We have shared it with you many times: Ireland is the country of landscapes These photos prove it. Its nature is ideal for travelers who enjoy the outdoors, discovering places on foot or by bicycle. A new greenway joins the compelling reasons to visit the country, this time in the Emerald Island.
The Canal Real Greenway, inaugurated last year in the Emerald island , has been awarded the prize for the best European Cycle Route of the Year 2022 for the benchmark fair in the hiking and cycling sector Fiets at Wandelbeurs . Following the historic route of the Royal Canal, more than 220 years old, this route crosses the lush landscapes of Ireland's ancient east towards the River Shannon, passing through some of the most charming villages on the island.
A route to discover with the family.
It is also, Ireland's longest Greenway with 130 km, and is part of the European route Euroveil 2 linking the Irish city of Galway with Moscow. The start of the route is 25 km east of Dublin, in the town of Maynooth, and ends at its meeting with the Shannon, Ireland's longest river, in the quiet port town of Cloondara, in County Longford.
Its peculiarity is that it is an almost flat and unpaved route that follows an old path for horse-drawn carriages, which crosses 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 ports and four aqueducts . Almost nothing!
And it's not just for cyclists, but also for walkers and runners of all ages. It starts in the town of maynooth and follow the canal through the town of Enfield and the lively Mullingar , to lovely Cloondara in Longford. It has numerous cafes, picnic spots and attractions along the way. Rustic and industrial landscapes are combined with rolling fields, pretty riverside towns and historic monuments.
And the most important thing: the route allows you to cycle between any of the main cities and return by train to the starting point. They also have a luggage transport service and other complementary services that help make the experience more comfortable.
Royal Canal Greenway in Ireland.
A PATH WITH HISTORY
The Vía Verde joins the path of the "Famine Road" (Famine Way), which we have also told you about on Traveler.es. This trail dates back to the Great Famine of 1847, remembering the 1,490 people who had to walk 165 km from Strokestown to Dublin in order to emigrate from the country.
"I am delighted with this international recognition of the exceptional river heritage and rural Irish experience that this route offers. We hope to welcome many European travelers in the future. ", underlined John McDonagh, CEO of Waterways Ireland, the government body in charge of developing this route, which has competed with other long-distance European routes in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium to become the favorite of the jury made up of leading experts in cycle tourism and journalists from the sector.
"It is clear that the Greenway is fast becoming the destination of choice for those seeking an active holiday. Nestled in beautiful countryside and through some of our friendliest towns and villages , the Via Verde is a fantastic experience for tourists and locals alike. In County Longford we hope to receive more visitors from now on thanks to this recognition " explained Peggy Nolan, of the Longford County Council.
CELEBRATING ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY
This 2022 the road celebrates its first anniversary, after receiving more than 600,000 visits in 2021, which have meant nearly 17.2 million euros for the local economy. A year in which he has received other recognitions such as the All-Ireland Community & Council Awards 2021 for the “Best Tourism Initiative 2021” , and the highly commended in the category of "Excellence" in the European Greenway Awards.
Ireland is currently in full development of other hiking route projects, within the plan known as Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways , launched by the Irish government in 2018. Throughout this year, a total of 60 million euros is expected to be allocated to 40 projects that will reach practically all the counties of the country, among which the greenway that will link Dublin with Galway, a 330 km corridor that will go from the Atlantic coast to the East coast and that has already completed the first half, from Dublin to the town of Athlone.