The Great Western Greenway

From the Towers Car Park head westwards for about 200mtrs and then left onto the Greenway. Cycle on the Greenway as far as the first bridge, passing a play area on the right and outdoor gym on your left, proceeding straight under to a second bridge and towards a third bridge under which you continue your journey. As you approach the railway line on your right, the route dips sharply around a corkscrew bend, beneath an underpass, then rises quickly bringing you to an exit on your left on to a sharp, steep descent. At the bottom of the steep descent, you arrive on to the Fairgreen/Altamount Street, a public road where you are advised to alight from your bike and carefully cross the public road towards Centra Convenience store and petrol pumps and proceed towards the Cycle shop, crossing Distillery Road, and go straight on to a side road, between the bike shop and an old convent wall. After about a 100mtrs, passing the Social Services centre on your right, you go right on to the Greenway route again and then uphill onto a steep descent leading to a sharp right hand bend. (Note: EXTREME CARE on this descent). You then traverse a beautiful stone viaduct over the Carrowbeg River, following the Greenway around the grounds/playing fields of Rice College, Boys Secondary school and head upwards and veering left towards the school building and onto another public road, the main Westport-Castlebar Road (N5). You should cross here at the traffic lights and go immediately left, then take first right, keeping Allergan manufacturing on your right. Continue straight until you see the Greenway entrance again, on your left (Allergan on right). Back on the Greenway you cycle towards Newport (16.2 Km from the start of cycle). From Newport you continue to Mullranny (34.75 Km from start of cycle) along the tract. This route is well signed-posted. From Mullranny you make your way to Achill.

To return to Westport just do the route in reverse. A map accompanies this text.