Westmeath Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Westmeath
Westmeath Way is a 28.3 km moderate waymarked linear route in Westmeath, starting near Kilbeggan.
Notice from the trail operator
Closure Notice - October 2024. Please note, the Westmeath Way is temporarily closed while work is completed on the trail
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with Westmeath County Council Walking before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 2 days |
Getting there
Starts at Kilbeggan.
Finishes at Mullingar.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.36866, -7.50268
- Irish Grid reference
- N 331 355
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 41 and 48
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
About the trail
County Westmeath, one of Ireland's smaller counties, is in the midlands, and the Hill of Uisneach in the county is considered the geographical centre of the country. The Westmeath Way is a 33km-long low-level linear walking route from the town of Kilbeggan, famous for its whiskey distilling and horse racing, to the town of Mullingar, the administrative centre of the county. The route follows a section of the River Brosna and then public roads northwards to the townsland of Lilliput on the shores of Lough Ennell: Jonathan Swift is said to have stayed with friends on the lake's shore, and used the name for his fantasy island in Gulliver's Travels. The route then continues by road, fields and woodland path to reach the north end of the lake, and from there it goes by road and canal tow path into Mullingar. Apart from pleasant river-bank stretches (which may be a little wet and overgrown), woodland sections and canal bank, much of this route is on road, some sections of which carry fast traffic.
Before you go
WALKERS SHOULD NOTE THAT AT PRESENT THERE IS NO ACCESS OVER THE PRIVATELY OWNED LAND FROM LADESTOWN TO KEOLTOWN WOOD SO THE WAY IS CLOSED BETWEEN LADESTOWN AND DYSART. WALKERS ARE ADVISED TO PLEASE REFRAIN FROM WALKING THIS SECTION UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 14 kms or 41% of the Way follows local roads. ***Under no circumstances should dogs be taken on farmland sections of the Westmeath Way***
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Westmeath County Council Walking
Westmeath County Council, County Buildings, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, Tel: 044 9332000, www.westmeathcoco.ie
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Clara Esker Ballinough Doorey Loop 7.2 km away · 5.4 km trail
- Clara Esker Forest Loop Walk 7.2 km away · 1.8 km trail
- Cloncrow Bog and Village Trail 8.3 km away · 2.8 km trail
- Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise 13 km away · 24.4 km trail
- Old Rail Trail Greenway Walking Trail: Mullingar - Athlone 19 km away · 43 km trail
- Mullingar Cycle Hub Loop 2 20 km away · 47.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Westmeath Way?
28.3 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 40 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 days.
How hard is the Westmeath Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Westmeath Way start?
Starts at Kilbeggan. The trailhead is at 53.36866, -7.50268 (Irish Grid N 331 355).
Can you bring a dog on the Westmeath Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Who manages the Westmeath Way?
Westmeath County Council Walking. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Westmeath
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.