Royal Canal Greenway

Connecting so many small communities, the RCG brings cohesive social benefits, and is actively supported at grass roots level through energetic Tidy Towns Committees, local sports clubs, as well as active volunteering groups. In terms of the environment, the RCG provides for exploration of the unique and historical built heritage, as well as enjoyment of the sensitive natural heritage of the canal corridor. The greenway is layered upon a 225 year-old canal, and the route is peppered with that industrial heritage including some nine cut stone, hump-backed bridges, 33 locks, four aqueducts and 17 harbours along its length. With respect to tourism, visitors have an increasing appetite for authentic activity tourism experiences; only accelerated by COVID travel restrictions. The overall route is broken down into 13 individual trails of between 6km and 15km. Given that the surface suits a leisure cyclist, the trail is essentially flat, and predominantly off-road, it has a broad appeal to all ages and stages, and has become essential to the health and wellbeing of many local daily users.