CYCLE ROUTES FROM RATHKEALE

Rathkeale is the closest Greenway start-point to Limerick City, Adare, Galway and Cork and is only 40-minute drive from Shannon Airport. Rathkeale’s convenient location makes it an excellent starting point for your cycling adventure. 

The Greenway Hub in Rathkeale has direct access to the Limerick Greenway, with free car parking, outdoor dining facilities with accessible benches, fully-accessible toilet facilities, a bike maintenance stand, children’s playground and friendly staff to help with all your bike hire requirements.

The Hub is directly adjacent to the Palatine Museum and Greenway Café 1709 with barista coffees, snacks and homemade treats to be enjoyed. A short walk will also give you the option of Rathkeale House Hotel for accommodation and food facilities.

The No 13 Expressway bus departs from Limerick Bus Station and arriving at Rathkeale. Services depart hourly and the bus journey takes approximately 35–40 minutes. 

BIKE ROUTE 1

Rathkeale to Newcastle West, 14km

For a leisurely ride, cyclists can travel from Rathkeale to Newcastle West amounting to a 28 kilometre round trip. This segment of the Greenway provides a tranquil experience through lush countryside, making it ideal for a relaxed outing passing The Old Station House in Ardagh, located close to where the iconic Ardagh Chalice was found in 1868.

You continue onwards from Ardagh until you arrive at Newcastle West, which is situated on the River Arra. This town boasts a wide range of facilities and services. Visitors can enjoy various dining options to suit all budgets, explore local shops and visit historical sites including the 15th-century Desmond Castle.

Newcastle West also hosts regular events, farmers’ markets, and cultural festivals throughout the year, making it a vibrant and welcoming hub for local arts, traditions, and community life along this scenic section of the Greenway.

BIKE ROUTE 2

Rathkeale to Barnagh, 24km

For those seeking a more challenging ride, the Rathkeale to Barnagh Viewing Point route offers a rewarding 48-killometer round trip. Starting from Rathkeale, you’ll pass through Ardagh and Newcastle West before embarking on a gradual incline toward the stunning Barnagh viewing point. This route is ideal for experienced riders or those looking to test their stamina while enjoying some of the most scenic landscapes in the region.

Along the way, you’ll cycle across the historic cast iron Ferguson’s Viaduct, a marvel of engineering that once guided trains along this scenic path to County Kerry. As you climb higher, the breathtaking views begin to unfold, culminating at the Barnagh viewing point.

Here, you can dismount, take a well-earned break and soak in panoramic vistas stretching across the counties of Limerick, Cork, and Clare. It’s the perfect spot to recharge before saddling up for the return journey. There is food, toilet facilities and a children’s playground at the Barnagh Hub.