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sport · Saturday 15 August 2026 · 9:00am 
Ring of Cuilcagh Cycle Sportive 2026
At Belturbet Town · Belturbet, Co. Cavan
At Belturbet Town · Belturbet, Co. Cavan
The Ring of Cuilcagh is one of the better-loved charity sportives on the Ulster cycling calendar. Organised by Smugglers Cycling Club out of Belturbet, it takes riders on a loop through the border counties of Cavan, Fermanagh and Leitrim, with the broad ridge of Cuilcagh Mountain as the constant backdrop. The charity element changes from year to year - past editions have supported the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland - so it draws riders who want a challenging day on the bike and a reason to do it. If you are a road cyclist looking for a well-signposted route through genuinely scenic countryside, this is a solid summer day out.
Three distances are on offer - 120km, 90km and 55km - which means the event suits a wide range of abilities, from seasoned club riders tackling the long route to those returning to regular cycling who want a marked course with some support. All three options pass through the upland landscape around Cuilcagh, a UNESCO-designated Geopark that straddles the Cavan-Fermanagh border. The terrain is hilly rather than mountainous on the road routes, with the kind of rolling drumlin country that rewards effort with views across loughs and bog. Smugglers CC run the event as a charity sportive rather than a race, so the atmosphere is inclusive and the pace is your own. Participants get a free raffle entry on the day. Registration is through EventMaster at the link below; entry is priced from €20.
Belturbet sits on the River Erne in the north of County Cavan, about 15km from Cavan town and roughly 25km south of Enniskillen. By road, the most direct approach from Dublin is the N3 north through Cavan town, then the R212 to Belturbet - approximately 130km and under two hours. From Belfast, the A4 to Enniskillen and then south on the A509/R200 is the quickest line. Bus Eireann serves Belturbet from Cavan town, though for an event starting at 9am a car is the practical choice. Parking in the town centre is generally straightforward; expect to arrive early on event morning.
Belturbet is a quiet market town on the western shore of the Erne, with good access to the Shannon-Erne Waterway for anyone who wants to extend the trip. The Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark - home to the famous Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail - is within easy reach for a post-event walk. There is more to see in Belturbet and across Co. Cavan.
Heading to Belturbet Town in Belturbet? Cavan has plenty more to see. Read the Belturbet area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.