The best traffic-free bike rides around Belfast

Belfast and its surroundings offer a variety of traffic-free options. You can find urban greenways and towpaths like the Lagan Towpath/Lagan and Lough Cycle Way, the Comber Greenway, and the Connswater Community Greenway. These routes provide scenic views and are generally flat, making them suitable for various skill levels.

Yes, for longer rides, the Lagan and Lough Cycle Way extends for 20-21 miles, offering a mostly flat, traffic-free experience along the River Lagan. While not entirely traffic-free, segments of the iconic Causeway Coastal Route and routes within the Mourne Mountains offer stunning scenery and quieter roads for extended cycling adventures.

Absolutely. Routes like the Lagan Towpath and the Comber Greenway are excellent choices for families. They are mostly flat, traffic-free, and offer pleasant scenery, making them safe and enjoyable for cyclists of all ages. The Connswater Community Greenway is another great option within East Belfast.

Beginners will find the Comber Greenway, a 7-mile traffic-free path, very accessible. The Lagan Towpath also provides a gentle, flat ride along the river, perfect for those new to road cycling or looking for a relaxed pace.

While many greenways are linear, you can often combine sections or use connecting paths to create circular routes. For example, the Divis Ridge Trail offers a 5-mile circular path with panoramic views, though it's more challenging and not entirely traffic-free. For purely traffic-free, shorter loops can be found within parks and greenways.

You can enjoy diverse views, from tranquil river scenes along the Lagan Towpath to coastal vistas along the Newtownabbey Way overlooking Belfast Lough. The Comber Greenway offers glimpses of the Belfast Hills and Parliament Buildings, while the Divis Ridge Trail provides breathtaking panoramic views of the city, lough, and even Scotland on clear days.

For a more challenging experience with significant elevation, the Divis Ridge Trail offers a 5-mile circular path with panoramic views, though it's not strictly traffic-free throughout. For demanding road cycling with less traffic, the Mourne Mountains region provides hilly terrain and stunning vistas, suitable for experienced cyclists seeking a challenge.

Spring and summer (April to September) generally offer the most pleasant weather for cycling, with longer daylight hours and milder temperatures. However, many of the greenways and towpaths are accessible year-round, offering different scenic beauty in autumn and winter, though conditions may be wetter and colder.

Many of the urban greenways and towpaths, such as the Lagan Towpath and Comber Greenway, pass near towns or urban areas where cafes and refreshment stops are readily available. The Lagan Towpath, in particular, offers opportunities for stops along its route connecting Belfast and Lisburn.

The komoot community rates the routes around Belfast highly, with an average score of 4.0 stars. Cyclists often praise the accessibility of traffic-free paths, the diverse scenery ranging from urban green spaces to coastal views, and the opportunity to explore the region's natural beauty on two wheels.

While the specific routes in this guide are in Belfast, Maine, the broader Belfast region (Northern Ireland) offers many attractions. For example, the Comber Greenway passes near the C.S. Lewis Statue and offers views of the Parliament Buildings at Stormont. The Lagan Towpath follows the scenic River Lagan. For routes in Belfast, Maine, you can explore Belfast City Park or the historic City Point Station – Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad.

Many of Belfast's greenways and towpaths are well-integrated into the city's public transport network. You can often reach starting points of routes like the Lagan Towpath or Comber Greenway via bus or train services, making it convenient to access them without a car. Check local Translink services for specific route connections.