Ireland: Royal Canal Strokestown to Dublin 2027

Today, you take your first steps along the National Famine Way, covering approximately 20 kilometres to the charming village of Cloondara, the point where the Royal Canal begins and your waterside companion for the days ahead. As you walk, keep an eye out for the first of the evocative bronze shoe sculptures that mark the route, each one a quiet tribute to those who made this journey under far more desperate circumstances. Arrive in Cloondara for a peaceful evening in this picturesque canalside village, complete with its historic lock and welcoming local pub.

Strokestown to Cloondara 20km | average time 3 - 4 hours.

This morning, you set off along the Royal Canal Greenway, following the still waters through a patchwork of green fields and hedgerows alive with birdsong. Stop in the village of Kenagh for a well-deserved coffee and a slice of homemade cake before continuing to Ballymahon, a vibrant Longford town with a great selection of restaurants and traditional pubs. Ballymahon is famously the ancestral home of Oliver Goldsmith, the 18th-century author of The Vicar of Wakefield, giving you the perfect excuse to raise a glass in a local pub tonight.

Cloondara to Ballymahon | 25km | average time 5 hours

Crossing into County Westmeath, today’s walk carries you through some of the most quietly beautiful countryside in Ireland. The Royal Canal winds serenely through a landscape of drumlins, rushy meadows, and ancient woodland, with frequent sightings of herons standing sentinel along the banks. Arrive in the peaceful rural village of Ballynacarrigy and enjoy the slower pace of life that defines this part of the Irish Midlands. It’s the perfect evening to relax, rest your legs, and savour the silence of the countryside.

Ballymahon to Ballynacarrigy 20km | average time 3 - 4 hours

Today’s walk leads you to Mullingar, one of the most vibrant towns in the Irish Midlands and your liveliest overnight stop so far. The cathedral town is renowned for its excellent dining scene, traditional music sessions, and warm, convivial pub culture. After a satisfying day on the canal path, treat yourself to a well-earned dinner at one of Mullingar’s acclaimed restaurants before exploring the town’s legendary pubs, where live trad sessions often run late into the night.

Ballynacarigy to Mullingar 19km | average time 3 - 4 hours.

Depart Mullingar refreshed and continue eastward along the Royal Canal as it meanders through the rolling Westmeath and Meath countryside. Today’s highlight awaits at journey’s end: Moran’s Bar at Hill of Down, a wonderfully unique pub housed in a beautifully restored Victorian train station right beside the canal. It’s the perfect setting to sit back, order a cold pint of Guinness, and let the significance of how far you’ve come sink in. Tonight is a moment to savour.

Mullingar to Hill of Down 25km | average time 4 - 5 hours.

Press on toward the eastern edge of the Midlands as the canal leads you to Enfield, a busy and welcoming town in County Meath. The landscape begins to shift as you move closer to the Greater Dublin commuter belt, but the towpath remains a world apart, quiet, green, and resolutely peaceful. Enfield offers a good selection of cafés, pubs, and restaurants for a relaxed evening after another satisfying day on the trail.

Hill of Down to Enfield 16km | average time 3-4 hours

Today’s stage brings you to one of Ireland’s most historically rich and charming towns: Maynooth, home to Ireland’s national seminary, St. Patrick’s College, and the National University of Ireland Maynooth. After checking in, explore the magnificent ruins of Maynooth Castle, stroll the grand grounds of Carton House, former seat of the Dukes of Leinster, and soak up the lively atmosphere of a university town teeming with excellent restaurants, coffee shops, and traditional pubs. You’re almost in Dublin now, and the excitement builds.

Enfield to Maynooth 20km | average time 3 - 4 hours

The final day of walking has arrived, and what a moment it is. Set off from Maynooth along the last stretch of the Royal Canal as it leads you, step by step, into the heart of Ireland’s capital city. As the skyline of Dublin appears on the horizon, take a moment to reflect on the 1,490 emigrants whose footsteps you have traced across the Irish Midlands. The journey concludes at EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin’s Docklands, where you’ll collect your official National Famine Way completion certificate and explore the museum’s world-class immersive exhibits. Tonight, celebrate in style in one of Dublin’s many wonderful restaurants. You’ve earned it.

Maynooth to Dublin 27km | average time 4 - 5 hours