The Old Rail Trail Greenway from Athlone: how far to go

The single best easy outdoor thing to do from Athlone is not on the water at all. The Old Rail Trail Greenway, a 43 km traffic-free former railway line running out to Mullingar, gives the town a genuine walking and cycling amenity that a growing number of locals mention with real pride, and it is flat enough that almost anyone can manage some of it. Here is how far to go, depending on how much time you have.

How the route is laid out

The Greenway follows the old Midlands Great Western Railway line and runs in three rough sections. The first, Athlone to Moate, covers about 14.5 km, starting at the Whitegates access point near Athlone railway station and crossing Crosswood Bog before reaching the Dún na Sí Heritage Park on the edge of Moate. The second, Moate to Castletown, covers 16.3 km and passes the iconic three-arched Streamstown Bridge. The third, Castletown to Mullingar, covers 11.4 km through sheltered countryside before joining the Royal Canal Greenway at Mullingar. Together that is 43 km one-way, and the surface is mostly flat with only gentle slopes throughout, suitable for families, casual cyclists and e-bikes.

A short taste: an hour or two on foot

If you have an hour or two and want to walk rather than cycle, start at the Whitegates access point near the railway station and walk out and back along the first stretch. You will not reach Moate on foot in that time, but you will get a genuine feel for the trail, open midlands farmland, the flat former railway gradient, and none of the traffic noise that a roadside walk would bring. This pairs well with a Left Bank morning, castle exterior, Sean's Bar, gallery, followed by an afternoon leg-stretch out here before dinner.

A half day: Athlone to Moate and back, or one-way with a return

The Athlone to Moate section, 14.5 km one-way, is the natural half-day target for anyone based in Athlone with a bike. On an e-bike or a reasonably fit cycle, it is under an hour each way, so an out-and-back with a stop in Moate for lunch fits comfortably into an afternoon. Along the way you cross Crosswood Bog and pass close to the Dún na Sí Heritage Park, and the whole stretch is sheltered and easy underfoot, a good option even for riders who do not consider themselves serious cyclists. If you would rather not double back, arrange a lift or a taxi from Moate rather than retracing the full distance.

The full run: a genuine day out

Committed cyclists with a full day can ride the entire 43 km to Mullingar, taking in all three sections and finishing at the Royal Canal in a different midlands town altogether. This is a proper day's outing rather than a quick activity, so plan transport back to Athlone in advance, whether that is the train from Mullingar, which sits on a different InterCity line, or a pre-arranged pickup. The Streamstown Bridge on the middle section is one of the more photographed points on the whole route, a genuine highlight rather than just a waypoint.

Getting a bike

Bikes and e-bikes can be hired in Athlone; confirm current operators and rates locally before you set out, since this is the kind of practical detail that changes from year to year. An e-bike is worth the extra cost if you are planning anything beyond the short Athlone stretch, since it takes the effort out of the full run without losing any of the flat, easy character that makes this Greenway what it is.

When to go

The trail is usable year-round, since it is sheltered and mostly flat, but spring and autumn are the most comfortable, before the height of summer traffic on the trail itself and after the worst of any winter mud on the unsurfaced margins. Whatever the season, it remains the single most reliable, weather-tolerant outdoor activity based in Athlone, a genuine complement to the river and lake trips that depend on the boat season.

Pairing the Greenway with the rest of a visit

Because the Whitegates access point sits only a few minutes from Athlone railway station, the Greenway is easy to slot into a visit built around the town's other draws rather than treating it as a separate day trip. A morning on the Left Bank, the castle exterior, Sean's Bar, the Luan Gallery, pairs naturally with an afternoon out on the trail, and a late lunch or picnic from Magico Bakery or the Athlone Farmers Market travels well if you are heading out by bike. For anyone staying at Hodson Bay Hotel or Wineport Lodge on Lough Ree rather than in the town centre, the trailhead is still a short drive back into Athlone, so it is worth the detour rather than something only a town-centre stay can access.

What not to expect

This is a former railway line, not a scenic mountain trail, so temper expectations accordingly: the appeal is the flat, easy, traffic-free consistency of it rather than dramatic views. There are no serious climbs anywhere on the 43 km route, which is exactly the point for families, older visitors or anyone who wants genuine mileage without genuine effort. Save the more demanding walking for elsewhere in the midlands if that is what you are after; the Old Rail Trail Greenway does one thing, easy, reliable distance, very well.