Getting the family out on bikes together is one of the simplest ways to spend a few hours outdoors — no expensive kit required, just bikes, helmets, and somewhere safe to ride. The tricky part is finding a route that suits everyone, from wobbly beginners to confident older kids.
The good news is that Ireland has some brilliant family-friendly cycling spots, many of them traffic-free, flat, and packed with things to see along the way. Here are some of our favourite places around the country to enjoy a family cycle.
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It’s great fun to get the family out cycling, but you want to have a safe place to do so. Here are some places around the country where you can cycle safely.
Family Cycle Routes in Ireland
Curragh Chase Forest Park, Limerick
The Glenisca Family Cycling Trail at Curragh Chase Forest Park circles Glenisca Lough, passing yew trees, cliff walls and a cave, so there’s plenty to look at as you cycle. The trail passes the playground close to Avondale House and finishes at the car park. It’s under the tree canopy for most of its length and reasonably sheltered too, in case any rain threatens.
The Curragh Trail in the Park is a multi-use walking and cycling trail to suit occasional walkers and cyclists. The trail leaves the Lake Trail and brings you through the forest following old estate drives for a while. It’s also under the tree canopy for most of its length and reasonably sheltered.
There are two playgrounds in the Park, and there’s a small per-car parking fee — worth checking the current rate before you go.
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Portumna Forest Park, Galway
The Forest Friendly Trail at Portumna Forest Park in County Galway is a walking and cycling trail that leaves the main car park and brings you through mature forest. It has reasonably smooth surfaces with some loose stones and is wide throughout, combining sections of forest road with wide timber boardwalk. Wheelchair users, kids’ bikes with stabilisers, and family groups on foot or bike can all enjoy this loop.
The trail starts from the car park and winds gently through the forest to reach a viewing platform close to the shore of Lough Derg, with lovely views south towards Terryglass on the Tipperary shore.
It then follows a boardwalk to the duck pond and past cypress trees that are some of the oldest on the estate, before looping gradually back to the car park.
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Lough Key Forest & Activity Park, Co. Roscommon
At Lough Key Forest & Activity Park you’ll find kilometres of traffic-free trails. You can hire both regular and electric bikes, or bring your own.
There’s also a very family-friendly cycle trail here, perfectly suited to kids’ bikes, bikes with child seats, or tag-a-longs. Because the trails are completely traffic-free, this is a great place to teach your children to cycle and build their confidence on a bike.
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Clontarf Seafront and St. Anne’s Park, Dublin
The cycle track in Clontarf, running along Clontarf Promenade, is wide with a tarmacadam finish and quite flat along its stretch of the Promenade, making for easy cycling for kids. There are plenty of places to stop and enjoy beautiful views of Dublin Bay. Do take care near car park areas, where the cycling path bends and pedestrians can walk out.
Be sure to stop at one of Dublin’s treasures, St. Anne’s Park, famous for its Rose Gardens. The Chestnut pathway, running parallel to the Coast Road, is a favourite with cyclists. There’s a nice playground and family-friendly picnic area in the Park, as well as The Red Stables, which has a café and gallery, and a weekend Farmer’s Market.
You can also continue onto the Bull Island bird sanctuary across the famous Dollymount wooden bridge to the Strand.
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Lough Boora Discovery Park, County Offaly
At Lough Boora Discovery Park you’ll find a variety of car-free cycle paths with a tarred surface. It’s a peaceful route that lets cyclists enjoy sculptures, local wildlife and flora, bog, and a historic Mesolithic site.
All of the park’s routes, except the Finnamore Lakes and Sculpture Park Routes, are accessible by bike. Bike hire is available daily, including tandem bikes, with helmets included in the hire cost.
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Castle Archdale Country Park, County Fermanagh
The Family Cycling Trail at Castle Archdale Country Park starts from the Marina and follows arrows through the forest past the Old Castle at the halfway point — a great spot for a break — before returning along the side of Lower Lough Erne, with nice views over to Davy’s Island and White Island.
There’s a café and playpark in the courtyard, and in summer months there are boat trips to White Island to see the famous carved figures built into the masonry of the ruined church, dating back to 800AD.
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Phoenix Park, Dublin
Did you know Phoenix Park is over twice the size of Central Park in New York and one of the largest designed landscapes in any European city? As well as being home to the Irish President, Dublin Zoo, and around 500 wild fallow deer, it also has kilometres of cycle paths, picnic areas, and cafés.
Stop at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on your way — there’s a fun kids’ playground nearby along with grounds for a picnic.
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Waterford Greenway
The Waterford Greenway is an off-road cycling and walking trail along an old railway line between Dungarvan and Waterford. There are lots of interesting spots along the route, with beautiful coastline views, a viaduct, a tunnel, and even a spectacular gorge.
You can hire regular and electric bikes, with helmets included in the cost. The stretch from Dungarvan to Durrow is a nice one for families to tackle.
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Western Greenway, Mayo
The Great Western Greenway is the longest off-road walking and cycling route in the country, tracing Ireland’s Atlantic coast between Westport town and Achill Island and passing through the picturesque villages of Newport and Mulranny.
There are picnic benches along the way and helpful signage. You can hire bikes in any of the four towns along the Greenway, or bring your own.
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Bohernabreena, Glenasmole, Dublin
In the Glenasmole Valley you’ll find the Bohernabreena Reservoir, which offers lovely cycling. The path alongside is ideal for cycling with kids, as it’s closed to traffic, has few pedestrians, and there’s plenty to see along the way.
From the city centre, head out the N81 towards Tallaght. Take the Oldbawn exit (R113), turning right at the Oldbawn crossroads along the Bohernabreena Road (R114). Take the left turn just after Fort Bridge into the Bohernabreena Waterworks. Parking is just after the Waterworks.
Derrigimlagh, Galway
The Derrigimlagh/Marconi loop near Clifden in County Galway is a trail through an area of outstanding natural beauty within the Derrygimlagh bog. It’s made all the more interesting by its historical claims to fame.
The Derrygimlagh blanket bog is where pilots John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown crash-landed in 1919, after completing the world’s first transatlantic flight. They landed close to a wireless telegraphy station set up years earlier by Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi. Today, the site of the Marconi wireless station is home to a memorial cairn dedicated to the pair.
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Some Family Cycling Tips
- Make sure all the bikes are roadworthy before you set off.
- Bring plenty of water with you.
- Wear helmets!
- Give way to pedestrians.
- Give clear hand signals when turning.
- Take special care at junctions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best type of route for young or beginner cyclists?
Look for traffic-free trails with flat, wide, smooth surfaces — forest park trails and greenways are usually the safest choice, as they keep kids away from cars and give them room to wobble without worry.
Do I need my own bikes, or can I hire them?
Many of the routes above, including Lough Key, Lough Boora, Waterford Greenway and the Western Greenway, offer bike hire on site, including kids’ bikes, tandems and sometimes electric bikes. It’s worth checking ahead for availability and current hire options.
Are these routes suitable for very young children or buggies?
Several trails, including Portumna Forest Park and the Bohernabreena reservoir path, have smooth, wide surfaces suitable for stabiliser bikes, child seats, and tag-alongs. Always check trail conditions on the day, as surfaces can vary.
What should we bring on a family cycle day out?
Helmets for everyone, plenty of water, snacks, and weather-appropriate clothing. A basic repair kit or spare inner tube is handy for longer routes like the greenways.
Related Articles
- Coillte Cycling Trails for Families
- 9 Sure Fire Tips for Bike Safety For Kids
- A Family Cycle Along the Great Western Greenway
- 20 Fun Things to Do on the Wild Atlantic Way with Kids
Save This for Your Next Family Day Out
Not heading out today? Save this list for the next dry afternoon, or browse more family days out ideas for inspiration on where to go next.
Have your say! Do you have a favourite family cycle route in Ireland that’s not on our list? Share it with us in the comments below.
