Outdoors charity launches refreshed NI wide mountain biking hub
- Outscape Showcases Over 150 Miles of NI Trails With MountainBikeNI.com Website Including Those in Castlewellan and Rostrevor
NI-based outdoor specialist, Outscape, formerly Outdoor Recreation NI, has unveiled a new offering of its MountainBikeNI.com website
It showcases over 150 Miles of mountain biking trails situated across numerous trail centres in NI.
The site serves as a hub which allows riders across NI to source information about trails which originate from several official trail centres, as well as every pump track and skills course in Northern Ireland.
The official trail centres include local favourites Castlewellan and Rostrevor, as well as Davagh Forest in Mid Ulster, Gortin Glen Forest Park outside Omagh, Fivemiletown’s Blessingbourne Estate, and Belfast’s Barnett Demesne, amongst others.
MountainBikeNI.com also provides an interactive map which details all the trail information, including length, difficulty, on site facilities and downloadable GPX files, which allow riders to open a live map of the trail on their navigation device when out and about.
The site also lists all accommodation and eateries that are situated close to the trails, which is set to drive footfall to local businesses.
Mountain biking has seen an increase in popularity across Northern Ireland since the development of the country’s first dedicated trails in 2013, with engagement of the sport surging during the pandemic.
Valerie Harte, Chairperson for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, expressed her optimism with the newly redeveloped website, said: “The Castlewellan andRostrevor trail centres, nestled in the heart of our district, are jewels in the crown of Northern Ireland’s vibrant mountain biking scene.
“The revamped MountainBikeNI.com acts as a gateway for both local and international visitors to explore these unique landscapes.
“By centralising information and offering modern features such as GPX downloads and interactive mapping, we anticipate further interest in the trails, in turn benefiting our local economies and reinforcing the diverse outdoor activities our district offers.”
Ethan Loughrey, Communications and Training Executive with Outscape, said: “We’re delighted to be able to share the new MountainBikeNI.com website with the public. A huge amount of work has gone into ensuring it is as user friendly and durable as possible, allowing for integration with more modern Geographic Information System developed mapping.
“We have also added a number of trails, and all of the pump tracks and skills courses in Northern Ireland to the website. These sites provide an essential outlet for outdoor opportunities for local communities and their benefits – everything from increased physical and mental health to substantive reductions in antisocial behaviour – are widespread.”
To discover more, visit:
