is either concrete or quarry dust paths and pretty much level throughout the reserve. The ride to Bog Meadows offers a nice warm up ride with a short 13-minute cycle from our Belfast hotel.

Comber Greenway

Start: Dee Street in East Belfast

End: Comber

Route Type: Urban

Distance: 7m /11.26 Km

Details: This fantastic linear trail follows the old Belfast to Comber railway line for a scenic and interesting ride. Passing many points of interest such as the CS Lewis statue, parliament buildings and the Belfast Hills, the Comber Greenway route offers a tranquil cycle through plenty of rural beauty. If you don’t want to ride back, you can catch a train back to Belfast Central. Dee Street is a short and scenic 13-minute cycle from Leonardo Hotel Belfast as you ride along the River Lagan.

Divis Ridge Trail

Start/End: Upper Springfield Road

Route Type: Mountain

Distance: 5m /8 Km

Details: Located in the Belfast Hills, the circular Divis Ridge cycling route offers breath-taking views over Belfast. On clear days spectacular views of the Mourne mountains, Scotland, and the Isle of Man can also be seen on this route. The trail is heavily made up of tarmac and gravel terrain with a few steps and stiles to navigate through. This is a great cycle for the whole family, although challenging at times as the inclines can be tough, but offer a great ride on the way down!

If you’re keen to cover some more distance, the ride can be extended to include other trails over Divis Mountain and Black Mountain.The route is a little out of the city with either 20-minute drive or a 53-minute ride covering roughly seven miles from our Belfast hotel.

Learn more about booking a city break in Belfast.

If you're looking for other things to do around Belfast, don't forget to check out our Innsider Guide.