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Bike touring routes & trails

Ireland

Mayo

Westport to Achill and back on the Great Western Greenway

Routes

Bike touring routes & trails

Ireland

Mayo

Westport to Achill and back on the Great Western Greenway

Hard

4.7

(27)

234

riders

Westport to Achill and back on the Great Western Greenway

05:41

91.2km

590m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: June 9, 2024

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

17.7 km

Burrishoole Bridge on the Great Western Greenway

Highlight • Bridge

This characteristic stone bridge forms a crucial junction on the 18 km stage between Newport and Mulranny. The bridge spans the Burrishoole River at the point where the fresh water from Lough Feeagh mixes with the salty tidal waters of Clew Bay. From the Greenway, you have an unobstructed panoramic view here of the nearby 15th-century abbey ruins and the fish traps that have been used for centuries to catch wild salmon and eel, against the backdrop of the rugged Nephin Beg Mountains.

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Tip by

32.1 km

View of Clew Bay

Highlight • Viewpoint

This specific point on the Greenway at Mulranny offers spectacular panoramic views over the Mulranny Saltmarsh and Clew Bay. From this elevated route, you look directly down onto the rare saltmarshes, where the tidal flow of the Atlantic Ocean penetrates deep inland. On the horizon, the characteristic conical shape of Croagh Patrick (764 m) dominates, while to your left, you see the historic Mulranny Causeway; the Victorian elevated road that connects the village to the beach. It is one of the few places where you can observe the transition from the rugged Nephin Beg Mountains to the archipelago of 365 islands in the bay so sharply.

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45.7 km

Achill Sound Bridge (Gob an Choire)

Highlight • Bridge

Achill Sound is the anglicised version, the Irish and official name of the town is Gob an Choire. This is the first settlement you reach after crossing the bridge onto Achill Island. It serves as a gateway to the island and is a good spot to resupply on a long bike ride. It can also serve as a base for exploring this beautiful island.

Tip by

91.2 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

80.3 km

6.56 km

3.10 km

509 m

474 m

377 m

Surfaces

39.5 km

35.1 km

16.2 km

414 m

155 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (60 m)

Lowest point (0 m)

Weather

Sunday 12 July

27°C

14°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 10, 2024,Fahrradtour von Westport nach Gob an Choire/Achill Sound

Cycle comfortably and with variety along a former railway line to Achill Island. The way back offers the best views of the 365 islets in the bay of Westport (Clew Bay). Great view of the bay and delicious food in Mulranny at McLoughlins.

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June 18, 2025,EuroVelo 1 - bis Mulranny

Finally, another greenway, the Bealach Glas Greenway. It's a beautiful ride, either past or through the sheep, and I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, we had to abandon the route shortly before our destination due to heavy rain—who would have thought it?

Northern Ireland is getting closer.

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June 23, 2022,The Great Western Greenway - von Westport und zurück

If you're ever in Westport and like to ride a bike, be sure to make time for the Greenway. A real joy, what a great day today was! And otherwise I'm not inclined to superlatives.

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May 7, 2023,Great Western Greenway from Achill to Newport

The Great Western Greenway from Achill to Westport is 49km, running along the Eastern and Northern stretches of Clew Bay in Co. Mayo. It's a beautiful greenway, the longest off-road walking&cycling trail in Ireland. You can hire bikes / e-bikes from either end of the greenway at Achill Sound or Westport. There's also the option to arrange for a shuttle, …

May 17, 2025,Newport - Achill Great Western Greenway

Two of the best sections of Great Western Greenway. You can skip Westport- Newport as one that mostly leading you beside busy road and focus on other two that offering amazing views and beautiful landscapes. You will thank me later.

July 21, 2025,21.7.2025: Von Keel nach Westport, Tag 90, Etappe 67 (Irland)

With a strong tailwind, but also a lot of rain, we headed back from Achill Island to mainland Ireland and on to Westport today. After raining on and off during the night, it promptly started raining again as we were packing up our tents. A brief break in the rain, we set off, and after 2 km, it rained again, …

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June 26, 2024,Tonatonvally-Achill Sound-Newport-Westport-#Greenway & Clew Bay - The Mid-West #IRL #24/3-30 (26.06.25F)

As the daily rain was due to hit my stage from 1 p.m., I set off after an early breakfast. On the Greenway, I cycled unhindered and safely away from the roads to my destination for the day in Westport. The campsite is beautifully situated next to Westport House. I chose a slightly elevated position so that the water can …

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