Carving a 40km path through the local countryside, Limerick Greenway offers an authentic experience of rural Ireland and is a perfect family day out.
Built along the old Limerick to Kerry railway line, the Greenway can be completed in stages, with entry and exit points every few kilometres.
For a day trip, we recommend picking one of the major towns of Rathkeale, Newcastle West, or Abbeyfeale and exploring the countryside around it by bike or foot on the safely enclosed and newly resurfaced Greenway.
Each of the towns has shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and places to stay, as well as public parks and children’s playgrounds.
Link to Limerick Greenway Map and Brochure with points of interest, etc. can be found here
Car Park operating hours for Rathkeale, Ardagh, Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale are as follows:
November – February 08:00 – 17:00
March – April 07:00 – 19:00
May – August 07:00 – 22:00
September – October 07:00 – 19:00
Sample Itinerary 1
- Arrive in Rathkeale for breakfast, check out places to eat here
- Visit Rathkeale Greenway Hub to see the first goods shed that Limerick City and County Council have fully restored from its derelict state with a new car park, toilets, EV charging point, water dispenser, bicycle repair station and a new turnkey state-of-the-art building (with 3 more projects of a similar nature to be completed over the next few years).
- Rent out bicycles to cycle the 24km from Rathkeale to Barnagh Greenway Hub, check out bike hire providers here
- Stop and take in several key points of interest along the way including: a replica of and information on the Ardagh Chalice at Ardagh Greenway Car Park; the spectacular cast-iron Ferguson’s Viaduct which you will cycle across; and the stunning Barnagh Tunnel, often referred to as the jewel in our Limerick Greenway crown!! You will also travel through an underpass just before Barnagh Tunnel at Barnagh Station House where you will see a beautiful mural before you head for Barnagh Greenway Hub.
- Arrive at Barnagh Greenway Hub for lunch at Platform 22, check out the menu here
- After lunch, why not try something you may not have done before and make your own mug or try out the Pottery Wheel at The Painted Pot, located at Barnagh Greenway Hub, see details here
- Leave Barnagh Greenway Hub and cycle back towards Newcastle West Greenway Car Park, if you have time why not come off Limerick Greenway at Station Road (sharp U-turn on Limerick Greenway before Newcastle West Greenway Car Park) and head into Newcastle West town for a spot of shopping and/or sightseeing, see some details for same here
- Leave Newcastle West town, head back on Limerick Greenway and travel the 14km back to Rathkeale Greenway Hub to hand back your bikes and finish up your trip.
Note: If staying overnight or extending your stay because you deserve it, check out accommodation details for all of Limerick here
Sample Itinerary 2
- Arrive in Abbeyfeale for breakfast, check out places to eat here
- After breakfast, head for Abbeyfeale Greenway Hub car park.
- Rent out bicycles to cycle the 26km from Abbeyfeale Greenway Hub to Barnagh Greenway Hub, check out bike hire providers here
- Stop and take in several key points of interest along the way including: the tranquil and picturesque woodland of Tullig Wood, which is home to a rich array of native and non-native flora and fauna; the village of Templeglantine, known locally as ‘Glantine’, where the Devon Inn Hotel is situated; and the stunning Barnagh Tunnel, often referred to as the jewel in our Limerick Greenway crown!! You will also travel through an underpass just before Barnagh Tunnel at Barnagh Station House where you will see a beautiful mural before you head for Barnagh Greenway Hub.
- Arrive at Barnagh Greenway Hub and treat yourself to a tea or coffee and some delicious home baking at Platform 22, check out the menu here
- After a nice break and the kids enjoying the playground, get back on your bikes and rejoin Limerick Greenway and swing a left at the bottom of Barnagh Greenway Hub path and travel the short distance to Barnagh Viewing Point to take in the stunning view.
- Cycle back to Abbeyfeale Greenway Hub along Limerick Greenway, hand back your bikes and finish up your trip (if you fancy having dinner before returning home, check out places to eat in the West Limerick towns and villages here)
Note: If staying overnight or extending your stay because you deserve it, check out accommodation details for all of Limerick here
Sample Itinerary 3
- Arrive in Newcastle West Greenway Hub car park.
- Walk/Run the 4km to Ardagh, stopping at Ardagh Greenway Hub car park to see a replica of and information on the Ardagh Chalice. For those feeling extra motivated or longer distance walkers/runners, continue another 10km as far as Rathkeale Greenway Hub.
- For those who go as far as Rathkeale in the summer months and would like something refreshing, the dog-friendly Greenway Café 1709 in The Irish Palatine Museum (building alongside the newly renovated Rathkeale Greenway Hub building) or any of the other restaurants and cafés in Rathkeale town here are too good to say no to.
- For those who turn back at Ardagh, why not take the short 1.5km trip into Newcastle West town from Newcastle West Greenway car park and treat yourself with something to eat and drink as well as something new to wear, check out all that Newcastle West has to offer here.
- After returning to Newcastle West Greenway Hub car park, why not go for a nice drive in the direction of County Kerry, taking in Barnagh and Templeglantine as well as the town of Abbeyfeale and enjoying all that each location has to offer before finishing up your trip.
Note: If staying overnight or extending your stay because you deserve it, check out accommodation details for all of Limerick here
Sample Itinerary 4
- Arrive in Newcastle West for breakfast, check out places to eat here
- After breakfast, head for Newcastle West Greenway Hub car park.
- Rent out bicycles to cycle the 10km from Newcastle West Greenway Hub to Barnagh Greenway Hub, check out bike hire providers here
- At Barnagh, why not try something different and make your own mug or try out the Pottery Wheel at The Painted Pot, see details here
- After a nice break and the kids enjoying the playground, get back on your bikes and rejoin Limerick Greenway and swing a left at the bottom of Barnagh Greenway Hub path and travel the short distance to Barnagh Viewing Point to take in the stunning view.
- Then, cycle the 13km to Abbeyfeale Greenway Hub along Limerick Greenway and be sure to stop at the following places to take in the spectacular scenery: Barnagh Tunnel; Barnagh Station House; the underpass with its beautiful artwork just after Barnagh Station House; Tullig Wood and Devon Road Station House.
- Once you reach Abbeyfeale Greenway Hub car park, you can either cycle or lock up your bikes and walk into Abbeyfeale town for lunch/dinner and a treat afterwards, check out details here and here. Another point of interest worth visiting is Purt Castle, only 2km from Abbeyfeale Greenway Hub car park.
- If staying overnight or extending your stay because you deserve it, check out accommodation details for Abbeyfeale here. Be sure to email greenway@limerick.ie in advance if you do stay overnight so that the team know that a vehicle is being left in the Newcastle West Greenway Hub car park overnight. If you do choose to stay in Abbeyfeale, a great place to stay and do an activity on Day 2 is Fitzgerald’s Farmhouse & Equestrian Centre, check out details here
- After enjoying some time in Abbeyfeale on Day 2, cycle the 23km back to Newcastle West Greenway Hub car park, stopping into Platform 22 in Barnagh Greenway Hub for a tea or coffee and some delicious home baking, check out the menu here. Arrive at Newcastle West Greenway Hub car park and hand back your bikes and finish up your trip.
Sample Itinerary 5
- Arrive in the village of Kilmeedy, located just under 12km from Newcastle West town, for breakfast at Roots Shop & Café, check it out here
- After breakfast, head for Barnagh Greenway Hub car park.
- Having arrived in Barnagh and for anyone with any difficulties with their mobility, why not get out on Limerick Greenway with a friend and qualified operator in the new Trishaw available to rent from Locomotion Bike Rental, contact details for any queries in relation to same can be found here
- After a nice trip along Limerick Greenway, why not try something different at The Painted Pot at Barnagh, with loads of different options for people of all ages and great discounts/offers, see details here
- Having finished your pottery workshop, drive the 14km from Barnagh to Ardagh Greenway Hub car park to see a replica of and information on the Ardagh Chalice (you could possibly visit Ardagh Greenway Hub after breakfast and before you head to Barnagh and this may give you some inspiration for your pottery workshop after!!).
- Once finished in Ardagh, drive less than 6km to Foley’s at the Pike Restaurant for dinner, check out menu options here
Sample Itinerary 6
- Arrive in any of the five hub towns and villages (Rathkeale, Ardagh, Newcastle West, Barnagh and Abbeyfeale) and visit the local shops/cafés to buy refreshments for a picnic.
- Head to any of the Greenway Hub car parks and take a nice 5/10km walk on Limerick Greenway, bringing your family/friends/pets and picnic with you.
- Stop at any of our picnic benches along the route, or any green spaces you may find that are suitable, and take time to enjoy the countryside while indulging on the finest of West Limerick food and drink. Our benches were designed with the needs of all in mind and support those of all levels of mobility so rest assured you will find an ideal spot to stop.
- After finishing your picnic, be sure to bring any leftovers and rubbish with you before returning to the car park and why not make the short trip to Wild Encounters Mini Zoo, located just over 10km from Limerick Greenway Newcastle West car park, to see a range of exotic and domestic animals.
- Before you finish your trip, you may wish to pay a visit to and explore the beautiful village of Adare, just under 12km from Limerick Greenway Rathkeale Hub, which will play host to the 100th Ryder Cup in 2027.
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