Famine Way Cycle - Royal Canal

The Famine Way Cycle Tour (Royal Canal)

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Overview

From single traveller to groups of 8

The Royal Canal Greenway was recently voted best Cycling route in europe.

In conjunction with Strokestown Park Famine Museum.

Overview – Spend 2 days exploring the Strokestown Park house, Garden & Famine museum. Cycle The Royal Canal to Maynooth over Three days 46k (approx) per day

The National Famine Way Passport/Guide highlights local historical landmarks and allows cyclists to record their progress with stage stamps along the specially developed route. The Trail details the ill-fated journey of 1,490 famine emigrants who walked from Strokestown Park to ships in Dublin in 1847, at the height of the Irish Famine. Follow their journey with specially marked  bronze shoe sculptures along the route. A completion certificate is awarded at the end of the Trail at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.

The National Famine Way is an accredited 165km Heritage and Arts Trail from Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon through six counties to Dublin, mostly along the Royal Canal. Cycle Tours Ireland have hand picked beautiful accommodations for your stop offs along this  iconic route.

5 day Tour will include Digital Route maps, bed and breakfast, luggage transfer, Bikes,Helmets and locks,  24/7 phone support for the duration of your stay, full advice for arrival and departure travel arrangements. 

Airport Transfer to Strokestown -  Dublin – 2.5 hrs /  Shannon Airport - 2hrs  /  Knock - 50mts / Belfast International Airport - 2hrs 10mts. Please contact us for Airport transfer.

list of the National Famine Way Shoe Stories by each County -

COUNTY ROSCOMMON

ROSCOMMON, STROKESTOWN 1 – GLASS WALL BRONZE SHOES

ROSCOMMON, STROKESTOWN 2 – CHURCH / FEVER HOSPITAL BRONZE SHOES

ROSCOMMON 3 – SCRAMOGUE / BALLYKILCLINE BRONZE SHOES

ROSCOMMON 4 – BOG SIDE BRONZE SHOES

ROSCOMMON 5 – TARMONBARRY BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY LONGFORD

LONGFORD 1 – RICHMOND HARBOUR CLONDRA BRONZE SHOES

LONGFORD 2 – SLIABH BAN – LAST VIEW HOME BRONZE SHOES

LONGFORD 3 SPUR

LONGFORD 4 – MOSSTOWN HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

LONGFORD 5 – BALLYMAHON TICKET HOUSE – BALLYBRANAGAN HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

LONGFORD 6 – ABBEYSHRULE HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY WESTMEATH

WESTMEATH 1 – BALLINGARRIGY HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

WESTMEATH 2 – KILPATRICK BRIDGE BRONZE SHOES

WESTMEATH 3 – MULLINGAR HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

WESTMEATH 4 – LOUGH OWEL FEEDER / WORKHOUSE BRONZE SHOES

WESTMEATH 5 – PIPER’S BOITHRIN / BOREEN BRONZE SHOES

WESTMEATH 6 – MC NEAD’S BRIDGE BRONZE SHOES

WESTMEATH 7 – THOMASTOWN HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY MEATH

MEATH 1 – HILL OF DOWN HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

MEATH 2 – LONGWOOD HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY KILDARE

KILDARE 1 – MOYVALLEY BRIDGE BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY MEATH

MEATH 3 – ENFIELD BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY KILDARE

KILDARE 2 – KILCOCK HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

KILDARE 3 – MAYNOOTH HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

KILDARE4 – CARTON HOUSE HARBOUR BRONZE SHOES

KILDARE 5 – LEIXLIP HARBOUR SPA BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY DUBLIN (FINGAL)

FINGAL 1 — CLONSILLA BRONZE SHOES

FINGAL 2 — 12th LOCK CASTLEKNOCK BRONZE SHOES

FINGAL 3 — 10th LOCK ASHTOWN BRONZE SHOES

COUNTY DUBLIN

DCC 1 – 5TH LOCK GLASNEVIN VIEW BRONZE SHOES

DCC 2 – CROKE PARK BRONZE SHOES

DCC 3 – FAMINE STATUES BRONZE SHOES – TRAILHEAD

Dublin – 2.5 hrs /  Shannon Airport - 2hrs  /  Knock - 50mts / Belfast International Airport - 2hrs 10mts. Please contact us for Airport transfer.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Strokestown,  Co Roscommon

The Tour details the ill-fated journey of 1,490 famine emigrants who walked from Strokestown Park to ships in Dublin in 1847, at the height of the Irish Famine. Follow their journey with specially marked  bronze shoe sculptures

Begin this unique tour in Strokestown in the  Heart of the Irish midlands. We have selected local accommodations that will cater for all your needs.


DAY 2 - Visit Strokestown Park House & Famine Museum & Rathcroghan Visitor Centre

Before commencement of your Three day Cycle on the Royal Canal,  we have planned a two day visit to the beautifully preserved Georgian Mansion that is Strokestown House & Famine Museum. Experience the  life the 1490 tenants had before their ill-fated walk to their Emmigration ships in Dublin. In the afternoon we would recommend a 11km cycle to Rathcroghan visitor centre. an archaeological landscape of Cruachan Aí, the oldest and largest unexcavated royal site in Ireland. Explore the history of the area and discover the origins of Halloween.


Note on Famine Museum 

Take the guided tour and experience Irish court life in the 19th-century as you wander through the rooms still decked out with the original furnishings and fabrics. A visit to the historic gardens and woodlands is also recommended.  Visit the on site restaurant and sample produce from the original working gardens and grown by local volunteers.  Visit the National Famine Museum. The  Museum tells the story of the Great Irish Hunger of the 1840's including stories of Poverty, death and the assisted emigration scheme enacted by Major Denis Mahon of Strokestown Park and the story of his murder in November 1847.  

 Strokestown which boasts Irelands second widest street. Near by Is the local 18 hole golf course.

( Roscommon 5 Shoe stories )


Day 3 -  Cycle from Strokestown to  Abbeyshrule - 52kms ( Longford 6 Shoe stories)

https://strokestownpark.rezgo.com/details/276208/national-famine-way-passport

The previous link  will direct you to details of the Passport/Guide highlighting the local historical landmarks and allows cyclists to record their progress with 27 stage stamps (shoe stories) along the specially developed route.

Depart your accommodation and cycle the first part of this Iconic tour to  Clondra in Co Longford. The Royal canal starts here in Richmond harbour.  After a stop off for lunch, continue on the traffic free Royal Canal for a further 33km to the picturesque town of Abbeyshrule. Voted Irelands tidiest town in 2012. The town boasts the beautiful waters of the river Inny & Royal Canal.


Westmeath, Meath, Kildare 15 Shoe Stories

Day 4 - Cycle from Abbeyshrule to The  Hill of The down - 55kms 

Depart Abbeyshrule and continue on the famine way greenway. A Stop off in Mullingar (27km)  is  recommended with good quality restaurants and Cafe  available.  Continue on and enjoy the tranquil cycle through the heart of the Irish Midlands and experience the distances the famine walkers would have covered without proper food or clothing. Stop off in the Hill of  the Down for your overnight stay. 


Day 5 - Cycle from Hill of the Down to Maynooth -  31kms 

Depart your accomodation  and cycle 31kms  and discover the ancient east with your final stop at the historic and vibrant town of Maynooth. A university town in north County Kildare,  St Patrick's College and Maynooth castle are notable attractions.

Please note parts of the canal after Maynooth are not suitable for cycling, so we would recommend taking a train into the Heart of Dublin and visit The Irish Emmigration Museum.  Please contact us if you would like to book extra accommodation in Dublin and we can accommodate you.

If there are other areas you would like to explore outside this itinerary, please contact us and we can organise.  Alternatively we can arrange taxi transfer or information for bus and rail if your plan is to depart.

Accommodation

Please contact us for more information on hotels, B&Bs and guest houses.

Pricing

Prices start at €799 per person based on a minimum of two people sharing. 

Single rates available on request.

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