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sport · Wednesday 15 July 2026 · 8:00am 
The Borderland Cycle - Belcoo
At Belcoo · Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh
At Belcoo · Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh
The Borderland Cycle is one of the most scenically rewarding cycling events on the island of Ireland - a mass-participation road and gravel ride that takes you across the border counties of Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim, looping around the shores of Lough Mac Nean and into the hills that frame it on every side. It suits cyclists of most abilities, with four distance options ranging from a manageable 55km to a demanding 100km, each one named after local lore: The Banbh, The Black Piglet, The Black Pig, and The Full Boar. If you have ever wanted an excuse to explore this stretch of the Fermanagh borderlands properly - past forests, lakeshore roads and quiet gravel tracks - this is the event that makes it happen.
Four clearly signposted routes roll out from Belcoo, each sharing the same starting stretch before peeling off at different points. The shortest, The Banbh (55km, 600m of climbing), is a solid introduction to the terrain without being punishing. The Black Piglet (65km, around 1,100m) takes in the forests of Ballintempo and Carrigan before crossing the border to Kiltyclogher, swinging past the site associated with MacDiarmada before following the lakeshore home. The Black Pig (85km, 1,400m) adds Belmore and Big Dog Forests to that loop - more gravel, more climbing, genuinely impressive. The Full Boar (100km, 1,700m of climbing) circumnavigates Lough Mac Nean in full; from Kiltyclogher riders turn onto the gravel climb at Saddle Hill, which earns its name. Post-ride, the event runs into the evening with food and entertainment back at the finish - part of what gives it the feel of a small cycling festival rather than just a timed event.
Belcoo sits on the Fermanagh - Cavan border, on the A4/N16 Enniskillen to Sligo road. From Enniskillen it is roughly 25 km south-west; from Sligo, about 60 km north-east. The village straddles the border with Blacklion on the Cavan side, and the two settlements effectively share a main street across the bridge. There is no direct bus service on the day, so most people drive. Parking in Belcoo itself is limited, so arrive early and follow any directional signage put up by the event. If you are coming from Belfast, take the A4 through Enniskillen; from Dublin, the N3 to Belturbet and on through Ballyconnell is the most direct approach to the Blacklion side.
The Mac Nean valley is worth a slower look after the ride - the lakeshore roads you will have cycled are just as pleasant to walk along, and the Marble Arch Caves and Cuilcagh Mountain are within easy reach for the days around the event. There is more to see in Belcoo and across Co. Fermanagh.
Heading to Belcoo in Belcoo? Fermanagh has plenty more to see. Read the Belcoo area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.