Ireland is blessed with gorgeous scenery full of green rolling hills, waves crashing against rocks and an occasional castle popping up. One of the best ways to view the Emerald Island is to hop a bike and start peddling. There are also plenty of places to rent the bike, so don’t let that stop you! Among the best greenways are:
The Great Western Greenway in County Mayo features ever-changing views with the many islands of Clew Bay, the Nephin Bag Mountains and Chill Island coming into view. You can rent bikes from Clew Bay Bike Hire and if you’re a bit tired, they’ll pick you up with a shuttle service.
The Waterford Greenway is the longest former railroad greenway in Ireland, and it goes from Waterford to Dungarvan. After Waterford, follow the banks of the River Suir as far as Mount Congreve Gardens and you’ll be in the shadow of the Comeragh Mountains. From peaks to beach, you arrive into Dungarvan with the natural highs of Dungarvan Bay and Clonea Strand stretching out before you.
It’s not such a long way to Tipperary along the county’s Suir Blueway. Although it gives partial access to cyclists, kayakers and canoeists, it is still a great biking trail. Heritage highlights along the way include the exquisite Elizabethan Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir, and one of the best preserved medieval castles at Clonmel.
The Suir Blueway is one of three accredited blueways in Ireland, meaning they are now considered world-class destinations for water-based and water-side activities. The others are the Boyne Blueway in Trim, County Meath, and the Lough Derg Blueway, which traverses counties Clare, Tipperary and Galway.
You can quickly leave the hustle and bustle of Belfast on the Comber Greenway, which takes you out of Belfast to County Down’s small town of Comber. Starting in the shadow of Belfast’s iconic Harland and Wolf’s giant yellow cranes, you cycle out through the suburbs and you can extend your trip by cycling on road to – and walking around — Island Hill and North Strangford Nature Reserve, Castle Espie Woodland Trail or a bit further to Scrabo Hill.
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