| 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]
See also
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d McDermott, Eoghan (18 October 2015). "Kenny wants national strategy for walks and trails". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Westmeath Way". IrishTrails. Irish Sports Council. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ a b National Trails Office 2010, p. 47.
- ^ "Westmeath Way". Midland Regional Authority. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ a b "The Westmeath Way". Discover Ireland. Fáilte Ireland. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ Cusack, Adrian (13 April 2017). "Over 1,500 used Athlone greenway extension on one day". Westmeath Independent. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
Bibliography
- National Trails Office (2010). "Setting New Directions. A review of National Waymarked Ways in Ireland" (pdf). Dublin: Irish Sports Council. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
External links
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