The Waterford Greenway from the Dungarvan End: Where to Start, Which Way to Ride

Dungarvan is the western full-stop on the Waterford Greenway, the 46km off-road trail that follows an old railway line east to Waterford city. It opened in 2017, it is Ireland's longest greenway, and the Dungarvan end is arguably the better one to start from, because you ride out along the coast and into the hills rather than out of a city's edges.

Where to hire a bike

The handiest hire base is at the Abbeyside trailhead, on the eastern side of the river where the Greenway proper begins. Dungarvan Greenway Bike Hire operates here as an arm of O'Mahony Cycles, a shop that has been renting and selling bikes for over thirty years, based around Sexton Street in Abbeyside with the trail access just metres away. They run hybrids that suit all ages, and they can fit child seats, trailers and tag-alongs. Expect to pay somewhere around €15 for an adult bike for the day, though check current rates when you book, as prices move. Book ahead in summer and over bank holiday weekends, when the trail is busy and bikes go fast.

Which direction, and how far

From Dungarvan there is really only one direction: east, toward Waterford city. The full run is 46km one way, which is a long day on a hybrid, so most people pick a turnaround point and ride back. Useful markers, measured roughly from the Dungarvan end:

Durrow, around 9-10km. This is the classic out-and-back for a half-day. Just before Durrow you pass through the Durrow tunnel, a former railway tunnel of roughly 400m. It is genuinely dark in the middle, lit only dimly, so slow down and enjoy the temperature drop. Straight after the tunnel comes the Ballyvoyle viaduct, which carries the trail high over a valley near the sea. The viaduct has form: it was blown up during the Civil War in the 1920s and later rebuilt. At Durrow itself there is a pub-shop where you can get a pint or an ice cream before turning back.

Kilmacthomas, around 22-23km. Roughly the halfway point between Dungarvan and Waterford city, sitting beside its own large viaduct. The old workhouse here has been turned into a coffee stop, a popular refuel. This makes a satisfying full-day return ride if you are reasonably fit: a 45km round trip with a proper lunch in the middle.

Waterford city, 46km. The whole thing, one way. If you want to ride the full length and not double back, the usual move is a shuttle: several hire and shuttle operators run a van service that drives you and the bikes to one end so you can ride back to your car. Ask the bike hire about current shuttle options.

What the ride is actually like

Because it is a converted railway, the gradient is gentle the whole way, which is the point: there are no real climbs, just long easy drags. The Dungarvan end gives you the coastal stretch first, with the bay on your right and the Comeragh Mountains ahead, before the line turns inland through farmland, river valleys, the tunnel, and a string of viaducts. There are eleven bridges, three viaducts and the tunnel across the full route, so even a short out-and-back to Durrow takes in the best engineering on the line.

Practical notes

Bring a light layer even in summer, because the tunnel and the tree-shaded cuttings are cold, and the coast can be breezy. The surface is sealed and buggy-friendly, so families with young children manage the Dungarvan-to-Durrow section comfortably. There are cafes and pubs spaced along the route rather than continuously, so do not assume food at every stop; the reliable refuels are Durrow, Kilmacthomas, and back in Dungarvan itself. And the trail is shared with walkers and runners, so keep your speed sensible, especially through the tunnel and over the viaducts where everyone slows to look. If you only do one section, do Dungarvan to Durrow and back: the tunnel and the viaduct are the two things people remember, and they are both inside the first ten kilometres.