Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Antrim

Antrim to Randalstown Cycle Route (NCN 94)

A free 5km ride along the Lough Neagh shore, mostly flat and mostly traffic-free.

4 photos
Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
AntrimGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
5kmDistance
1-2 hoursHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Buggy okBest for

Antrim to Randalstown Cycle Route (NCN 94) — A free 5km ride along the Lough Neagh shore, mostly flat and mostly traffic-free.

  • Distance: About 5km / 3.1 miles one way (Antrim to Randalstown).
  • Surface: Mostly tarmac (about 77% asphalt), rest firm unsealed path.
  • Gradient: Largely flat.
  • Traffic-free: Mostly, but crosses the busy M2 roundabout and has a short on-road section on the A6 into Randalstown.
  • Bike hire: None on this route - bring your own.
  • Buggy / scooter: Yes on the tarmac sections; the firm unsealed stretches are manageable but bumpier.
Plan your visit

What the ride is actually like

The route covers about 5km (3.1 miles) from Antrim to Randalstown and is largely flat. Surface is around 77% asphalt with the remainder a firm unsealed path, so most of it rolls easily under small wheels. The opening section by the lough shore and Massereene Golf Club is the scenic highlight, before the path turns inland along the Sixmilewater to Antrim Castle Gardens and Clotworthy House. After that it becomes a shared-use path beside the A6 the rest of the way. The finish is the standout: the old Randalstown railway viaduct, a nine-arch basalt structure carrying a smooth, level path high over the River Maine with views toward Shane's Castle parkland.

Free 5km / 3.1mi Mostly flat Mostly tarmac Lough Neagh shore Old railway viaduct
Good to know before you go:

Greenways and loughshore routes host seasonal sportives, family cycle days and ranger events through the year; check listings for dates near you.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🚲Bikes (or hire on the day)Check whether you bring your own or can hire at the start.
  • 🪖Helmets for everyoneEspecially the kids — a comfy helmet makes the whole spin better.
  • 💧Water and snacksNot every route has a café on it, so pack a little something.
  • 🧥A light layerYou warm up cycling but cool down at stops — easy to peel on and off.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Start / parking
Dublin Road, Antrim, near Kirby Lane; parking in Antrim town and at Antrim Castle Gardens
Distance
About 5km / 3.1 miles one way (Antrim to Randalstown)
Surface
Mostly tarmac (about 77% asphalt), rest firm unsealed path
Gradient
Largely flat
Traffic-free?
Mostly, but crosses the busy M2 roundabout and has a short on-road section on the A6 into Randalstown
Bike hire
None on this route - bring your own
Buggy / scooter friendly
Yes on the tarmac sections; the firm unsealed stretches are manageable but bumpier
Toilets / food
Toilets and cafe at Antrim Castle Gardens near the start; nothing dedicated along the trail
How long to allow
1-2 hours out and back, longer with stops
Address
Dublin Road, Antrim, Co. Antrim (start near Kirby Lane junction)
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How long is the route?
About 5km / 3.1 miles one way (Antrim to Randalstown)
Is it traffic-free?
Mostly, but crosses the busy M2 roundabout and has a short on-road section on the A6 into Randalstown
Can I hire a bike?
None on this route - bring your own
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Yes on the tarmac sections; the firm unsealed stretches are manageable but bumpier
Getting there

Antrim to Randalstown Cycle Route (NCN 94) starts at Dublin Road, Antrim, near Kirby Lane; parking in Antrim town and at Antrim Castle Gardens. Tap below for directions to the start.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around AntrimSee what else is close by More greenways & trails across NITraffic-free routes to walk and cycle
The story

About this trail

This ride is the retained Antrim-to-Randalstown section of National Cycle Route 94, the wider Loughshore Trail that runs roughly 113 miles around Lough Neagh on quiet lanes and short off-road stretches.

The finale crosses the Randalstown railway viaduct, a nine-arch structure built from random basalt that once carried the railway line over the River Maine. After the line closed, the viaduct was converted into a smooth, level walkway and cycle path linking Station Road and New Street, with views over Randalstown and the parkland of Shane's Castle.