Westmeath Way

The Westmeath Way (Irish: Slí na hIarmhí)[2] is a long-distance trail in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is 100 kilometres (62 miles) long and begins in Kilbeggan and ends in Athlone.[1] It is typically completed in two days.[2] It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Westmeath County Council and the Westmeath Way Committee.[3] The trail forms part of the Dublin-Galway Greenway, part of the route 2 of the EuroVelo European cycle network.

Map of the EuroVelo 2 route.

Starting at Kilbeggan, the trail follows the River Brosna for approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) and the crosses countryside to the village of Ballinagore.[4] From Ballinagore the route travels on to reach the shores of Lough Ennell at the townland of Lilliput, from which Jonathan Swift used the name in Gulliver's Travels.[5] The trails follows tracks and roads around the lough, via Dysart village, before reaching Bellmount Bridge where it follows the Royal Canal to Mullingar with a rail-trail over the disused Mullingar-Athlone rail line to Athlone.[6][1][5]

A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 found usage of the trail to be low and recommended that the amount of walking on tarred roads (41%) be reduced, that a series of looped walks off the main trail be developed and the trail should be promoted to day walkers.[3]