Greenway Map

blueballfc · 04-03-2018 10:18pm

And further west
http://connachttribune.ie/east-west-greenway-plan-back-track-698/
Not sure what this means TBH

what_traffic · 05-03-2018 5:25pm

blueballfc wrote: »

And further west
http://connachttribune.ie/east-west-greenway-plan-back-track-698/
Not sure what this means TBH

This might help? From the Galway Cycling Campaign website:

July 2017: Greenway Strategy consultation is misconceived and should be set aside.
http://www.galwaycycling.org/july-2017-greenway-consultation-is-misconceived-and-should-be-set-aside/

riddlinrussell · 12-03-2018 1:46pm

If you want to see some more of the potential for the greenway network have a look at the revamped NI Greenways site. I'll be updating my map to reflect the new content there. I dream of the day there is something as cohesive for the rest of the Island, sadly I don't have time to take on such a mammoth task myself....

Mercian Pro · 12-03-2018 2:10pm

That's a seriously impressive website. Even more impressive is the fact that it is the work of just one man, Jonathan Hobbs. It looks so professional that I had wrongly assumed that it was a Government or Agency funded site.

Keep up your own work here riddlinrussell. It is much appreciated.

Cantona's Collars · 12-03-2018 5:03pm

Wexford Co Co have announced the building of a Greenway from Curracloe to Wexford.

Here's a thing I was wondering about,with the building of motorways, could a dedicated cycle way be installed along the top of the embankments and fenced off to avoid a poor unfortunate that might fall ending up at the bottom? Probably not practical but with the right planning it could be done while these projects are in development.

nilhg · 12-03-2018 5:22pm

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

Wexford Co Co have announced the building of a Greenway from Curracloe to Wexford.

Here's a thing I was wondering about,with the building of motorways, could a dedicated cycle way be installed along the top of the embankments and fenced off to avoid a poor unfortunate that might fall ending up at the bottom? Probably not practical but with the right planning it could be done while these projects are in development.

There's a 65km bike path built parallel to the Kwinawa Freeway between Perth and Mandurah in Western Australia, the railroad runs up the centre of the motorway for quite a distance too, all built at the same time I think.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Kwinana-Freeway-to-Mandurah

Might be an idea for the proposed M20?

Mercian Pro · 12-03-2018 8:30pm

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

Here's a thing I was wondering about,with the building of motorways, could a dedicated cycle way be installed along the top of the embankments

Probably the last place I'd want to cycle given the noise, fumes etc.

Ave Sodalis · 12-03-2018 8:44pm

Most of the Ballyshannon-Killybegs rail is gone. A lot of the Donegal Town- Stranorlar rail is gone too.

The section going through Fintown in Donegal is used for a mile or two for a tourist attraction.

Johnboy1951 · 12-03-2018 9:00pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Probably the last place I'd want to cycle given the noise, fumes etc.

All those fumes will be gone, if the gov get their way, and we all go electric in the next 10 years or so

Little or no noise either.

Cantona's Collars · 13-03-2018 3:18am

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Probably the last place I'd want to cycle given the noise, fumes etc.

Away from the big urban areas- looking at you M50,there isn't a massive volume of traffic on motorways plus if the cycle way was on top of the embankments then you are a good distance away from the traffic.
Riding along an N road puts you in closer proximity to traffic with the noise and fumes associated with it.

riddlinrussell · 13-03-2018 12:49pm

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

Most of the Ballyshannon-Killybegs rail is gone. A lot of the Donegal Town- Stranorlar rail is gone too.

The section going through Fintown in Donegal is used for a mile or two for a tourist attraction.

Yes, thats about the same as a majority of the lines on the map, its unlikely they will ever be reinstated so building greenways on them is a great way to develop the tourism potential of the areas, the North West greenways are actually some of the most cohesive proposed networks in Ireland, the majority of Donegals rail infrastructure is considered for greenway in the plan. If it gets fully realized then there should hopefully be a 'slow tourism' explosion in the County.

Ave Sodalis · 13-03-2018 1:44pm

riddlinrussell wrote:

Yes, thats about the same as a majority of the lines on the map, its unlikely they will ever be reinstated so building greenways on them is a great way to develop the tourism potential of the areas, the North West greenways are actually some of the most cohesive proposed networks in Ireland, the majority of Donegals rail infrastructure is considered for greenway in the plan. If it gets fully realized then there should hopefully be a 'slow tourism' explosion in the County.

I hope it does but I was looking into it for a bridlepath, but most of it in South Donegal can't be developed unless they move it slighty. I haven't a clue about North Donegal so it would be great if that could be done!

riddlinrussell · 13-03-2018 5:25pm

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

I hope it does but I was looking into it for a bridlepath, but most of it in South Donegal can't be developed unless they move it slighty. I haven't a clue about North Donegal so it would be great if that could be done!

The routes I have down on my map tend to be straight along the former railway lines/canal paths/rivers etc. in most cases these shouldn't be taken as the actual route of the potential greenway, negotiation with landowners is paramount to a successful greenway IMO and as not every landowner will be content to let a greenway cross their land there will be some movement in the route in the final plan for it.

mugsymugsy · 13-03-2018 6:22pm

http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2018/03/13/4153347-750k-for-new-walking-t/

Article about cavan / Leitrim green way for cycling / walking getting funding. Might just be a rehash of news / spin for government but still good news

Carawaystick · 15-03-2018 9:15pm

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Little or no noise either.

The vast majority of noise from vehicles at motorway speed is tyre and wind noise.

Being on an embankment on a dead straight route is not much craic.

lamaq · 15-03-2018 9:41pm

Cycled the Royal Canal from Leixlip, no photos unfortunately:

Leixlip to Pike Bridge/Carton House entrance - no work done here, still a mix of narrow paths or grass.

Pike bridge to Maynooth harbour - ok surface.

Maynooth Harbour to Kilcock - finished, the underpass at Bailey's bridge is complete.

Kilcock to about 2km west at drainage bridge - finished.

Drainage bridge to Ferran's Lock - the gravel foundations are down but not the finished surface. Generally ok to cycle on.

Ferran's Lock to Cloncurry bridge - still grass, no work has started yet.

Cloncurry Bridge to Enfield - all done except for last 500m into Enfield which has gravel, not sure why this was left.

Enfield to Blackwater aquaduct - finished.

Blackwater aquaduct to Moyvally - have the foundations down and currently being worked on, looked like they were cutting back some of the trees.

Couldn't go any further than this.

riddlinrussell · 23-03-2018 11:22am

I've seen photos of the Ballynahinch section of the Connemara greenway recently, looks finished although I don't know if it is, anyone have any idea if its completed and if so where exactly it starts and ends? I'd like to add it to the map as a completed section.

HugoMyBoss · 26-03-2018 12:04pm

Ryath · 26-03-2018 5:28pm

Trying to decide on a mini cycle/camping tour with my 10 year old daughter this summer. Sticking to greenway routes makes for much easier cycling. Did a mini one last summer with her from Moate to campsite on Lough Ennell and back. About 25k on cycle track and 8/9k on roads each way. It's a quite country road though and one short section on N52 but hard shoulder is wide. Just stayed the one night. Will probably do it again this summer as a try out with new gear and bags.

Ate in onsite restaurant last summer but hoping to be more self sufficient and cook this summer. Got a primus stoveset and new exped sleeping mats which are a good bit smaller than mats we had so it's a bit of space freed up. Trying to decide on a bar bag and a new dry bag to mount on top of pannier bags. Fitted tent and sleeping mats in 22ltr ortlieb dry bag last trip. Need a slightly wider bag so I can fit 2 sleeping bags and tent and that's a lot of space freed up in the panniers.

Hoping to do 3 nights this time. Mayo greenway seems best option. Drive to Westport camp 1 night at Westport then cycle to Achill and stay two night there. Familiar with it as we've cycled up there a few times.

Waterford greenway looks an option to but I'm not familiar with the area. Caseys in Dungarvan looks close to it but there doesn't seem to be any options along it and Tramore campsites is good bit away from it about 12k to greenway. Roads don't look great for cycling with a 10 year old. Might try out solo though.

Any other options around the country for campsites near greenways? If only we had a route like the Loire valley with regular campsites every 20k

Tigerandahalf · 26-03-2018 8:04pm

@Ryath

Distance from Westport to Achill is about 42km so with a 10 year old you would need to be cutting that journey up. Going into the wind that is a good journey with gear.

Camp/stay the first night somewhere around Newport and then camp the next night around Mulranny. A problem with the Mayo greenway is that there aren't many campsites or hostels along it. I think there is an area down by Mulranny beach that also has toilets. Not sure if it is public or private.

It would be lovely to have an area to camp with some decent facilities. Even if the campsite area had a tarpaulin type cover over the tent areas it would spare you from the elements if the weather turned against you, especially with young kids. It would be nice to sit around a camp fire and chat with others with a beer.

I did a cycle on it at the weekend. I notice they have taken out the dangerous road crossing between Westport and Newport and now you go through an under road tunnel running beside a stream. Very nice.

I have read a few people say not to do the Westport Newport section in favour of the other parts but I like that first section. The section from Newport to Mulranny can feel long. It is a bit more remote and with its slight uphill nature it can be tough with the wind against you.

I saw a good few on it at the weekend. Lots of families with some pulling trailers and others pulling some sort of bar trailer with 2 seats on it, one behind the other.

I was also chatting to someone who was saying they plan to extend the greenway further into Achill down to Keel beach. Now that would be some destination with a campsite on the beach.

Ryath · 26-03-2018 8:53pm

She would be well able for 42k. Just checked back cycle last year was 31k over and we did it in 2 and a half hours. She'll have good bit of cycling done again by the time we do it in the summer. The Mayo greenway is slower than the Westmeath greenway though . Surface on Westmeath one is better than most roads.

Children are able for a lot more than you think. I did Spanish point to Cliffs of Moher and back when I was 11 myself. And she has a much better bike than I did! 50k a day would be handy enough split into a morning and afternoon cycle. Met a Spanish couple camping in Tipperary last year who had cycled the Loire valley the previous summer. Their daughter only was 10 and they had done over 400k in a week!

Nice to hear they've taken out the road crossing.

retalivity · 26-03-2018 9:46pm

In donegal, the burtonport to loughanure piece is mix of tar/gravel trail and a local road. More suited for walkers, but definitely cycle-able - http://www.therosses.ie/burtonport-old-railway-walk.html

Plans are afoot to extend it out to creeslough and be mixed-use

blueballfc · 27-03-2018 8:09pm

looks like some progress on the Grand Canal line
https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/home/304696/offaly-county-council-unveil-plan-for-32km-greenway-on-the-canal.html

Weepsie · 30-03-2018 11:05pm

@Ryath,

Just back from the Mayo Greenway having done Achill to Newport / 32 or so Kms. Was just me and OH but met plenty of families doing it.

There are a very few places you'd need to walk with a child as it's steep for about 10 metres. We met a family who did Mulranny to Achill one day and got shuttled back then Mulranny to Westport and got shuttled back 2 days later.

We meet countless sheep, a horse, various birds, a Nanny goat and it's kid, places to stop and just sit on a bench too.

The views are worth it alone

dixiefly · 17-04-2018 1:57pm

What is the situation with the West Clare Greenway. According to the map it's just Ennistymon to Lahinch - that would be no more than 4km long.

Is that it for the moment?

Anyone cycle it?? Are there other quiet roads etc that you could exted a cycle around there?

riddlinrussell · 17-04-2018 2:57pm

dixiefly wrote: »

What is the situation with the West Clare Greenway. According to the map it's just Ennistymon to Lahinch - that would be no more than 4km long.

Is that it for the moment?

Anyone cycle it?? Are there other quiet roads etc that you could exted a cycle around there?

Theres apparently progress being made on the section Ennis to Ennsitymon, but the current provision in Ennis town for it I'd deemed not adequate for considering 'completed as I believe its lines on the road. The Ennistymon to Lehinch stretch is partly on a decent cycleway on the road but even then I was iffy including it. Main Issue I have is knowing where things are genuinely good. sometimes new stuff receives zero fanfare, sometimes absolutely pointlessly bad provision gets lauded as Greenway, so I really rely on people on the ground to correct me.

To My Mind a Greenway is this:

and an Urban Cycleway would be this:

If the provision is at (or close to) that level then I'd consider that section completed

Moflojo · 17-04-2018 3:09pm

The Ennistymon to Lahinch section is just a raised path running alongside the main road, as far as I've seen.

When I was around there late last year it looked like there was work underway to link Lahinch and Liscannor via a similar roadside cycle path. I don't know if there's been any further progress with that.

riddlinrussell · 17-04-2018 3:15pm

Moflojo wrote: »

The Ennistymon to Lahinch section is just a raised path running alongside the main road, as far as I've seen.

When I was around there late last year it looked like there was work underway to link Lahinch and Liscannor via a similar roadside cycle path. I don't know if there's been any further progress with that.

Yeah if I recall its a fairly wide raised path, which I'd consider decent enough provision, especially if it shows where pedestrians/cyclists should be.

Moflojo · 17-04-2018 4:20pm

riddlinrussell wrote: »

Yeah if I recall its a fairly wide raised path, which I'd consider decent enough provision, especially if it shows where pedestrians/cyclists should be.

It's a decent facility alright, but it shouldn't be considered a Greenway in my opinion. It's too close to motor traffic so it misses out on some of the key Greenway experiences of cleaner air, a quieter environment, and immersion in nature.

riddlinrussell · 17-04-2018 4:48pm

Yeah I'd consider it a cycleway as part of a larger greenway, problem is now its there you wont get a proper greenway there for a long time. Definitely falls outside my 'Greenway' criteria but not my 'Cycleway' criteria, unfortunately I think going back through my entire map and splitting it into Cycleway and Greenway demarcations might kill me.....

Rulmeq · 17-04-2018 5:33pm

dixiefly wrote: »

What is the situation with the West Clare Greenway. According to the map it's just Ennistymon to Lahinch - that would be no more than 4km long.

Is that it for the moment?

Anyone cycle it?? Are there other quiet roads etc that you could exted a cycle around there?

They are going to run into a bit of trouble if they try using the old line on the Corofin/Ennistymon road.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.9247069,-9.243791,385m/data=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.9240667,-9.243162,3a,75y,357.19h,98.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2DzkXRN54whbRxpcH32N6w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

magicbastarder · 17-04-2018 5:43pm

and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a perfect example of the cluster**** that is the planning system here.

nilhg · 17-04-2018 6:37pm

Rulmeq wrote: »

They are going to run into a bit of trouble if they try using the old line on the Corofin/Ennistymon road.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.9247069,-9.243791,385m/data=!3m1!1e3

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.9240667,-9.243162,3a,75y,357.19h,98.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2DzkXRN54whbRxpcH32N6w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

magicbastarder wrote: »

and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a perfect example of the cluster**** that is the planning system here.

Probably a bit unfair to pick one individual example, there are hundreds of situations like that on all the old closed railway lines, especially the ones which closed donkeys years ago, the one closest to me here and which I'm most familiar with is the West Wicklow line, it would have been a fantastic resource but development by landowners is allover the old line.

In Athy the new, badly needed, relief road is going to follow the line of the old railway out to Wolfhill around the town, there'll be a cycleway at the edge but it won't be anything like it could have been.

nilhg · 17-04-2018 6:40pm

In other news I see that Waterways Ireland have appealed the decision of Kildare, Laois and Carlow county councils to refuse permission on the river section of the Barrow Blueway, it's with ABP now so it's hard to see anything happening even on the bits that have permission (the canal section) this year.

ipodrocker · 18-04-2018 9:29am

Kingswood to Clondalkin would be a great one if goes ahead roads as so busy these days.

Moflojo · 18-04-2018 1:30pm

nilhg wrote: »

In other news I see that Waterways Ireland have appealed the decision of Kildare, Laois and Carlow county councils to refuse permission on the river section of the Barrow Blueway, it's with ABP now so it's hard to see anything happening even on the bits that have permission (the canal section) this year.

I think the Barrow Blueway has turned into an "Over my dead body" situation, thanks to Olivia O'Leary's high profile campaign against it. It's quite literally a NIMBY scenario.

nilhg · 18-04-2018 1:55pm

Moflojo wrote: »

I think the Barrow Blueway has turned into an "Over my dead body" situation, thanks to Olivia O'Leary's high profile campaign against it. It's quite literally a NIMBY scenario.

Except that for a quite a few of the objectors it's not even in their backyard...

Just for the record I understand some of their worries, just think that with a bit of give and take it's possible to have something great that's accessible to all, walkers, cyclists, families with buggies and people in wheelchairs.

Johnboy1951 · 18-04-2018 4:58pm

Moflojo wrote: »

I think the Barrow Blueway has turned into an "Over my dead body" situation, thanks to Olivia O'Leary's high profile campaign against it. It's quite literally a NIMBY scenario.

Maybe if she considered how unwelcoming her favourite path is to those who use wheelchairs and the like she might be more accommodating.

Someone should remind her we are all just one 'event' from needing to use a wheelchair for the rest of our days.

Her attitude smacks a lot of 'I'm all right Jack' while she walks in her hiking boots and gear.

jos28 · 23-04-2018 5:28pm

Just back after doing Westport to Achill and got the shuttle back. Pi$$ing rain, strong winds so it wasn't the nicest of cycles. Stunning scenery but tough enough in the conditions. I'd definitely recommend starting in Achill and cycling back to Westport, there's a better chance of having the wind behind you.

riddlinrussell · 24-04-2018 12:42pm

Omeath to Newry section of Dundalk to Newry Greenway to open at the start of May (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-43789599)

The planned greenway will reach Greenore, and split off to loop down into Dundalk, its a big section still to do but would be an absolutely amazing draw to an under-appreciated part of the country.

Ray Bloody Purchase · 24-04-2018 2:06pm

jos28 wrote: »

Just back after doing Westport to Achill and got the shuttle back. Pi$$ing rain, strong winds so it wasn't the nicest of cycles. Stunning scenery but tough enough in the conditions. I'd definitely recommend starting in Achill and cycling back to Westport, there's a better chance of having the wind behind you.

It's always best to get keep the wind to your back there. The Atlantic wind can be quite strong.

I'm down next week for the third year in a row. It's such a lovely cycle.

jos28 · 24-04-2018 11:03pm

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

It's always best to get keep the wind to your back there. The Atlantic wind can be quite strong.

I'm down next week for the third year in a row. It's such a lovely cycle.

I should have asked here first, would have been a much nicer cycle. Ah well, no pain, no gain.

mr spuckler · 25-04-2018 9:53am

jos28 wrote: »

I should have asked here first, would have been a much nicer cycle. Ah well, no pain, no gain.

you see plenty of people asking for general advice before doing that greenway and the first response is always the same regarding wind!

youtube! · 06-05-2018 8:08pm

Hi , Is it possible to hire suitable bikes and attire to do some of these Greenways?

Carawaystick · 06-05-2018 8:22pm

riddlinrussell wrote: »

Omeath to Newry section of Dundalk to Newry Greenway to open at the start of May (http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-43789599)

The planned greenway will reach Greenore, and split off to loop down into Dundalk, its a big section still to do but would be an absolutely amazing draw to an under-appreciated part of the country.

It's only from Victoria Lock at the end of the canal up to Newry, theres a mile to the border, and its about 5km to the next Greenway section at Omeath

Corca Baiscinn · 06-05-2018 9:01pm

youtube! wrote: »

Hi , Is it possible to hire suitable bikes and attire to do some of these Greenways?

That's a very good question you tube! The OP of this Greenway thread has done a super job in doing the greenway map, next thing needed is a bike-hire add-on but wouldn't be fair to expect him to do that too! It's especially important because even if you have your own bike but you don't own a car it's so difficult to bring a bike on a train to Waterford, Westport, Athlone, Mullingar, Longford. and even if you do have a car if a bunch of friends or a family wants to cycle a greenway most cars can only manage one ro two bikes so it's still a problem.

Answer depends on which Greenway you have in mind, Waterford and Great Western (Mayo) are very well catered for. I don't know about all of the others except that a lot of the info online is out of date and when you call the numbers you find they are no longer doing bike-hire or the number rings out. Tbh a number of the greenways are simply not busy enough or of a high-enough standard to attract enough customers to support bike-hire.

Not sure what you mean by gear, bike-hire places will give you a helmet and a lock, and some would have panniers also.

mr spuckler · 06-05-2018 10:41pm

there's definitely bike hire in Athlone, pretty sure you can hire a trailer for kids too as you also can in Westport & Waterford.

from what I've seen it's Westport & Waterford that are best catered for - a lot of the companies will even drop you out for you to cycle back or vice-versa.

Weepsie · 06-05-2018 10:45pm

Loads of options to hire in Westport, Mulranny, Achill etc., you can hire bikes right at the beginning of the Waterford one, and also at the WIT arena.

Corca Baiscinn · 07-05-2018 12:00pm

Weepsie wrote: »

Loads of options to hire in Westport, Mulranny, Achill etc., you can hire bikes right at the beginning of the Waterford one, and also at the WIT arena.

And also at Kilmacthomas for anyone who doesn't have the time or little legs to do the full Greenway

Greybottle · 07-05-2018 12:35pm

Cycled from Mullingar out to Furey's Pub (Moyvalley) yesterday. All done. Either tarred existing roads or new Limestone sand paths. Excellent surface, parking bays near most bridges, loads of people out and about. Proof that it does work.

I cycled the canal a few times over the years and this was one of the more difficult stretches. Nice to see it done up. Had a look over the fence at Moyvalley to see if the stretch towards Enfield has been done, but couldn't see anything. Looks like there's 2 Km of tough but easily walkable canal path here.

So, if I've got this right, almost all of >Maynooth-Clondra (Shannon) is done?

Greenway Map

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