[article] Scenic Cycling - closed railway routes to be opened up.

mike65

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6591558.ece

The Irish government wants to fuel the boom in walking and cycling tourism by converting dozens of disused railway lines into cycle paths.

Eamon Ó Cuív, the rural affairs minister, has invited communities living along the most scenic former rail routes, including the famous West Clare Railway, to convert them into tourist cycle paths using the annual €85m rural development fund.

The West Clare line stretches 50 miles from Ennis around the Burren rock formation to Kilkee on the Atlantic coast and Kilrush on the Shannon estuary. It is typical of the type of route Ó Cuív believes could be surfaced and signposted as cycle paths.

“We have so many spectacular, old, abandoned railway lines,” he said. “The two that come to mind are the one through the Barnesmore gap, and the one to Caherciveen from Farranfore in Co Kerry, which tracks half of the Ring of Kerry.”

Yup, this was mentioned in the NCPF, and I think there's a cycle route already operating in Waterford on a reclaimed railway line.

mikemac

Sounds like a great idea

waitforme

Sustrans did this in the UK, excellent idea and very popular.

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/national-cycle-network

In September 2005 Sustrans wished the National Cycle Network a happy 10th birthday, commemorating the day in 1995 when a cheque for £43.5 million was deposited into the Sustrans bank account - a Millennium Commission Lottery Grant to develop the National Cycle Network.
The Network now passes within one mile of half the population and as it continues to grow so does its popularity - over 386 million walking and cycling trips were made on the Network in 2008 alone.
Working in partnership with hundreds of local authorities, and many other organisations and funders, just over 12,000 miles of routes and links were completed by December 2007.


The routes are free to use and open to all, making them a great way for you and your family to stay fit and healthy while enjoying a breath of fresh air.

keenan110

This would be great if they end up doing it!:)

Jenroche

What a great way to see the countryside without the risk of being run off the road and into a ditch by traffic! For once, the Government had a bright idea.

Jen ;->

**Timbuk2**

There is a walking/cycling route in Waterford from Dungarvan to near Clonea Strand.

mossym

this would be great.was looking for somewhere to take the wife on a cycle with me. i don't think she'd like ballyhoura..:)

all i came up with was the portumna cycle, which seemed a bit short. This would be an excellent idea, was reading it in the times this morning

Esroh

This is a great idea but I can see problems. The 2 old lines in the west ie the Galway/Clifden or Westport/Achill have been taken over by local landowners and You all know how things go with Irish People and Land.
Its just taken 15 years for them to reopen an old road which was only 4 miles in Eamons backyard. His house was on the only bit that had remained open.The last 1/2 mile was the bit that took the longest to sort.
As the saying goes 'There's Always 1'.
Hopefully this will work as the Westport/Achill line is a fantastic route.

mossym

actually, anyone know if any of these can be cycled already? maybe not by the road bikes, but with a MTB?

showry

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

There is a walking/cycling route in Waterford from Dungarvan to near Clonea Strand.

the plan is to continue this all the way to Kilmeaden. It would be spectacular, 3 viaducts and a 500 yard tunnel. They were having opposition from landowners along the old track but I think they've been resolved now.
On a similiar note, the county council have erected permanent numbered signposts, indicating the different Sean Kelly tour routes and a few other routes around the county.

ednwireland

well the main problem seems to be that th e ownership reverted back to the landownes after 20 years of no use certainly be difficult on ballyshannon to ballybofey although the stretch through the gap is rideable on an mtb (never done it though, a lot of it is built on at this point mind you I rode up through the gap back through fintown and glenties (94km) old railway line at the side of the road for a lot of that

Esroh

The fact that alot of walking routes are being sorted around the country may mean that alot of the concerns of landowners are being met. So maybe this will be welcomed
,

Victor

mossym wrote: »

actually, anyone know if any of these can be cycled already? maybe not by the road bikes, but with a MTB?

Some yes, others will be severly overgrown.

mossym

Victor wrote: »

Some yes, others will be severly overgrown.

yeah that was my fear alright. i suppose you would just have to try and cycle them and see

trail man

mossym wrote: »

yeah that was my fear alright. i suppose you would just have to try and cycle them and see

The limerick/kerry old line is converted from ardagh to abbeyfeale in county limerick as a walkway/cycle track its 29k and well worth checking out see www.southerntrail.net for further onfo it even has a walking guide to show you the highlights..:)..