Mountain Biking Connemara

Mountain Biking Connemara

Camillaun Lodge and Oughterard is Centrally located in Connemara which allows for a great variety of looped road cycles North, South, East and West.  In addition the regions best Mountain Bike trail, Derroura, is located with a short distance of Camillaun and Oughterard. Bike hire is available nearby at the village.

Despite the rugged terrain, Oughterard and Connemara are superb areas for cyclists as the roads take a more gradual route through the hills. Again Camillaun Lodge is the ideal Centre to base yourself for day trips to places such as South Connemara, Clifden, and Leenane, and you’ll see so much more than you would from inside a car.

Camillaun Lodge looks after cyclists regularly so treat yourself and explore this wonderful countryside the healthy way – in the saddle.

Derroura Mountain Biking Trail

Distance from Camillaun Lodge: 7km

Equipment Required: Mountain Bike (Bike Hire Available in Oughterard), Outdoor Clothes, Runners, Wet Gear.

Time for Circuit: About 1.5 hours

Derroura Mountain Bike Trail is one of 3 officially developed mountain bike trails in Ireland and is located just 7km from Camillaun Lodge.  At a length of 16km and a climb of almost 200m the course is quite challenging though adults and children alike have completed the circuit.   The official starting point is from the Oughterard / Maam Cross (Clifden) Road approximately 10km west of Oughterard.  Visitors to Camillaun however can take the more scenic and quieter Glann Road and enter the circuit mid-way through an unofficial forestry entrance, though careful study of the map is recommended.

The circuit is made up of gravel, rock, forestry road and board walk and navigates around Knockbrack hill with splendid views of Lough Corrib from near the summit. A mountain bike is required (Road bikes are unsuitable) and helmet very much recommended.  Mountain bikes can be hired from the village of Oughterard and if you bring your own bikes we have facilities at Camillaun to hose them down after your trek.

Total trip time is about 3 hours is cycling from Camillaun / Oughterard and 2 hours if driving to the trail head.

 

Rosscahill Woods Mountain Biking

There are also a series of bike trails in Rosscahill woods just a few miles towards Moycullen. This is a series of cross country trails in a forest beside Ross Lake. The turn is close to Kinneveys pub.There is parking at the wood or slightly further on near the Community Centre and the local Church. This can be slippy after rain as much of it is under trees. The bike shop in Moycullen has high resolution maps.

 
Rosscahill Cycling