New £2m cycle paths to be open next spring

New £2m cycle paths to be open next spring

6 June 2012

WORK to transform part of Castlewellan Forest Park into a world class mountain biking destination is underway.

Almost £2m is being invested in a new project involving Castlewellan and Kilbroney Forest Park in Rostrevor to provide stunning new bike trails in the Mournes.

The trails — which total 45km in length — are due to open to the public next spring and will ensure both forest parks play a key role in realising Northern Ireland’s potential as one of the world’s top mountain biking destinations.

It is estimated the new trails will generate just over £1m in revenue with up to 23,000 visitors using the new facility by the end of next year.

The mountain bike trails will feature in a number of high profile events, including next summer’s prestigious World Police and Fire Games. The European Single Speed Championships will be held in Castlewellan in 2014.

The start of construction work was marked last week with a sod cutting ceremony in Castlewellan performed by councillor Mickey Coogan, chairman of Down Council’s Recreation and Community Services Committee. He said mountain biking has enjoyed a real surge in popularity in recent years.

“Despite having an ideal landscape for trails, we have not yet harnessed the huge benefits that this growing adventure activity can bring to Castlewellan and the surrounding region,” he said.

“Combining trails in Castlewellan with those in Rostrevor allows us to benefit greatly from large scale events at each location. With the World Police and Fire Games staging mountain biking next summer in Kilbroney Forest, both trail centres will benefit from positive publicity and the Mournes will be firmly placed on the world mountain biking map.”

Councillor Coogan said Down Council feels its £175,000 contribution to the new trails will not only provide unique recreational facilities for the local community, but also result in a positive injection of activity tourists to the area.”

Meanwhile, Clare Jones, development manager of Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland who has co-ordinated the project from its initial conception, said it’s always been frustrating to see mountain bikers travelling over the border or across to Scotland and Wales to find suitable long distance cross-country trails, “knowing full well that forests such as Castlewellan and Rostrevor could rival any other locations bar none.”

She added: “Constructing sustainable, long distance mountain bike trails through sensitive natural habitats is never a straight forward process and there is no doubt that without a strong co-ordinated partnership between all organisations involved, the trails would not have been developed.