Ireland's first greenway, the Great Western Greenway is a walking and cycling trail that spans 44 kilometres, running from the town of Westport up to Achill Sound.
An award-winning facility, the Greenway is multi-functional, serving tourists, local recreation and also as a transport route for connected commutable communities. Named as one of the 'top three cycle trails in the world' by the New York Times, the greenway has become a hugely popular attraction, drawing tourists and locals alike by the droves.
Following the line of the disused Midlands Great Western Railway, which ceased operation in 1937, the greenway is the longest off road walking and cycling facility of its kind in Ireland, as well as the first.
Passing through some of the most scenic regions in the country, the greenway traverses a number of varied and sensitive landscapes including Special Areas of Conservation, woodland, coastal areas, rural farmlands, bogs and urban environments. In addition to this, the greenway intersects 15 nationally accredited walking trails, each offering scenic adventures along different areas of Co Mayo.
The route
Beginning with 'mild gradients courtesy of its initial beginning as a railway line', the greenway's 44 km route traverses through towns, beaches, bays and mountains along the way, and is broken down into defined trails within the full route, with each trail ranging in difficulty and length.
The Achill Sound to Cashel section of the greenway is 5 km in length and described as a multi-use, light route. The Mulranny to Achill section of the route is 14 km in length and described as moderate, as is the Newport to Mulranny stretch of greenway which is 18 km, and the Westport to Newport portion of the greenway, which is 12 km. Despite being 22 km greater than the second longest stretch, the full 44 km of the greenway is also described as 'moderate', so make of that what you will.
Passing through Newport, Mulranny, alongside the Wild Nephin National Park and the Nephin Mountain that the park was named after, it takes eight to nine hours to complete the greenway by foot, and four to five hours on a bike.
Transporting or hiring equipment and yourself to the Greenway, or to specific parts of it has been made easy thanks to the ingenuity of local bike hire companies who offer to pick up, drop off and loan bikes. Rain gear, waterproof clothing and trekking shoes are recommended, as well as carrying a phone should you get into any difficulty along the way.
Information on bike hire, route maps and recommended visitor attractions along the greenway are all available on www.greenway.ie
