The Great Western Greenway

The Great Western Greenway

The Great Western Greenway
5
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  • Escape273449
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great day out
    A great day out cycling. Either hire a bike or bring your own. Ideal for gravel bikes but fine for road bikes too. Check the wind strength and direction before you set out as parts of the route are quite exposed.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 March 2024
  • GoPlaces48766586790
    1 contribution
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Green and gorgeous....but could be safer.
    Really lucky to get a spin on this with family. Cycles from Westport to Newport. The Grainne uaille for lunch and back. Only complaint is that my daughter, a nervous cyclist, hit her handbars off a bollard trying to avoid some walkers. She fell and grazed her hand and knee. The bollards would be just as functional and harder to hit if 30 cm shorter. Strongly suggest you change out the bollards.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 5 May 2024
  • Sean O’Mahony
    Cork, Ireland30 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Make sure your bike saddle is soft and comfortable...
    We cycled from Achill to Westport and it went well. Achill to Mulranny is the most picturesque leg of the greenway where you're surrounded by lakes and mountains, while Newport to Westport was not particularly memorable. The biggest tip I can give is to make sure you have a comfortable saddle, even if you're a seasoned cyclist. After about 30km my buttocks were aching, and I found the final stretch a big struggle. Also, on the approach to Newport, the greenway suddenly vanished and we found ourselves cycling on a narrow pavement on a busy street amidst heavy traffic. Better warning signage would have helped. Apart from these inconveniences it was a delightful experience. Next time I would probably just cycle from Achill to Newport and not bother with the final leg.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 June 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,471 reviews
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1,198
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231
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32
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4

Husk S
Dundrum, Ireland174 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
I cannot overstate this, but get yourself a good pair of padded cycling shorts, we did 40km of the track, relatively fit 30 year olds and our backsides were very very sore!!! Westport to Newport has a few nice bits but could be avoided but Newport itself is lovely, the tea garden cafe there is fabulous and has bike racks. The cycling path is perfect but does have a few steep inclines to push through but From Newport to Mulranny has an abundance of truly magnificent scenery. Don’t simply rush to the final destination, cruise along and take it all in, it is wonderful.
Written 21 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nic
Belfast, UK2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2020 • Couples
My boyfriend and I completed this cycle recently from Achill Island to Westport. It was way more challenging than we anticipated. We are both young, fit and active, but not used to cycling. It was 42km in total and took us around 5 hours (although we did stop a lot to admire the views along the way!).
It was a fairly grey day but still some of the scenery was beautiful!
I wouldn’t recommend doing the whole route if you’re not used to cycling or have any aches / pains etc as this will certainly exacerbate them!
A comfy bicycle seat is a must for this cycle and plenty of pit stops along the way!
Written 10 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mwh1974
Northern Ireland, UK5 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Family
We stopped briefly in Newport with motorhome for lunch and cycle, 2 adults 2 kids. I think we were just unlucky with where we chose as the greenway seemed to just stop either end of the town and the cycle provision (or lack of it) in town itself felt very undefined and unsafe for the kids. Would expect we just picked wrong place to cycle a few miles but for us it unfortunately was not a good experience. There is a great viaduct in the town and it is a nice spot to start a cycle. But to stop the cycle facilities at either end seemed both a missed opportunity and somewhat negligent in terms of safety provision, and gave a negative for us on the short part of the route that we chose to use
Written 25 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Melissa
Cork, Ireland177 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
The greenway was a nice day out. However, it was more difficult than the Waterford greenway with some hilly parts. There was also parts that required cycling on the main road so I wouldn't recommend for young children. A nice day out all in all.
Written 12 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Barbara J
Austin TX, United States7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
We rented e-bikes from Paddy and Nelly (paddyandnelly.ie) because she’s German, so the e-bikes have Bosch motors and are the best we’ve rented so far in Ireland. And this trail is the one for which you might want to try an e-bike.
Written 11 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Seaside584654
4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021
Ok, it pains me to write this as I had been looking forward to it for so long. I'll try and be concise. I am an avid cyclist, fit and very experienced. I would sum this greenway up as being run down, but there's more:

Firstly, the entrance is impossible to find leaving Westport. In Waterford a dramatic iron sculpture leads the way. In Westport it's a tiny sign at the back of some bloke's house, and that's after a pig of climb for average cyclists which is on road. So I would tell families to stay away.

The surface is absolutely appalling for 90% of the way. Broken tarmac, rough gravel and not at all suitable for a road/racing bikes. You even have to ride over cattle grids!

I have seen reviews saying the scenery is not great. Dunno' if that's true as Mayo is a stunning county. I dunno', because I spent my time gripping the brakes and watching the surface ahead because it 's so awful.

There are no water top up stations, not one - Waterford has them all along the route.

There are no rest areas. There were also very few cyclists, so the word must be out already to avoid.

In Newport there is no Greenway - you are cycling on the main road amongst the trucks, cars and buses. I was OK with that, I'm cycling and racing for 4 decades. But the family man or woman bringing little kids along for the ride must have a terrifying experience.

The signage is awful. You really have to be on your game to follow it all along the way. Especially after Newport when you wonder have you missed it and will continue among the trucks and busses for good.

I rode Westport to Achill and back, my wrists were knackered from the awful dirt track you are forced to cycle for most of the journey.

It's not up to scratch. Avoid until perhaps some much needed updating has taken place.
Written 23 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anita M
Blessington, Ireland175 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Family
On a recent trip to Westport we hired bikes from Westport Bike Hire to cycle the Great Western Greenway. We are a family of 6 and our 4 children who cycled Westport to Achill (43km) range in age from 8 to 12 so it is definitely an activity for the whole family to enjoy. You can do as much or little of the Greenway as you like and Westport Bike Hire offer a shuttle service which is very convenient & highly recommended. The scenery is beautiful and plenty of places to stop along the way when breaks were required. The Greenway itself is very well kept with not a piece of litter in sight. It was very comfortable to cycle with the surface very level & very well maintained. Very safe for cyclists. Highly recommend as a family activity.
Written 28 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GoPlaces48766586790
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
Really lucky to get a spin on this with family. Cycles from Westport to Newport. The Grainne uaille for lunch and back.
Only complaint is that my daughter, a nervous cyclist, hit her handbars off a bollard trying to avoid some walkers. She fell and grazed her hand and knee. The bollards would be just as functional and harder to hit if 30 cm shorter.
Strongly suggest you change out the bollards.
Written 5 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AlanM
Dublin28 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020 • Couples
Weather was crap but didn’t take away from the amazing scenery. Cycled from Achill island to Newport which was probably a little far for us as we aren’t regular cyclists but enjoyed it none the less. Views were great and it is really peaceful. Would recommend the Achill Sound to Mulranny stage of journey as the best part. Would recommend upgrading to a lighter bike if renting.
Written 28 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Conorot
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
Wonderful day cycling from Achill back to Westport. Love the way the Greenway is close to the road in places although protected or segregated, giving you a picture of the vehicle traffic as you're whistling to yourself, gliding along past picture perfect views. The coastline, hillscape, terrain are all stunning, also nice to see the odd bit of local farm activity along the cycle path. At one point a ram literally said hello to us from high up on a rock (that's what we told ourselves anyway!). Stopped in Mulranny and Newport, both perfect stop offs for bit of food or refreshment, and great views of the coastline or river. We brought two kids of 9 years old and the 42km was just about manageable for them, it's mostly flat anyway. But there were plenty of even younger children we passed along the way too. An unforgettable day's cycling. Highly recommended.
Written 23 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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