Gortin Glen mountain bike trails

Quick facts

Location type

Trail centre

Region

Sperrins & the West

Published grades

blue · red

Local base

Omagh

Last checked

18 October 2026

• Café

Introduction

Gortin Glen is a pedalling destination in the Sperrins, with blue and red trails that use the forest’s hills for flowing descents. Think of the climb as part of the outing rather than a small inconvenience between runs. For a group, the sensible plan is the ride everyone can complete comfortably, including the ascent and the return, not simply the descent that sounds most exciting. That choice leaves energy to enjoy the forest rather than spending the last section managing tired legs.

The forest park sits north of Omagh and combines riding with walking, a play park and visitor facilities. This makes it useful for companions with different plans, provided you agree on a meeting place and a realistic finish time. A short riding session and a long summit walk are different commitments even though they begin in the same park. Give each one its own time instead of assuming a non-rider will fill a whole afternoon waiting for another lap.

Gortin Glen mountain bike trails and grades

Gortin Glen trail map

Use The Roller Coaster, Kelan’s Chase, The Mountain and Sika’s Run as distinct route choices, matching each grade and climbing commitment to the group. Follow current signs and closures, even where an older map shows a continuous connection.

Official route guide and layout →

Best first ride

Start with the blue options if you already handle off-road riding but are new to Gortin. Use the shared fire-road climb to settle into a sustainable pace rather than arriving at the junction exhausted. Pause to agree which route the group will take and who will lead. A first descent at a controlled pace gives you a useful view of the corners and features; a repeat can then feel more coherent without needing to change grade.

The red outing suits riders who can manage technical descents after climbing. Decide that from your current ability and fitness, not from what your strongest companion finds easy. Leave space between riders so that the first person’s line is a useful reference rather than a demand to follow immediately. If the group has different ambitions, separate deliberately at a known junction and arrange a meeting time. Avoid turning a shared ride into a last-minute negotiation when somebody is already tired.

Where is Gortin Glen?

Glen Park Road, Gortin, BT79 7SU, is the published MTB address, around six miles north of Omagh. Use the main forest car park and the cycling start, not the separate walking trailhead. Official directions →

The forest is on the B48 between Gortin and Omagh, approximately six miles north of Omagh. The official tourism listing gives Glen Park Road, BT79 7SU, and describes parking in the forest car park as free. Choose the main car park and identify the riding start before unloading a group’s bikes. Walking trails have their own trailhead, so a walker’s coloured marker is not automatically a mountain-bike route instruction.

Plan the arrival around daylight and the published gate hours. The council says gates open at 6:30am, closing at 6pm from October to March and 9pm from April to September. A late arrival is therefore a different proposition in winter. Include packing up and reaching the exit in your timing, rather than counting only the minutes on the trail. Agree your onward transport before leaving the car park, particularly when different riders intend to finish separately.

Facilities

The council lists a café, toilets and a destination play park alongside the walking, horse and mountain-bike trails. Arrange a specific reunion point within that visitor area so companions have somewhere useful to go while riders are out. Bring what you need for the chosen ride instead of assuming the café supplies every trailside requirement. Its presence is helpful for a break, but should not be the reason to omit food or water for a longer session.

Walking and riding routes serve different purposes here. Keep to the appropriate marked network, especially around approaches shared with other users. If children are using the play park while another adult rides, make the supervision arrangement clear before anybody leaves. Gortin’s combination of facilities works best when each person has an actual plan, rather than one adult trying to combine a long ride with responsibility for companions remaining near the car park.

Bike hire at Gortin Glen

Plan this ride with your own mountain bike. The official visitor information describes rider facilities and access.

Opening times and prices

Council gate hours start at 6.30am, finishing at 6pm October–March and 9pm April–September. Trailhead parking is free; leave time to pack and reach the exit.

Official opening times, tickets and prices →

Seasons and weather

A wet visit is a reason to reduce pace and choose a manageable outing, especially where a descent includes rock drops or steep turns. Leave time for a first run that is slower than the one you imagined at home. In winter, the earlier gate closure should shape the entire visit, including any walking afterwards. The government’s forest information also asks visitors to observe displayed biosecurity measures because of larch disease in part of the forest. Clean equipment and follow the site’s instructions when moving between forests.

Met Office: Omagh forecast →

Frequently asked questions

More riding in Sperrins & the West

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Before you ride

Official links

• Gortin Glen current official visitor guide
• Council forest-park visitor information
• NI Direct Gortin Glen information
• Council walking trails
• Giants of the Sperrins
• Glenpark Estate restaurant and bar
• Council Gortin Glen mountain-bike trailhead map

• Met Office: Omagh forecast