Great Western Greenway

Country: Ireland

EUROPEAN GREENWAYS AWARD 2025

The panoramic route, which winds its way along the coast of Clew Bay, was the longest greenway in Ireland. The Great Western Greenway has been so popular that it has inspired similar ventures all around the country, most notably perhaps, the Waterford Greenway which just surpasses the Great Western’s 42km by 4km! Today more than a quarter of a million people use the Great Western Greenway annually, all attracted by traffic-free natural environment and the ever-changing and beautiful views over Mayo’s mountains, bogs, farmland and dramatic Atlantic coastline.

The Great Western Greenway follows the line of the old Midlands Great Western Railway, which closed in 1937. It can be completed in either direction, although the best approach is from west to east, with the prevailing wind at your back. Of course, you don’t have to complete the entire 42km, there are a number of entry points onto the Greenway so you can choose to do the Greenway in smaller sections if you wish.

More information

Great Western Greenway (Mayo Co. Co): www.greenway.ie