With more and more people interested in getting fit and keeping healthy, cycling is becoming increasingly popular as a leisure activity. Before you switch off and turn the telly back on, consider this: A mere 30 minutes of pedalling can burn about 300 calories. So if you’d like to stay in shape and see one of the most scenic corners of Ireland in a completely new way, consider cycling in Sligo. Book a holiday home in Sligo and you’ll have the freedom to park your bike and come and go as you please. Or if you prefer the cosiness of a Sligo B&B, we can sort that out for you too. Of course, we also offer a range of hotels in Sligo for you to book for your two-wheel adventures.
Tour De Humbert Route
Though 225km long, the Tour de Humbert cycling trail is suitable for all fitness and experience levels. It begins in Mayo, at Kilcummin, on Killala Bay, where a French expeditionary force landed in 1798 to support the Irish rebellion. It winds its way along the route followed by the advancing force, taking in some stunning Sligo countryside and the towns of Tubbercurry, Lavagh, Coolaney, and Collooney, culminating in Ballinamuck, County Longford, the scene of the troops’ final battle and defeat. Finger signposts mark the Tour de Humbert Cycling Trail, and sites of historical interest on the route are indicated by explanatory panels.
The Northwest Trail
The 326km Northwest Trail follows sections of the Atlantic coast, riverside paths, quiet country roads, lakeside routes, and forest trails through Donegal, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Leitrim, and Sligo. The tranquil trail can be explored as a long-distance touring holiday, with a variety of charming towns and villages where you can stop to enjoy the local hospitality and cuisine. The traffic-free riverside path through Doorley Park in Sligo is especially suited for family cycling. The route also presents the ideal opportunity to experience the culture and heritage of the northwest, with the route passing through Yeats country and many sites of historical and archaeological importance.
An Post Tour of Sligo
Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership launched the first An Post Tour of Sligo in 2010, and it continues to grow in popularity, with several thousand cyclists now taking part in the event, which takes place on the May bank holiday weekend. Before you dismiss the tour as an intimidating test of lycra-clad pedal warriors, this event welcomes cyclists of all abilities, giving everyone the opportunity to appreciate Sligo’s majestic mountain scenery, stunning sea views, and rural villages. Indeed, the slogan for the tour is “Participation, Fun and Sporting Challenge”. There are five different routes, ranging from a 2km bike trail for 6- to 8-year-olds to a 10km family spin, a 60km Lough Gill Circuit, a 100km Innisfree Route, and the 160km Ox Mountain Challenge. With such a variety of routes, there’s something for the leisure pedaller and the hardened spinner alike.
Bike Shops
Whether you’re the type who spends every weekend lovingly cleaning your sprockets and cranksets, or even if your last bike had stickers of cartoon characters on it, there are bike suppliers in Sligo to sort you out. If you want to leave it all in the hands of the experts, Northwest Tours specialise in guided biking and hiking tours in the northwest and provide full and half-day tours both on and off-road. For bike hire, try Beach Cruisers Bike Hire in Strandhill or Chain Driven Cycles on High Street, Sligo Town. Chain Driven Cycles also stock an impressive range of bikes and equipment, as do Flanagan Cycles on Quay Street and Garys Cycles, the Back Avenue, Cleveragh, Sligo.
