County Londonderry
Access note: The official visitor authority currently lists Yellow Skills Trail, Blue 1, Red 2B and Red 2C as closed after storm damage and harvesting. Follow the signed open routes and respect barriers.
Garvagh Forest offers short cycling loops on the edge of Garvagh, with a green multi-use introduction and harder mountain-bike riding sharing the same woodland destination. The published full routes are compact enough to make a measured first circuit and then decide how much more to ride. The town-side entrance also makes it practical to combine the forest with food or a separate walking outing.
This remains a working forest, and the current official visitor listing retains closures affecting several riding sections after storm damage and harvesting. Plan around the signed open network rather than assuming every published circuit is available in full. The forest’s riverside scenery, varied trees and unusual pyramid give non-riders a reason to come as well. A useful visit can be a short family ride and walk instead of an attempt to complete every technical trail.
Green · 1.3 km
The circular route stays near the car park, with gentle gradients and no technical trail features in the official description. It is shared with walkers, who have priority. Choose it to introduce younger riders to the forest and to practise a considerate pace around other visitors.
Official route information →Blue · 2.8 km
The published route begins on the green trail, connects through the skills loop and returns towards the trailhead on a gentle descent. Its current availability is affected by the named section closures. Treat the distance as the normal route length and follow the on-site open route rather than trying to force the original circuit.
Official route information →Red · 4.7 km
The red uses the beginning of the blue before extending around the northwestern forest and returning through a southern loop. It adds a rougher character and technical features for experienced riders. Parts of the red network are closed, so assess which signed sections remain usable before committing to an outing.
Official route information →1.3 km
The planned skills route contains braided options with increasing technical difficulty, intended as preparation for the wider trails. It is included in the official closure list. Do not use a closed practice area as a way to test your ability; begin on an appropriate open trail instead.
Official route information →The council guide explains the green, skills, blue and red circuits and provides an arrival map. It is not a confirmed downloadable trail map; current closure notices override the full-route descriptions.
For a first visit with children, make the green multi-use loop the starting plan. Its proximity to the car park and lack of technical features help the group settle in without committing to the harder network. Explain the shared-use arrangement before setting off, and choose a pace that leaves time to stop for walkers. A repeat lap can be more rewarding than increasing difficulty when a child is still learning off-road control.
Experienced riders should approach Garvagh as a flexible short-session destination while restrictions remain. Read the trailhead information before selecting a blue or red option, and concentrate on familiar open sections rather than chasing the full published distance. The normal red circuit offers a different riding character from the green, but a closure is a route boundary, not a technical obstacle to negotiate. Regroup at the trailhead before deciding whether to add another ride.
Use the entrance off Garvagh’s Main Street, BT51 5EA, as directed by the official cycling information. The government forest page places the car park on the western side of the A29 between Garvagh High School and the Ballnameen Bridge over the Agivey River. Official directions →
Use the entrance off Garvagh’s Main Street, BT51 5EA, as directed by the official cycling information. The government forest page places the car park on the western side of the A29 between Garvagh High School and the Ballnameen Bridge over the Agivey River. The main trailhead has approximately 25 parking spaces. Locate the riding start before unloading and keep the entrance available for other visitors.
If the forest car park is full, the official cycling page identifies Bridge Street car park in the village, approximately 550 metres from the forest entrance. Allow time for that final approach when arranging a group meeting. Bring your bicycles and riding equipment ready for the session, then use the town as the place to organise food and other services before or after the woodland ride.
Find the planning area on a map →The trailhead has picnic tables and designated accessible parking. The official walking information places the nearest toilets at Jim Watt Sports Centre and in the town centre, so plan that stop around your forest session. Use a picnic break to regroup without blocking a trail entrance. The skills route is a distinct facility, but its closure means it should not form part of the riding plan until the authority permits access again.
Plan this ride with your own mountain bike. The official visitor information describes rider facilities and access.
The official visitor listing retains closures on Yellow Skills, Blue 1, Red 2B and Red 2C during harvesting work. Other trails are described as open; follow the current signs rather than trying the full published circuit.
Garvagh’s woodland character changes through the year: the Pyramid walking trail passes a bluebell area, while the wider forest contains older trees and more recent planting. A spring family outing can combine gentle cycling with time on foot. After wet weather, forest roads affected by timber extraction can be uneven and muddy, as the council warns. Make a shorter session the plan when conditions turn the return into slow progress, and leave machinery routes and timber stacks clear.
Garvagh itself is the convenient food base. The Imperial Garvagh advertises meals in its restaurant and lounge, providing a specific town option once the bikes are put away. Reserve for a group and choose a finish time that leaves room to return from the forest and get organised. Bringing a picnic is another way to keep a family outing flexible, with the trailhead tables providing a clear place to meet.
For a non-riding activity, choose the 1.3 km Pyramid walking trail. It follows the Agivey River for part of its length and passes the forest pyramid on the return to the car park. The government explains that the pyramid was built as a burial chamber for Lord Garvagh and was never used for that purpose. Enjoy it as an exterior woodland landmark; the chamber is sealed. Keep the walking outing on its own signed route.
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Displayed distances are straight-line estimates using OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), not road journeys. Ask the property about secure bike storage and wet-kit arrangements before booking.
RIDE PREPARATION
Consider what suits the route, forecast and your own experience.
The official visitor information lists Yellow Skills Trail, Blue 1, Red 2B and Red 2C as closed following storm damage and harvesting. Respect the signs and barriers rather than following the normal circuit through these sections.
The 1.3 km green multi-use trail has gentle gradients and no technical features in its official description. It is shared with walkers, so begin slowly and give pedestrians priority.
The visitor authority identifies Bridge Street car park in the village, about 550 metres from the forest entrance. Allow for the final approach and meet the rest of your group at an agreed location.
The official forest walking page directs visitors to the nearby Jim Watt Sports Centre and town-centre toilets. Plan a visit before or after riding rather than assuming a toilet building at the trailhead.
The signed Pyramid walking trail passes the landmark and returns to the trailhead. The pyramid is a sealed former burial-chamber project, so the visit is to its exterior and surrounding woodland.
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Choose manageable family trails, fit children’s bikes, pace the day, assess clubs and coaches, and make a separate safe plan for dogs.
Share mountain-bike trails safely, protect wildlife and soil, report hazards clearly, volunteer with permission and photograph riding considerately.
Validate GPX routes, prepare offline maps and power, protect shared ride data and plan safe decisions and emergency contact away from the trailhead.
Trail conditions change — check the official page before you travel.
Open official site →