- Kingfisher Cycle Trail (Monaghan Sections): A standout long-distance route on minor country roads, forming part of the cross-border Kingfisher Trail through lakeland scenery, passing Lough Egish, historic castles, and charming villages like Ballybay and Rockcorry; ideal for multi-day tours with tranquil water views.
- Rossmore Forest Park Loops: A network of peaceful forest paths and gravel tracks in the expansive Rossmore Forest Park near Monaghan town, offering family-friendly loops through ancient woodlands, past a ruined castle, lakes, and giant redwoods with moderate undulations.
- Monaghan Town Greenway and Trails: Urban and riverside paths starting in Monaghan town, linking to the Ulster Canal Greenway sections and local parks with dedicated cycleways, suitable for relaxed family rides and connections to broader rural routes.
- Carrickmacross to Castleblayney Loop: A gentle circuit on quiet backroads through south Monaghan’s drumlin country, passing Lough Fea, historic estates like Lough Fea House, and the market town of Carrickmacross with its lace heritage.
- Lough Muckno Estate Trails: Off-road and mixed paths around the scenic Lough Muckno near Castleblayney, featuring lakeside loops through Hope Castle demesne, wooded peninsulas, and picnic spots popular for leisurely family cycling.
- Inniskeen to Culloville Rural Lanes: A peaceful southern border route on minor roads inspired by Patrick Kavanagh country, passing the poet’s birthplace at Inniskeen Round Tower, river valleys, and quiet farmland with gentle hills and literary connections.
- Clones to Smithborough Canal Loop: A flat to gently undulating circuit using sections of the restored Ulster Canal Greenway and quiet lanes, linking the historic ecclesiastical town of Clones with its round tower and high crosses to neighbouring villages.
- Emyvale to Glaslough Circuit: A scenic northern Monaghan loop on backroads through rolling drumlins, passing Emy Lough, the picturesque village of Glaslough with its award-winning castle estate, and offering serene lake and countryside immersion.
Monaghan offers a serene blend of rolling hills and cultural heritage, with the Monaghan County Museum showcasing local history through artefacts and exhibits. The scenic Rossmore Forest Park provides walking trails amidst lakes and woodlands, while Castle Leslie’s historic estate offers a glimpse into aristocratic life. The county’s traditional lace-making heritage and quiet countryside make Monaghan an inviting destination for history and nature enthusiasts. Monaghan is Ireland’s sixth smallest county by size (1,291 square km) and fifth smallest by population (65,288).
Monaghan:
Introduction – 1837 – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells –Hotels – Hotels8 – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Musicians – Name – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Saints – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers
Cycling
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare – Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
