Westmeath Way | |
---|---|
Length | 100 kilometres (62 miles) [1] |
Location | County Westmeath, Ireland |
Designation | National Waymarked Trail [2] |
Trailheads | Kilbeggan, Garrycastle ( Athlone) [1] [2] |
Use | Hiking |
Difficulty | Easy [2] |
Season | Any |
The Westmeath Way ( Irish: Slí na hIarmhí) [2] is a long-distance trail in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is 100 kilometres (62 miles) long and begins in Kilbeggan and ends in Athlone. [1] It is typically completed in two days. [2] It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Westmeath County Council and the Westmeath Way Committee. [3] The trail forms part of the Dublin-Galway Greenway, part of the route 2 of the EuroVelo European cycle network.
Starting at Kilbeggan, the trail follows the River Brosna for approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) and the crosses countryside to the village of Ballinagore. [4] From Ballinagore, the route travels on to reach the shores of Lough Ennell at the townland of Lilliput, from which Jonathan Swift used the name in Gulliver's Travels. [5] The trails follow tracks and roads around the lough, via Dysart village, before reaching Bellmount Bridge where it follows the Royal Canal to Mullingar with a rail-trail over the disused Mullingar-Athlone rail line to Athlone. [6] [1] [5]
A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 found usage of the trail to be low and recommended that the amount of walking on tarred roads (41%) be reduced, that a series of looped walks off the main trail be developed and the trail should be promoted to day walkers. [3]
Westmeath Way | |
---|---|
Length | 100 kilometres (62 miles) [1] |
Location | County Westmeath, Ireland |
Designation | National Waymarked Trail [2] |
Trailheads | Kilbeggan, Garrycastle ( Athlone) [1] [2] |
Use | Hiking |
Difficulty | Easy [2] |
Season | Any |
The Westmeath Way ( Irish: Slí na hIarmhí) [2] is a long-distance trail in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is 100 kilometres (62 miles) long and begins in Kilbeggan and ends in Athlone. [1] It is typically completed in two days. [2] It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Westmeath County Council and the Westmeath Way Committee. [3] The trail forms part of the Dublin-Galway Greenway, part of the route 2 of the EuroVelo European cycle network.
Starting at Kilbeggan, the trail follows the River Brosna for approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) and the crosses countryside to the village of Ballinagore. [4] From Ballinagore, the route travels on to reach the shores of Lough Ennell at the townland of Lilliput, from which Jonathan Swift used the name in Gulliver's Travels. [5] The trails follow tracks and roads around the lough, via Dysart village, before reaching Bellmount Bridge where it follows the Royal Canal to Mullingar with a rail-trail over the disused Mullingar-Athlone rail line to Athlone. [6] [1] [5]
A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 found usage of the trail to be low and recommended that the amount of walking on tarred roads (41%) be reduced, that a series of looped walks off the main trail be developed and the trail should be promoted to day walkers. [3]