Riding the Great Western Greenway

If you want to see the beauty of the West of Ireland, and get a little fitter at the same time, then the Great Western Greenway – Ireland’s best-known outdoor cycling track – is a great option.

The Great Western Greenway is probably Ireland’s best-known cycling track stretching over 42 kilometres. It is located in county Mayo and takes in some spectacular sights such as Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay and Clare Island. If you have the time, it is highly recommended to extend the trip by cycling around Achill Island with its rugged cliffs and stunning ocean views. After finishing the Greenway you can spend some time in Westport – a very pleasant little town with great restaurants and pubs, and if you’re up for it, you can also climb Croagh Patrick – Ireland’s Holy Mountain, which is just a 20-minute drive away from the centre of Westport.

Getting there

If you want to do the Greenway your first point of call is Westport in county Mayo. You can get there by car – the journey from Dublin will take about 3-4 hours, and you can also take the train from Dublin’s Heuston station. There are plenty of B&Bs in Westport and some hostels as well, but summer months are very busy, so book in advance.

Starting the journey

There is no need to bring a bicycle along as there are plenty of bike hire shops in Westport. They are not all that expensive and you can expect to pay about 15 euro per day.

You then have two options: either do the full Greenway, cycling from Westport to Achill Island and back the same way, or you can take a shuttle bus to Achill Island and then cycle just one leg of the way – back to Westport. Most bicycle hire companies offer the shuttle bus option for a little extra (about 5 euro). They will take you there along with your bicycle, and you can return the bike when you’re back in Westport.

The shuttle bus option is probably best, especially if you do not have much time and if you also want to spend some hours on Achill Island before taking the trip to Westport.

Achill Island

When you get to Achill Island make sure to have at least a few hours free to explore this beautiful place! You can cycle from Achill Sound to the South and all the way to Doeega Beach – this should take a couple of hours. You can then return to Achill Sound, crossing the island in the middle. The terrain there is mostly flat, and on the way to the beach you will pass the tower of Ireland’s pirate queen Granuaile and several beautiful cliffs. There are smaller beaches on the way where you can stop and maybe even take a quick dip if you’re not afraid of the cold water!

If you have more time exploring the rest of the island is definitely recommended, but be warned: the northern part of the island is hilly and the journey will be hard even if you’re a seasoned cyclist.

The Greenway

The Greenway stretches all the way from Achill Sound to Westport. Most of it is off road, built on top of an unused railroad track. The track is mostly flat, so even if you don’t cycle much you will probably finish it in 4-5 hours and you won’t even be all that tired!

You will want to stop often in order to enjoy the amazing views of Clare Island, the Clew Bay and the amazing scenery all around. Make sure to bring a spare memory card because you’ll be taking loads of pictures!

Back to Westport

It’s definitely worth it to spend an extra day or two in Westport. The town’s attractions include the famous Westport House – an aristocratic residence turned theme park. While the theme park is fairly small-scale and tailored for families with small kids, the House itself is worth a visit, it’s very well preserved and has an excellent exhibition about the history of the famous Browne family. The estate has a very pleasant garden.

If you’re not too tired after all the cycling you should attempt Croagh Patrick – one of Ireland’s most famous mountains and considered Holy by some. It is said that Saint Patrick – the patron saint of Ireland – spent 40 days feasting on the mountain sometime in the 5th century AD. Nowadays the mountain is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year – many of them coming from very far away. It is traditional to climb the mountain with bare feet, so do not be surprised if you see people with no shoes making their way up!

If you’re lucky and the weather is clear, the view of Clew Bay from the top of Croagh Patrick at 764 metres is breath-taking and the climb is definitely worth the effort even if you’re not a religious person!

More details about the Great Western Greenway, Westport and Achill Island can be found online: www.greenway.ie

Originally published in SEDA News