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One of the most frequent questions when people are getting ready to set off on their holiday is ?should we bring our bikes?. Of course you should! Ireland has fantastic family friendly cycle paths and greenways which make for unforgettable holidays. Alongside these routes, there are some exciting variations that experienced cyclists can add on to the cycle, while the rest of the family enjoys activities in the area. Ireland?s Greenways and trails are a great way to see some of the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of the country while enjoying the great outdoors.
Greenways in Ireland are predominantly traffic free paths. They are ideally suited for use by pedestrians, cyclists, families with buggies as well as wheelchair users. They are ideal for cyclists, and in particular cyclists with limited experience and children. You can cycle on these dedicated routes without the having to deal with cars, buses, vans, etc. which make them very safe for everyone to enjoy.
There are a number of looped routes as well as mountain trails throughout Ireland and for the experienced cyclist there are on-road routes which brings you through some of the most scenic and magnificent areas of the country.
Here are our favourite cycle routes for all the family to enjoy.
There are a number of Greenways in Ireland and many more due to come on over the next few years. Some like the Waterford Greenway and Great Western Greenway in Mayo are already very popular and welcome thousands of visitors every year. The Royal Canal Greenway stretches from Maynooth to Longford and travels along the Royal Canal. The Limerick Greenway travels throughout the Treaty County and the newest Kingdom of Kerry Greenway offers two beautiful routes that follow the old Limerick to Kerry railway line. Along all of these Greenways you will find a number of top class caravan & camping sites where you can pitch up for a few days, saddle up your bike and explore the cycle routes in the area.
The Waterford Greenway stretches from Waterford City Quays to Dungarvan. It?s a shared use Greenway, which means that people are allowed to cycle, walk and run, you can even bring your dog, as long as he/she is on a lead. You can access the Greenway from a number of points along the route. Whilst the total route is 45km long you can do as much or as little as you want. The section from Dungarvan to Durrow is particularly lovely and is just 10km long. Pitch up for a few nights at any of the sites in Waterford including three sites in Dungarvan close to the Greenway or at the seaside town of Tramore and cycle parts of the route over different days.
The Great Western Greenway stretches for 42km through some of Ireland?s most beautiful scenery from Westport on the mainland all the way to Achill Island. Experience exceptional views of Croagh Patrick, deserted villages, national parks and some of the most stunning coastline in the west along the route. You can rent a bike in the nearby towns and villages including Westport, Newport, Mulranny and Dooagh and if you want to only cycle part of the route you can arrange for a pick-up service to bring you back to Westport. You will travel through bogs, woodlands and active farmland, while spotting wildlife and flora. The Great Western Greenway ?was voted the top three cycle trails in the world, by the New York Times? so it is definitely something not to be missed. Pitch up for a few days at the start of the route in Westport or Castlebar or stay for a few nights on Achill Island and travel into Westport on the route. There are top quality caravan & camping sites through Mayo which give you easy access to this spectacular route.
The Great Southern Greenway follows the old Limerick to Kerry railway line and links West Limerick?s towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale with some fantastic heritage sites in between. You can experience the Limerick Greenway in one visit or explore in shorter stages. Pitch up for a few nights in Limerick or Kerry and access to the Limerick Greenway for a gentle cycle along the banks of the River Deel.
Carlingford Lough Greenway in County Louth is perfect for novice cyclists or travelling with a young family particularly the stretch from Omeath to Carlingford only 6.2km long. There are lots of different places to join the Carlingford Lough Greenway and they all have great views across the lough to the Mourne Mountains, while Slieve Foy towers over it on the Louth side. There are 5 access points between Omeath and Carlingford so you will have plenty of places to join the route. The ?Wee County? only covers an area of just over 500km so pitch up for a few days and explore this historical and rich landscape area or pitch up in one of the great sites in Down and take the ferry across Carlingford.
The Old Trail Rail Greenway is 42km and is part of the Royal Canal Greenway. This section is totally off-road and is very safe for families to enjoy. The trail is entirely car-free and mostly flat making it a leisurely cycle for bike riders of all ages. The section from Athlone to Moat is just 8km long. Set off from Athlone and head for Mullingar. Moate, Castletown or Ballinea are great stop-off points for refreshments along the trail. With lots of entry and exit points, you can hop on and off to explore the villages and attractions along the way. If you are spending a few days in Meath, Westmeath or Roscommon you will be able to access the route in a number of locations.
The Kingdom of Kerry Greenway consists of two routes that follow the old Limerick to Kerry railway line, the Tralee to Fenit route and the Listowel to Abbeyfeale route. Tralee to Fenit is a 13.6km route along the Wild Atlantic Way, starting in Tralee and finishing in the coastal village of Fenit. From Tralee, the Greenway passes The Spa, Cotters Bend and Kilfenora. From there it follows the Tralee Estuary where you can enjoy views of the Dingle Peninsula.
The Listowel to Abbeyfeale, in County Limerick, route is 16km long with unspoilt views of the surrounding pastureland and picturesque landscape of heather bogland, fertile valleys and rolling hills along with the lively historic market town of Listowel. It connects with ?The Limerick Greenway? at Abbeyfeale, and continues on for 40km through the three key market towns of Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West and Rathkeale, and North from Rathkeale to the townland of Ballingarrane. Choose one of the great caravan & camping sites in Kerry to pitch up for a few days and travel some or all of the Kingdom of Kerry Greenway.
There are many other options for cycling routes away from the Greenways. In Ireland there are 260 recreational forests nationwide, including 3,000km of way marked walking trails, 12 forest parks and six mountain bike centres. There are 9 forest parks in Northern Ireland. The parks offer a wonderful selection of facilities including children?s playgrounds, picnic sites, marked walking and cycling trails alongside the beautiful scenic woodlands. They are ideal places to take the family and enjoy a safe and easy cycle through the forests.
Killykeen Forest Park in Cavan has a number of short cycle routes. Set off from the centre of Killykeen on a 32km looped route that snakes its way through a leafy landscape dotted with rippling lakes and rolling hills. With only 220m of climbing on the loop, the hills provide a nice variation throughout the route. Drop into Farnham Estate, around the 20km mark and treat yourself to a delicious lunch, fuel for the remainder of the cycle.
Curragh Chase Forest Park is the woodland estate and lakes around the shell of the 18th century Curraghchase House, in County Limerick, home of poet Aubrey de Vere. It is now open as a state forest and park with 8km of multi-purpose way-marked trails. There are a number of looped way marked trails in the park to suit all visitors. They vary from the multi-access trails suitable for wheelchair users and family walkers and cyclists to the longer Curragh and Glenisca trails suitable for those looking for more demanding walking and cycling. Pitch up for a few nights at the nearby site in Limerick and enjoy all that Curragh Chase has to offer.
In Northern Ireland there are a number of cycle routes suitable for all the family to enjoy and plenty of top quality caravan & camping parks to pitch up for a few days.
Davagh?Forest Mountain Bike Trails, County?Tyrone?? 2km ? 5km Start off on the gentle green bike trail, then?take on?the faster blue one?once you have a?bit more confidence. You also have playpark, picnic benches and pump track.
The Blessingbourne Mountain Bike Trails, near Fivemiletown, lie in the heart of the Clogher Valley close to the border between counties Tyrone and Fermanagh. The Blue Trail – 4km is packed full of twists and turns with some exhilarating swoopy sections through the estate woodland. It can be taken as fast or as slow as you like and so is suited to families/groups holding a range of abilities.
Castle Archdale?Family Cycling Trail, County Fermanagh?? 7.5km Start from the marina?in?Castle Archdale Country Park, then follow the arrows through?the secluded forest. The Old Castle is roughly halfway. The return leg?hugs the shore of Lower Lough Erne where you get panoramic?views across to Davy?s Island and?White Island. There?s a café and playpark in the courtyard. In summer you can take boat trips to White Island to see the world-famous carved figures.
These are just a few ideas for you and your family to explore throughout Ireland. So whether you are planning a few days away or a longer break there is plenty to see and do as part of your caravan & camping holiday.
It is time to get planning and booking for your next trip away. Camping Ireland has so much information to help you plan your caravan & camping trip away. Our website is very user-friendly and has a number of great features which makes it very easy to navigate. One of the new features is that you can now add filters to your selection. This will allow you to get information on parks that are specific to your needs.
You can now filter for sites as follows:
Camping type ? camping, glamping, mobile home hire, etc.
Holiday type ? Forest locations, beach holiday, countryside, family-friendly, dog friendly, etc.
Facilities ? beach nearby, playground, games room, shop, etc.
County
Region ? Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland?s Ancient East, Ireland?s Hidden Heartlands, Dublin or Northern Ireland
Also, many sites are now offering online booking which will help you secure your pitch at the click of a button.
Whatever you want Camping Ireland has something to suit everyone. Enjoy the independence and flexibility that camping in Ireland can offer in quality approved sites. We look forward to welcoming you to Ireland?s outdoor living.
