Royal Canal Greenway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Canal Greenway |
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Royal Canal east of D'Arcy's bridge, Co. Westmeath
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| Length | 130km |
| Location | Maynooth-Longford and Cloondara, Ireland |
| Trailheads | Maynooth, County Kildare Longford town Cloondara, County Longford |
| Use | Hiking, Cycling |
The Royal Canal Greenway is a fantastic path in Ireland. It's a special type of trail called a greenway. This means it's a path made for walking, running, and cycling, often built on old railway lines or canal towpaths.
Opened in March 2021, it's the longest greenway in Ireland! It stretches for 130 kilometers (about 80 miles). The greenway connects Maynooth in County Kildare all the way to Longford and Cloondara in County Longford. Along the way, it passes through Meath and Westmeath.
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What is the Royal Canal Greenway?
The Royal Canal Greenway is a long, flat path perfect for outdoor adventures. It's designed for people to enjoy nature and get exercise. You can walk, jog, or cycle along its entire length.
A Path Through History
This greenway uses the old towpaths of the Royal Canal. A towpath is a path beside a canal where horses used to walk. They would pull barges (boats) filled with goods. The Royal Canal itself was built a long time ago to transport things across Ireland.
Today, the canal is mostly used for leisure boats. Its old towpaths have been turned into this amazing greenway. This means you are walking or cycling on paths with a rich history!
Exploring the Trail
The Royal Canal Greenway is part of a bigger network of trails. It makes up most of the older Royal Canal Way. This longer route connects Ashtown, Dublin to Longford and Cloondara.
The official starting point for the greenway is at Maynooth harbour. This spot is about 28 kilometers from the very eastern end of the Royal Canal Way. However, work is always happening along the entire route. This means more sections are being improved for everyone to enjoy.
Where Does it Go?
The Royal Canal Greenway is also becoming part of two even bigger routes. It will be a section of the EuroVelo EV2. This is a huge cycling route that goes across Europe! It will also be part of the Dublin-Galway Greenway, connecting Ireland's east and west coasts.
