I'm David. I'm 13, I'm from Clonmel, and I love everything mountain biking. I ride all the trails around Clonmel. This page is for anyone looking up mountain biking in the area — what's actually here, where to ride, and what to expect.

Clonmel sits in a really good spot for MTB. We're surrounded by four mountain ranges — the Comeraghs to the south, the Knockmealdowns to the south-east, the Galtees to the north-west, and Slievenamon to the east. All within 30 minutes. That's a lot of riding for one town.

The trails in and around Clonmel

There's no single big trail centre in Clonmel itself. What we have is something better — proper hill country in every direction, forest tracks, and a local scene of riders who actually know where the good lines are.

The Comeragh Mountains

South of Clonmel, the Comeraghs are the closest serious riding to the town. Mahon Falls, the coum lakes, and a network of forest tracks that climb up out of the lowlands. Mixed elevation — you can put a proper day in here.

The Knockmealdown Mountains

South-east toward Lismore. The Knockmealdowns are quieter than the Comeraghs but the Coillte forest network is significant. Long climbs, fast descents through pine, and the higher ridges are open ground for the confident.

The Galtee Mountains

North-west of Clonmel toward Mitchelstown, the Galtees are Ireland's highest inland mountain range. Big-country riding for fit riders — long fire-road climbs, exposed ridges, and remote loops.

Slievenamon

East of Clonmel toward Carrick-on-Suir. Lower than the others but the closest "real mountain" to the town. A great hill for shorter sessions, a fast lap before tea, or a gentler day out.

Local trails close to town

For shorter rides, the local forest network gives you most of what a trail rider needs. Forest fire roads make natural loops, and the singletrack between them gets shaped over time by local riders.

If you're new to the area: start with the lower forest tracks before pushing up onto the open mountain. The weather changes quickly in Tipperary, and the higher ground gets exposed fast.

What kind of riding is it?

Honest answer — it's Ireland. That means it's wet a lot of the year. The ground is rooty, the soil holds water, and you need tyres that grip in mud. Most of the riding around Clonmel is trail / all-mountain rather than downhill or bike-park — long natural climbs, technical natural descents, and stretches of fire road in between.

You don't need a downhill bike. A capable hardtail or a 130-150mm trail bike will do everything around here.

Getting to Clonmel for an MTB trip

From Dublin: 2 hours via M7/M8 to Cahir, then 15 minutes to Clonmel
From Cork: 1 hour 20 minutes via M8
From Shannon: 1 hour 30 minutes via Tipperary town
From Rosslare ferry: 1 hour 40 minutes — handy if you're driving over from the UK

Clonmel itself has accommodation, bike shops in the wider county, and good food. The town is on the River Suir which means flat road riding in the valley if you want a recovery day.

When to ride

The best months for Clonmel MTB are April through October. May and September are honest favourites — the ground is firm, the days are long, and the tourist roads are quieter than peak summer. Winter is rideable but the higher ground gets boggy and you want better tyres.

Who rides here?

The Clonmel and wider Tipperary MTB scene is small but real. There's no big bike club organising rides every weekend, but you'll spot riders on the local trails most weeks. If you're visiting and want trail tips, drop us a message.

Every MTB trail in Clonmel, Tipperary & Waterford

This is the index. Every mountain bike-able spot in the wider Clonmel catchment — Co. Tipperary on the north and west, Co. Waterford on the south. If a trail is rideable and within an hour of Clonmel, it's on this page.

Co. Tipperary mountain bike trails

Faobam — the local network in the hills above Clonmel. Singletrack, natural lines, no signage, no car park. Trails you learn by riding them. Skill: intermediate · 10–20 min from town
Glen of Aherlow — long valley between the Galtees and Slievenamuck. Forest fire roads make natural loops; the higher routes climb onto open mountain. Multiple Coillte entries. Skill: all levels · 35 min from Clonmel
Glengarra Wood — old Coillte wood off the N8 south of Cahir. Mostly walking trails but rideable for shorter loops and a gentle warm-up. Skill: beginner / family · 20 min from Clonmel
Kilcash & Slievenamon trails — forest network on the south-west side of the mountain. The fire road climb to the summit is a long, rideable ascent. Skill: intermediate · 25 min from Clonmel
Galtee Mountains forest network — south-side Coillte plantations climbing up toward Galtymore. Steep fire-road climbs, long technical descents. Skill: confident · 40 min from Clonmel
Knockmealdown Mountains (Tipperary side) — northern slopes off Clogheen and the Vee Pass. Mixed forest and open mountain riding. Skill: intermediate / confident · 25 min from Clonmel
Ardfinnan / Knocklofty woods — small Coillte plantations between Clonmel and Cahir. Short loops, family-friendly. Skill: beginner / family · 15 min from Clonmel
Kilbarry Forest, Cahir — Coillte forest west of Cahir. Quiet fire-road network for shorter sessions. Skill: beginner / intermediate · 20 min from Clonmel
Templemore Forest — Coillte network in mid-Tipperary, north of Clonmel. Good for a day out if you want somewhere different. Skill: all levels · 1 hr from Clonmel
Slieveardagh Hills — rolling hill country between Tipperary and Kilkenny. Forest tracks and quiet back roads. Skill: gravel / intermediate · 40 min from Clonmel

Co. Waterford mountain bike trails

Comeragh Mountains — the closest serious hill country to Clonmel. Mahon Falls car park is the main approach, with Coillte forest entries off the R676. Full Comeragh guide → Skill: confident · 25 min from Clonmel
Mahon Falls trails — the iconic Waterford ride. Park at the falls car park, climb out, link the upland fire roads. Views down to the coast on a clear day. Skill: confident · 30 min from Clonmel
Coumshingaun & the coum lakes — dramatic glacial corries. The hike-a-bike around the rim is for experienced riders only; the lower forest approach is rideable. Skill: expert · 35 min from Clonmel
Glenshelane Forest, Cappoquin — Coillte forest network with a marked walking trail. Quiet fire-road riding, gentle climbs, river crossings. Skill: beginner / intermediate · 35 min from Clonmel
Knockmealdown Mountains (Waterford side) — south slopes toward Lismore. The Vee Pass climb (R668) is a famous road but the surrounding forestry is rideable. Skill: intermediate · 30 min from Clonmel
Bay Lough / The Vee — small mountain lake at the top of the Vee Pass. Park at the lay-by, ride the forest tracks both sides. Skill: intermediate · 35 min from Clonmel
Knockanaffrin Ridge — open mountain ridge on the western edge of the Comeraghs. Big-day riding for fit, confident riders in good weather only. Skill: expert · 40 min from Clonmel
Mount Congreve Estate — woodland and parkland trails near Waterford city. Mostly walking but the wider tracks ride well. Skill: beginner / family · 1 hr from Clonmel
Curraghmore Estate — large private estate with permissive trails (check current access). Old carriage tracks through deer parkland. Skill: beginner / intermediate · 35 min from Clonmel
Coumaraglin Mountain — quieter Comeragh sub-range north of Mahon Falls. Forest entry off the R671. Skill: intermediate · 30 min from Clonmel

Quick guide: which trail for which day

Have an hour after school? Faobam, Glengarra, Kilbarry, Ardfinnan.
Half-day session? Slievenamon, Glen of Aherlow, Glenshelane, Kilcash.
Full day out? Comeragh Mountains via Mahon Falls, Knockmealdowns via the Vee, Galtees south side.
Big-day epic? Knockanaffrin ridge, Galtymore approaches, Coumshingaun loop.
Wet day? Lower Coillte forests drain better — Glenshelane, Kilbarry, Templemore.
Family ride? Mount Congreve, Glengarra, Curraghmore (check access), Knocklofty.

Bike shops & service near Clonmel

For repairs and parts in the wider Clonmel / Tipperary / Waterford area you've got several options including independent bike shops in Clonmel, Cahir, Tipperary town, Carrick-on-Suir and Waterford city. If you're new to the area and need a recommendation, drop us a message and we'll point you at the closest one.

Weather and ground conditions

Clonmel sits in the Suir valley, sheltered between the Comeraghs and the Galtees, so the town stays milder than the surrounding hills. The mountains catch weather though — fog and rain roll in fast on the higher ground even when the valley is clear. Best riding months are April through October. Winter rides on the higher trails need proper kit and good tyres.

Mountain biking by town — Tipperary, Waterford & north Cork

Town-specific MTB guides for the wider Clonmel catchment. Each page covers the local trails, nearest mountain range, and drive times.

Mountain biking in Cahir — Galtee gateway, 15 min west
Mountain biking in Carrick-on-Suir — Slievenamon local town, 20 min east
Mountain biking in Cashel — mid-Tipperary, 25 min north
Mountain biking in Tipperary Town — Galtees north side, 35 min north-west
Mountain biking in Clogheen — the Vee Pass village, 25 min south-west
Mountain biking in Dungarvan — Waterford coast + Comeraghs, 45 min south
Mountain biking in Lismore — Knockmealdown south base, 35 min south
Mountain biking in Cappoquin — Glenshelane Forest base, 35 min south
Mountain biking in Fermoy — north Cork + Ballyhoura, 50 min south-west
Mountain biking in Mitchelstown — Galtees south-west, 50 min west

Faobam — the local Clonmel trails

Faobam is where I ride most often. It's the hill network on the south side of Clonmel — not a trail centre, no signs, no car park with a café. Just a network of forest tracks and bits of singletrack that local riders have been using for years. You learn Faobam by riding it, not by looking it up. The trails wind through Coillte forestry, drop into small valleys, and give you climbs that actually hurt before the descents pay off.

What makes Faobam good: it's 10 minutes from Clonmel town. I can be on the bike after school and have a proper session in under two hours. The lower trails ride in most conditions — Coillte forestry drains reasonably well. The higher lines get boggy in winter but you can adapt the loop to avoid the worst of it. No two rides are exactly the same once you start linking different entries.

It's intermediate territory. If you're a complete beginner you'll find some climbs steep and some corners sketchy without experience. If you're a confident rider you'll know which lines to pick. I usually ride Faobam with Frankie, Shay, Aidan, Callum, Gerard, and Paddy — the local crew. More eyes on a trail = more lines found.

Difficulty levels around Clonmel

There's no formal grading system (no blue / red / black markers) for most Clonmel trails — this isn't a trail centre. Here's how I'd honestly describe the different areas:

Beginner (never ridden off-road before): Glengarra Wood (N8 south of Cahir), Ardfinnan / Knocklofty, lower Kilbarry Forest fire roads. Wide tracks, gentle gradients, forgiving. Good for first rides.
Intermediate (comfortable on forest tracks, can handle loose corners): Faobam lower trails, Slievenamon fire road, lower Knockmealdown Coillte entries, Glen of Aherlow valley-floor tracks.
Confident / experienced (reads terrain, comfortable in exposure): Comeragh Mountains upper trails, Mahon Falls full loop, Knockmealdown upper ridges, most Galtee approaches.
Expert only: Coumshingaun rim, Knockanaffrin Ridge, Galtymore summit routes in poor weather. Remote, exposed, no recovery if something goes wrong.

How to get to Clonmel for mountain biking

From Dublin: Take the M7 south to Portlaoise, then the M8 toward Cork, exit at Cahir (J8), and follow the N24 east into Clonmel. Total: 2 hours.
From Cork city: M8 north to Cashel, continue N8 to Cahir, N24 east. Or the R688 / R665 through Fermoy and Clogheen. Total: 1 hr 20 min.
From Limerick: N24 south-east through Tipperary town and Bansha. Total: 1 hr 10 min.
From Rosslare ferry: N25 to Waterford, then N24 west to Clonmel. Total: 1 hr 40 min — good for riders crossing from the UK or France.
By train: The Limerick Junction to Waterford line stops at Clonmel. Train + bike is doable but check with Irish Rail for bike reservation requirements.
Parking: For mountain starts — Mahon Falls car park (Comeragh), Kilcash car park (Slievenamon south side), various Coillte entry points for Glen of Aherlow. For Faobam and local trails, park in the lower residential roads and walk up.

Best season for MTB in Clonmel

April through October is the prime window. Specific notes:

April / May: Ground is still firm from a drier spring. Days getting longer — evening rides possible after school from May onwards. Trails at their best condition.
June / July: Long evenings (light until after 10pm in late June). Ground can be hard and fast after a dry spell. Best months for high-mountain rides.
August / September: Arguably the best months. Ground is firm, rain has slowed, visibility is good on the higher ridges. September especially — before the autumn wet sets in.
October: Decent if you pick your days. The leaves are off the trees by end of month which actually opens up visibility. Ground starting to soften on the high trails.
November–March: Rideable on the lower Coillte tracks but the high mountain ground gets soaked. The Galtee and Comeragh ridges are genuinely dangerous in winter fog. Mud tyres mandatory. Keep to the forest fire roads unless you really know the terrain.

What to bring on a Clonmel MTB ride

This is my actual kit list, not a sponsored gear-guide:

Helmet — non-negotiable. I wear a full-face when I'm hitting anything technical, open-face for longer trail days.
Trail shoes and flat or clip pedals — personal preference, but flat pedals are more forgiving when you're learning new terrain.
Two tubes and a basic tool kit — tyre levers, a multi-tool, CO2 or mini pump. In the Comeraghs you're a long walk from anywhere if you flat without a spare.
Water — at least 1 litre for a half-day ride, 2 litres for a full day. No cafes on the mountain.
Waterproof layer — even in summer. The weather changes fast on the Tipperary hills and you feel wind-chill quickly when you're wet at the top of a climb.
Food — I usually bring a few cereal bars and a sandwich for anything over 2 hours. There's no food on the mountain and you'll bonk hard if you forget.
Phone, charged — for emergencies and trail mapping. Download the Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) maps offline before you go into areas with no signal.
Knee and elbow pads — optional on easy ground, strongly recommended on the Comeraghs, Knockmealdowns and anything technical.

Local tips from David

Check the weather 48 hours out, not 2 hours out. The mountains around Clonmel catch weather fast. If there's 3 days of rain forecast, the high trails will be mud for a week after the rain stops. Plan around the dry window.
Start at the bottom of any new trail. Don't drive straight to the top of the Comeraghs and try to descend something you've never ridden. Walk any section you're unsure about first.
Tyres make the biggest difference. On my Calibre Bossnut I run a grippy tyre up front and a faster-rolling one on the rear. In Tipperary mud, the front grip is what stops you from washing out on off-camber corners.
Ride with someone who knows the trail first time. Faobam, in particular, is a maze until you know it. It's easy to end up on someone's private land by mistake if you don't know which tracks are Coillte and which aren't.
The best riding is usually not the most famous spot. Everyone goes to Mahon Falls. But some of the best days I've had have been on quieter trails — the Knockmealdown south side, the Glen of Aherlow mid-level tracks, a random Coillte plantation that Frankie found on Komoot.
Follow me on TikTok @d.emtb — I post regular clips from the trails around Clonmel so you can see what conditions are like before you drive out.

Detailed trail guides

Mountain biking the Comeragh Mountains
Mountain biking the Knockmealdowns
Mountain biking the Galtees
Mountain biking Slievenamon
Top 10 MTB trails in Ireland — the wider Irish picks beyond Tipperary & Waterford

Blog posts — more detail on every trail

This page is the most complete index of mountain bike trails in the Clonmel, Tipperary and Waterford area on the web. If you ride somewhere local that isn't listed, tell me about it and I'll add it.

Mountain Biking in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary — Trails, Routes & Local Tips