It was almost unnerving, the fact that we had cycled for miles and did not have to contend with any car or moving vehicle of any sort.
We were cycling the newly opened Great Western Greenway, which runs from Newport to Mulranney in Co Mayo.
It’s a cool March day and snow is covering half of Croagh Patrick as we pedal along the 18 kilometre long trail.
Along the way, we pass under a number of quaint railway bridges, reminding us that the trail primarily follows the route of the Westport/Achill railway line, which closed back in 1937.
The solid workmanship visible in these old stone arches and walls is a far cry from the flimsy apartment building that sprung up during the Celtic Tiger.
Steep embankments on either side at another point signal (pun intended) remnants of the bygone age that was the Irish rural railway era.
The trail, the longest off road cycling trail in Ireland, begins in flat farmland terrain just outside Newport village.
It winds its way along Clew Bay, passing pretty streams and the highest point (a mere 82 metres) still affords fantastic views over the bay.
The journey becomes even more scenic the closer you get to Mulranney, and the trail finishes up at what remains of the village’s train station.
The main attraction of this trail is the fact that it is completely traffic free. It is signposted well, with markers at every kilometre. You can cycle along at your ease without having to deal with the din and dangers of traffic. The gentle gradients of the trail make it ideal for a family day out.
The Greenway, which cost €1.6 million, opened in April 2010. Plans are afoot to extend it to 42 km, linking Westport to Achill. When complete, it should play its part in upping the tourism numbers considerably in the region. More Greenways should be developed in Ireland, as cycling tourism is a growing market. According to Fáilte Ireland cycling tourists in 2009 accounted for €97 million of the overseas visitor spend.
If the Greenway continues to attract both walkers and cyclists alike, the government should consider upgrading the current surface of fine gravel. In order to bring the trail up to the standards European cycle tourists are used to, it should be properly paved with tarmacadam. Cycling on gravel is considerably more difficult than your average road surface. And the friction between the tyre and the ground is somewhat noisy, disturbing the peace around you. It must also be noted that we occasionally came across some extremely rough patches along the way.
We brought our own bikes for this outing. My companion has a convenient fold up bike which we stored in the boot, and my ordinary bike was hoisted onto a car rack.
There are plenty of cycle hire options available in the area. These companies are willing to drop you and collect you if you just want to travel one way.
The completion of this Greenway from Westport to Achill is being eagerly awaited, and is expected to open within a matter of months.
