Walking and Cycling Trails of Galway City
Galway city offers a diverse range of river, seashore, woods and park trails, many suitable for walking (with varying levels of accessibility) and some more suitable for cycling.
There are walking routes within the main public urban parks (Barna Woods, Cappagh Park, Merlin Woods and Terryland Forest), along the Galway Bay seashore and on the banks of the city’s canals and River Corrib.
Slí Cnoc na Cathrach – Ard Fraoigh Loop
Distance: 2.89km Start/End Point: Clybaun Hotel Surface: Footpaths, gravel trail and unpaved trail. Unpaved trail section only is not accessible except on foot and is challenging. Gravel trail is steep. Footpaths on Ballymoneen Road are also steep and not continuous....
“Belle’s” Lough Atalia Loop – 3.09km
Distance: 3.09km Start/End Point: Coach Station, Forster Street, Galway city. Duration: Approximately 1 hour 5 minutes Elevation: 55.1 feet Terrain: Flat and mostly suitable for people of all abilities (no access to the beach forthose with disabilities). Surface:...
Biodiversity Trail, NUI Galway -5.40km
Distance: 5.4km (alternative routes possible to make as long or short as desired) Start/End Point: Entrance points at NUIG Orbsen Building (mapped), Dangan sports grounds, NUIG Park & Ride, and various points on campus. Surface: Primarily cinder, some places dirt...
Cappagh Park Loop 2 – 1.36km
Distance: 1.36km Start/End Point: In front of the Knocknacarra Community Centre Surface: Tarmac and bonded gravel Parking: Car and bike parking available Toilets: None The second of two recommended walks in Cappagh Park. Both of these walks can be adjusted in myriad...
Cappagh Park Loop 1 – 1.31km
Distance: 1.31km Start/End Point: In front of the Knocknacarra Community Centre Surface: Tarmac Parking: Car and bike parking available Toilets: None The first of two suggested walks in Cappagh Park. Both of these walks can be adjusted in myriad ways using the paths...
Hunter’s Park & Rusheen Wood – 2.93km
Distance: 1km Start/End Point: Hunter's bike and car park Surface: Tarmac but earth and grass pathways in wooded areas. Parking: There is ample vehicle parking for both cars and bicycles at Hunter's Park where you can leave your chosen mode of transport on arrival and...
Menlo Village – 1km
Distance: 1km Start/End Point: T-junction at entrance to Menlo village Surface: Tarmac and some unpaved pathway This route through the village is suitable for those looking for a short walk, and can also be done in conjunction with the longer Menlo Village walk. As...
Menlo Village 1.5km
Distance: 1.5km Start/End Point: T-junction at entrance to Menlo village Surface: Tarmac This is a very pleasant stroll around the village where many of the local families have lived for generations. Turn left at the T-junction and then take a right turn alongside An...
‘Quarry Loop’, Menlo & Angliham
Distance: Distance: 5km Start/End Point: T-junction at entrance to Menlo villageSurface: Tarmac Parking: Limited carparking near the T-junction at entrance to Menlo village. No bike parking facilities Narrative:Menlo village and surrounds offer the opportunity for a...
Castlegar Mass Path & Parkmore Boreen
Distance: 1.78km Start/End: At the base of the Irish Republican Monument dedicated to the memory of local men who had fought for the cause of Irish freedom during the Revolutionary Period of 1916-1923. Surface: Primarily earth and grass along the Mass Path and the...
Connemara Greenway
The 76km long Connemara Greenway will connect the bustling city of Galway to the historic town of Clifden travelling through dramatic landscapes, exploring historic sites and visiting great villages and towns along the way. When completed the Connemara Greenway will...
‘Slí na gCaisleán’ (‘The Way of the Castles’)
‘Slí na gCaisleán’ (‘The Way of the Castles’) Distance: 35km (alternative additional routes will bring distance up to 40km) Start/End: Gate Entrance of Terryland Forest Park in front of Terryland Castle on the Dyke Road. Surface: primarily tarmac roads, but some earth...
Crestwood-Ballinfoile Hill-Coolough
Distance: 3.13km Start/End: Gate Entrance to Crestwood Park (Radharc na Loch). Surface: Tarmac in parts, earth, grass and gravel in other parts. Parking: There is a car park at the entrance to Crestwood Park (Radharc na Loch) but the gate is nearly always locked....
Old Bog Road, Carrowbrowne
Old Bog Road, Carrowbrowne Distance: 2.97km Surface: earthen with some parts gravelled. Not really suitable for cycling. Start/End: Gate Entrance (either side) The route takes one through a bog located a few hundred yards from the old graveyard in Carrowbrowne. There...
Dyke Road – Walking, Cycling & Waterways Hub
Galway possesses probably the most traditional rural landscape of any city in Europe. This is particularly true of the Dyke Road – Menlo catchment area that connects the wetlands of the River Corrib to the Terryland Forest Park as well as to the farmlands of Coolough,...
Terryland Forest Park Red Route
Terryland Forest Park-Dyke Road walking trail Red Route Distance: 5.60km. Start/End point: At the foot of the embankment near the Woodquay entrance to the Plots on the Dyke Road. Surface: Varied- earthen, stone and tarmac ‘The Plots’ sports playing pitch takes its...
Terryland Forest Park Blue Route
Terryland Forest Park walking trail Blue Route Distance: 1.11km Start/End point: Park entrance behind Sandyvale Lawn (south) Surface: Tarmac The trail goes around the woods planted in 2003, takes in two wildflower meadows and a large grass field that is popular as a...
Terryland Forest Park Green Route
Terryland Forest Park walking trail Green Route Distance: 1.43 km Start/End point: Terryland Forest Park gate entrance beside the traffic junction on the Headford Road and adjacent to Currys store in the Galway Retail Park. Surface: Tarmac footpaths The trail goes...
Terryland Forest Park Purple Trails
Terryland Forest Park-Dyke Road walking trail Purple Route Distance: 4.07km Start/End point: Park gate entrance between Dunnes Stores and the traffic junction on the Headford Road as it goes over the Terryland River. Surface: Mainly Tarmac but earthen and grassy at...