Athlone to Mullingar Cycleway, Rail trail between Athlone and Mullingar, Ireland
The Athlone to Mullingar Cycleway follows a former railway line for about 43 kilometers across rural County Westmeath. The path divides into three tarmac sections that cross farming land and small villages, linking the two towns at each end.
The railway line opened in 1851 as part of the Midland Great Western Railway, carrying freight and passengers for over a century. After closure in 1987, the abandoned route was gradually transformed into a public cycling path.
The path passes restored station buildings and old stone bridges that mark where the railway once stood. Visitors on bikes can see how these structures shaped the countryside and connected small communities across the midlands.
The surface is fully tarmacked and works well for road bikes and standard bicycles alike. The flat terrain moves at a steady pace and most cyclists complete the full route in about four to five hours with rest stops.
The path meets the Royal Canal Greenway at Newbrook, letting cyclists branch off onto another historic route through the midlands. This junction creates chances to combine multiple former transport lines into one longer trip.
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