Start: Athlone
Distance: 42km
Terrain: Tarmac trails. Some gentle inclines.
Bike Types: Mountain bikes, Hybrid
Grading :Easy
The Athlone to Mullingar Cycleway (often reffered to as the Old Rail Trail) is a traffic free cycling and walking trail in County Westmeath and is a section of the Dublin-Galway Greenway. It is a 42 kilometres long rail-trail over the disused Athlone-Mullingar rail line beginning in Athlone and ending in Mullingar.
The Old Rail Trail begins in Athlone and ends in the market town of Mullingar, County Westmeath. The Old Rail Trail is a converted stretch of the Midlands Great Western Railway. The route traces the historic Midlands Great Western Railway track, past restored station houses and under stone arched bridges. Linking the River Shannon in Athlone with the Royal Canal in Mullingar, it passes through areas of unique biodiversity and heritage along the way.
This off-road pedestrian and cycle trail has been purposely built for the job and runs at the side of the Midlands Great Western Railway line. The track is mainly level but does have some gentle uphill sections and the surface is hard. The trail is OK for family groups no matter what ages and can be ridden by all types of bicycles.
Routes on the Old Rail Trail:
Athlone to Moat 14.5 km: Mostly flat surface. Suitable for family groups and all classess of bikes and starts in Athlone.
Moate to Castletown 16.3 km: Generally flat cycling surface with some easy slopes. Good for family groups and types of cycles. With amazing countryside on the route to the preserved historic Castletown Station building.
Castletown to Mullingar 11.4 km: Lots of flat with gentle gradients. Suitable for family groups from kids to seniers and different types of bikes.
The First Great Train Robbery film starring Sean Connery (James Bond, 007) and Donald Sutherland had moving railway scenes filmed around Moate. The engine, number 184, can be seen at the Railway Museum Whitehead, Carrickfergus.
As with any cycling adventure, be sure to wear safety helmet.
Attractions Along The The Old Rail Cycle Trail, Athlone to Mullingar:
Athlone Castle
Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park
Streamstown Bridges
Castletown Station
Hill of Uisneach
Royal Canal Greenway
Athlone to Mullingar Trail Access Points:
Whitegates, Athone
Garrycastle Bridge, Athone
Tully (Free Parking)
Magheramore
Dún na Sí Amenity & Heritage Park
Moate Station
Rosemount Access
Lisnagree
Streamstown
Castletown Station (Free Parking)
Dysart
Ballinea
Belmount
Kilpatrick
Newbrook (links to Royal Canal Blue Way), Mullingar
Newbrook Roundabout, Mullingar (Free Parking)
Old Rail Cycle Trail Route Map and GPX
