Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Coleraine

Lower Bann Cycleway

A flat 33-mile river ride from Toome to Coleraine on quiet lanes and traffic-free stretches.

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Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
ColeraineGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
33 milesDistance
1-2 hoursHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Buggy okBest for

Lower Bann Cycleway — A flat 33-mile river ride from Toome to Coleraine on quiet lanes and traffic-free stretches.

  • Distance: Approx 33 miles (53km) full route on NCN 96; a 16-mile flat loop is possible from Ballymoney.
  • Surface: Well-surfaced flat tarmac throughout.
  • Gradient: Flat - low-lying river corridor with no real climbs.
  • Traffic-free: Partly. Many traffic-free sections, but you share public roads, mainly at Portglenone, Bendooragh and Coleraine.
  • Bike hire: None on the route - bring your own.
  • Buggy / scooter: Yes on the flat tarmac and quieter sections; less so where the route joins busier roads.
Plan your visit

A flat river route on quiet lanes

The full cycleway is about 33 miles (Route 96) from Canal Walk in Toome to Coleraine, and the longer variant continues to The Barmouth at Castlerock. The surface is well-made tarmac and the going is genuinely flat, because the river corridor is low-lying with no real climbs. Many sections are traffic-free, but you do meet public roads, mostly at Portglenone and Coleraine, so it is a mix rather than a fully sealed-off path. Along the way you follow the East bank of the Bann past Drumaheglis Marina, the Angler's Rest, an old canal and weir near the fish farm, and the salmon fishing stations the river is famous for. It is quiet, green and watery, with herons and anglers for company.

Free Flat Tarmac 33 miles Riverside Partly on roads
Good to know before you go:

Greenways and river 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
Townhead Street Car Park, Ballymoney (free, opposite Town Hall) is a good base; full route runs Toome to Coleraine. Train access at Ballymoney and Coleraine.
Distance
Approx 33 miles (53km) full route on NCN 96; a 16-mile flat loop is possible from Ballymoney.
Surface
Well-surfaced flat tarmac throughout
Gradient
Flat - low-lying river corridor with no real climbs
Traffic-free?
Partly. Many traffic-free sections, but you share public roads, mainly at Portglenone, Bendooragh and Coleraine.
Bike hire
None on the route - bring your own
Buggy / scooter friendly
Yes on the flat tarmac and quieter sections; less so where the route joins busier roads
Toilets / food
Cafes, pubs and toilets at Toome, Portglenone, Ballymoney and Coleraine; accessible toilets at Ballymoney start
How long to allow
1-2 hours for a short family stretch; a full day for a longer leg
Address
Lower Bann Cycleway (NCN Route 96), Coleraine, Co. Londonderry. Ballymoney base: Townhead Street Car Park, Ballymoney BT53.
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How long is the route?
Approx 33 miles (53km) full route on NCN 96; a 16-mile flat loop is possible from Ballymoney.
Is it traffic-free?
Partly. Many traffic-free sections, but you share public roads, mainly at Portglenone, Bendooragh and Coleraine.
Can I hire a bike?
None on the route - bring your own
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Yes on the flat tarmac and quieter sections; less so where the route joins busier roads
Getting there

Lower Bann Cycleway starts at Townhead Street Car Park, Ballymoney (free, opposite Town Hall) is a good base; full route runs Toome to Coleraine. Train access at Ballymoney and Coleraine.. 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 ColeraineSee what else is close by More greenways & trails across NITraffic-free routes to walk and cycle
The story

About this trail

The cycleway follows the Lower Bann, the river that drains Lough Neagh north to the Atlantic. For centuries this was a working waterway, with canals, locks and weirs built to make it navigable, and you still pass the old canal works and fish farm weir near Ballymoney.

The river is one of the finest salmon, eel and coarse fisheries in Ireland, much of it managed by The Honourable The Irish Society, and the fishing stations along the bank are part of that long tradition. Today four marinas sit on the Lower Bann - two at Coleraine, one at Drumaheglis and one at Portglenone.

The route is waymarked as National Cycle Route 96, running roughly 33 miles from Toome up to Coleraine, with the longer line carrying on to The Barmouth at Castlerock where the river finally meets the sea.