Love the great outdoors? A ride along the Waterford Greenway is the perfect activity to get the whole family out and exploring the beauty of County Waterford!
Running along a route in Ireland’s Ancient East that's rich in Irish heritage, the Waterford greenway is a beautiful 46km walking & cycling path. It runs along an old railway line and is considered one of the most scenic cycling routes in Ireland. Visitors can walk, bring their own bikes or rent from different points along the path - Waterford City, Kilmacthomas or Dungarvan.
The full journey from Waterford City to Dungarvan takes around 5 hours to complete, allowing for some rest stops along the way.
But don't worry! If you're not up for the full 46km, there are plenty of shorter routes to take with stunning scenery and things to do.
Here's a few things to keep an eye out for!
1: Waterford’s Old Red Iron Bridge – A great photo opportunity!
2: Woodstown Viking Site – Catch a glimpse of the site from the Killoteran bridge, and head to Reginald’s Tower to see some of the artefacts found at the site when it was discovered in 2003!
3: Mount Congreve Gardens – Don’t miss one of the ‘greatest gardens of the world’ and explore the beautiful variety of flora & fauna which covers 70 acres. You can also pop into the café for some treats and beverages to re-fuel!
4: The Waterford Suir Valley Railway – catch a ride on this heritage narrow gauge railway that runs along 10k of abandoned Waterford Dungarvan rail line. Kids & adults alike will love this – take a break, sit back and enjoy the views!
5: Kilmacthomas & Durrow Viaducts – as you venture along the Kilmac to Durrow stretch of the greenway, you can’t help but notice the viaducts, both built by the Great Southern and Western Railway in 1878.
6: The Ballyvoyle Tunnel - This 400m brick-lined tunnel is probably the most iconic feature of the Waterford Greenway! It’s very well preserved and leads explorers to a wonderful stretch of fern, moss and over-hanging tree lined path with plenty of whimsical charm!
7: Copper Coast Views – Along the final stretch of the journey, you’ll be treated to some gorgeous coastal views along the UNESCO Global Copper Coast Geopark, including the stunning Clonea Strand.
8: Dungarvan Harbour – You’ve made it! Take it the colourful harbour views, grab something to eat – there’s plenty of choice, and check out Dungarvan’s 12th Century Anglo-Norman Castle while you’re in the area.
Throughout the year there are seasonal events happening along the greenway - keep an eye out and read up before setting off and you might catch a performance, culinary pop-up or be greeted by spooky guests along the path.
Make sure you pack plenty of water and snacks for your journey, and check out the links below for more information on bike rental options, shuttle buses and different route options when planning your Waterford Greenway adventure!