Baunreagh Blue Route (Slieve Blooms Trail Centre)

This 11km blue grade route encompasses the entire Baunreagh Valley. Leaving Baunreagh House, exercise caution as you exit the car park and follow the signs onto the first singletrack climb with the ‘Monkey Puzzle’ and ‘Take 2’ trails. The first descending trail is ‘Free Wheel’, a fast flowing run that drops you down to the forest road to ‘Waypoint 1’. Follow the blue directional arrows left up the hill, instead of taking the red grade trail to the right. Forest road turns to gentle single tracks on the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ climb which brings you ‘Waypoint 2’.

Here riders can turn right to stay on the ‘Baunreagh Blue’ route, or bear left to cross over to the Offaly side of the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails via the red grade ‘Drop and Roll’ trail. Note that joining the Offaly trail network is a long distance route and should only be undertaken if you are a highly experienced and highly competent mountain bike rider. 

Next along the ‘Baunreagh Blue’ route is the steep forest road climb to the highest point in the Baunreagh Valley. It’s quite literally all downhill from here with the epic ‘Thunder’ trail leading to ‘Waypoint 3’. Bear left to stay on the ‘Baunreagh Blue’ route rather than taking the optional black trail to the right. Next up is the traversing ‘Lightning’ trail leading to ‘Waypoint 4’ where riders should bear right rather than take the optional red grade trail straight ahead. ‘Return of the Jedi’ and ‘Tetris’ trails complete the descent, twisting and turning along the valley walls all the way back to the Baunreagh trailhead.

TRAIL GRADING
This blue grade trail is graded moderate, with numerous difficult sections along the route. The trails vary from fast and flowing to tight and technical. Sometimes steep and narrow, with variable surfaces including rock, roots, mud, loose stones and gravel that may become slippery when wet. This trail is for proficient cyclists only. INFORMATION Route Name: Baunreagh Blue Start/Finish Point: Baunreagh Car Park Distance: 11km with 290 Meters Climbing Time: 90 to 150 Minutes Degree of Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult Trail Waymarking: Blue Circle