The Great Western Greenway Adventure

Self-guided bicycle tour in the west of Ireland along Ireland’s most scenic cycle path.  Highly recommended for families.

Cycle tours as a family offer time together creating treasured memories, keeping the needs of the entire family in mind. Bicycle tours are a great way to interact and connect. While cycling the Great Western Greenway through craggy bogland and along pristine beaches and dramatic sea cliffs, you will find historic monuments such as abbeys and castles from the reign of Granuaile as well as ancient megalithic tombs, scattered throughout the landscape. Our family bicycle tours were created to suit every member of the family, smaller kids and the big kids! This tour includes really interesting cycle routes, family-friendly accommodations with fabulous hosts.

Starting Dates

April – October

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The Great Western Greenway Adventure
The Great Western Greenway Adventure
The Great Western Greenway Adventure
The Great Western Greenway Adventure

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 - Arrival - Westport

The Great Western Greenway Adventure day 1 map

DAY 1 - Arrival - Westport

Westport is one of the most popular towns in Ireland and has been voted the best place to live in Ireland. It is known for its friendly people, great food, pubs filled with lively traditional Irish music, and its scenic location on the banks of Clew Bay. To the south it is overlooked by the picturesque Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain. The town is also home to the iconic Westport House which can trace its roots to the legendary Pirate Queen, Granuaile.
Depending on your arrival time in Westport we will meet you in the afternoon or the next morning for a personal introduction to your bicycles and the week ahead. Stay the night in a central guesthouse, dinner at your own choosing in one of the many restaurants.

DAY 2 - Westport - Mulranny

The Great Western Greenway Adventure day 2 map

DAY 2 - Westport - Mulranny

(30.8km/19mls Gradient +280m/-266m)

The Great Western Greenway is a traffic free cycling and walking trail which follows the route of the old Westport to Achill railway which closed in 1937. The cycling greenway opened in 2011 and quickly became a very popular destination for cycling enthusiasts. The 42km greenway showcases some of the most idyllic scenery in the west of Ireland but offers gentle gradients owed to its origin as a railway. The route takes you through bogs, woodlands and active farmland, to the quaint seaside town of Newport. After lunch you will visit the 15th Century Burrishoole Abbey and loop around the picturesque Furnace Lough before continuing on to Mulranny, a seaside village nestled at the foot of the Nephin Mountain Range.

DAY 3 - Mulranny – Achill Sound

The Great Western Greenway Adventure day 3 map

DAY 3 - Mulranny – Achill Sound

(15km/9.3mls Gradient +86m/-117m)

Before you depart Mulranny visit the beach and walk the Mulranny Causeway through the beautiful saltmarshes for unforgettable views. On today's cycle you will be treated to spectacular vistas of rugged coast of the Curraun Peninsula, and dramatic rough seas of Black Sod Bay until you arrive at the bridge to Achill Island.

DAY 4 - Achill loops

The Great Western Greenway Adventure day 4 map

DAY 4 - Achill loops

Loop 1: 20km (12mls) Gradient +198m/-198m
loop 2: 25km (15mls) Gradient +264m/-264m
Loop 3: 51km (32mls) Gradient +736m/-736m

Explore all that Achill has to offer from its five blue flag beaches to breathtaking sea cliffs in Ireland. To start, you will cycle south along the coast past Grace O’Malley’s Towerhouse and then north along the stunning and unforgettable White Cliffs of Ashleam. You can cycle further north around the Doogort East Bog and then visit the Slievemore Deserted Village on your way to Keel and then continue on to the white sands of Keem Bay. This serene beach was featured in the Oscar nominated film, Banshees of Inisherin, and has been voted best place to swim in Ireland. This area also has an excellent short hike to the nearby Moytoge Head for panoramic views of the bay and coastline. Return to Achill Sound for the final night of your trip.

DAY 5 - Departure - Achill

The Great Western Greenway Adventure day 5 map

DAY 5 - Departure - Achill

Breakfast and departure for your onward journey. Leave bikes at your accommodation and we will collect them later. There are buses back to Westport from where there are busses and trains to Dublin.

Tour Details

Included

4 nights ensuite guesthouses/B&Bs/hotels inclusive of 4 breakfasts 

The accommodations included on your tour may be small hotels, guesthouses or B&Bs. They are clean, comfortable, family run businesses that we have been using for many years. They are all very highly rated and are well set up to cater for cycling holiday guests.

Each room will have its own private bathroom and shower. Breakfast is included in the package. Sometimes the small hotels will have a small restaurant and bar too. All the venues are located in the centre, or very close to the centre of a small village or town with local bars, cafes and restaurants all within easy walking distance.   

In some locations, accommodation can be upgraded to 4/5 star on request. 

Meet and greet with one of our local experienced guides on day 1 for bike fitting and tour briefing

Trek FX2 Hybrid Touring Bike – Included in tour price  

The FX2 is strong, stable, fun and perfectly suited for Irish roads. Customised for our tours with puncture resistant tyres, mudguards and rear rack. Also available with ladies specific frame.   

Includes: Helmet, bike lock, pannier, repair kit.  

Hybrid Bike

Upgrade Option 1: Trek Checkpoint Gravel Bikes + €90 

For riders seeking performance, versatility, and comfort on mixed terrain, the Trek Checkpoint is a superb upgrade. This lightweight gravel bike features drop handlebars, wider tires for extra stability, and a responsive frame ideal for Ireland’s quiet country roads and occasional gravel paths. It's perfect for guests who want a faster, sportier ride without sacrificing comfort on longer days in the saddle 

Gravel Bike

Upgrade Option 2: Trek AL3 Road Bike + €90 

The Trek AL3 is a sleek, lightweight aluminum road bike designed for speed and efficiency on paved roads. With drop handlebars and a smooth-shifting Shimano drivetrain, it's ideal for cyclists who prefer a more aerodynamic riding position and want to cover longer distances with ease. A great choice for guests seeking a faster, road-focused experience while exploring the west of Ireland. 

Road Bike

Upgrade Option 3: Trek Electric Bikes + €160  

We use the best quality E-bikes on the market. These bikes are pedal assist meaning they travel a lot further when you push the pedal compared to a regular bike. 

Comfortable, strong and stable bikes combined with a quiet, powerful Bosch motor and a fully integrated high-capacity battery ensure many miles of care-free cycling. On a full charge they are good for 80km+. 

Electric Bike

We provide you with our luggage tags at the beginning of the tour and we transfer the bags from accommodation to accommodation each day. Guests usually bring 1 or 2 bags per person.

Local support & roadside assistance in the unlikely event of a breakdown

Detailed daily route notes, maps, gpx files & local countryside info booklet Recommendations for the best places to visit, eat and drink along the way

Westport – there are regular trains from Dublin to Westport

Achill – there are regular busses from Achill back to Westport from where there are regular trains to Dublin

Oughterard Ross

Tour Accommodations

This self-guided family cycle holiday in Ireland is designed to stay in comfortable, friendly, wonderful guesthouses and small hotels such as underneath. Accommodations could be upgraded if you prefer.

Brooklodge B&B Westport

The B&B is conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Westport's town center, making it easy to explore local attractions and dining options. The rooms are clean and comfortable, each equipped with en-suite facilities. Enjoy hearty full Irish breakfasts, with options including omelets, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, and homemade brown bread.

Brooklodge Westport
Mulranny Park Hotel

The 4 star Mulranny Park Hotel is perched on a unique site overlooking Clew Bay & Croagh Patrick Mountain beyond. Located in the most scenic section of the route, only a few steps away from the sand and sea of the beautiful Mulranny Beach which has been awarded the coveted blue flag and is ideal for family breaks. The hotel has a 20-metre swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, plunge pool and fully equipped gymnasium as well as fabulous seaweed baths and treatment room.

Mulranny at Sunset

From €950

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