This page is under construction
so treat all information with a pinch of salt.
Route
5 Athlone - Ballymore - Tang - Athlone
7 Athlone - Mount Temple - Drumraney - Athlone
Route no 5 Athlone
- Ballymore - Tang - Athlone
Total Distance: 37.4 km
Climbing: Quite a lot of ups and downs
Traffic: Very busy on the Ballymahon to Athlone road
Road Conditions: Good except on road into tang
Maps: O.S. 1:50 Discovery series No. 41 (Longford, Meath & Westmeath), 47 (Galway, Offaly, Roscommon & Westmeath), & 48 (Offaly & Westmeath)
Approx. time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Nearest train station Athlone
(needs more accurate km distances-check
sheet)
Route:
Starting in front of the railway station, turn left I front of the station and cycle towards the roundabout. Take the first left at the roundabout and continue under the railway bridge and out the Mullingar road. Cycle past the primary school at Cornamaddy, following the main Ballymahon/Mullingar road. Follow this road for a short distance until the turn for Mullingar appears. Take this right turn. The first few miles of this road are comparatively flat, but the road soon starts a long gradual climb to Walderstown. Although the surface on this road hasnt many pot holes, it is very rough to cycle on. There is a steeper section next which climbs into Drumraney. Once through Drumraney the climbs are shorter. The road goes into a bend and almost at the top of the hill, there is a bridge followed by a left turn signposted Pigeons and Tang, take this turn.
This road is smaller and quieter than the main road and although not as flat, has only pleasant inclines rather than hills. After approx 4km the road divides with turns for Pigeons or Tang.
(It is possible to take a short-cut here by taking the "Pigeons" road which will bring you out on the main Ballymahon to Athlone road)
Follow the road signposted "Tang" which is wider at this point. It will lead you past the GAA grounds in Tang coming out on the main Ballymahon to Athlone road.
Turn left here and follow the road straight into Athlone. There are two long climbs on this stretch but also two long downhills once up the hills. There is a sharp turn at the end of the 2nd hill in Ballykeeran. Continue straight back into Athlone
Points of Interest:
Once on the Ballymahon to Athlone road (N55) the village of Pigeons will come into view. Shortly after this, the road widens and there is a hard shoulder. Half way along this stretch, there is a signpost for Lissoy where Charles Goldsmith -Oliver's Goldsmith's father was rector. The residence is in ruins.
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Route no 6 Athlone
- Kiltoom - Athlone
Total Distance: 37.1 km
Climbing: Some sharp ups and downs but mainly short up and downs
Traffic: Very busy leaving Athlone
Road Conditions: Good
Maps: O.S. 1:50 Discovery series No. 47 (Galway, Offaly, Roscommon & Westmeath)
Approx. time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Nearest train station: Athlone
From the centre of Athlone, follow the by-pass along past Coosan over the Shannon and the railway line. Take the 1st road off the by-pass after the bridge over the railway. This road swings sharply to the left and comes to a "T" junction. Take the left turn under the bridge, Cycle along this road for 500 metres to the roundabout and take the 2nd turn off (i.e. keep going straight) for Roscommon/Sligo. This is a busy road, which fortunately has a hard shoulder. There is an uphill for 500 metres 2km further along this road. It is long and needs perseverance rather than a lot of energy. The road continues this way for another 3km when the hard shoulder disappears. A garage will soon appear on the right hand side and opposite this garage there is a left turn signposted "Carrighill B&B" (There is a "No Dumping" sign at this turnoff.) Take this road, which rises quite sharply and this hill is followed by a series of up and downs. Soon stone walls become visible and the undulating road continues to a cross roads. Approx. 4km from the main road there is a second left hand turn at the bottom of a steep descent. The hayshed on the turn can be seen while descending the hill. This road gets smaller and soon grass can be seen on the road. This stretch is only 1.5 km long and comes out a "T" junction on a larger road. Take a left here and not long afterwards there is a right turn, which leads into Brideswell (if this is , turn left and continue straight into Athlone.
Cycle straight along this road for 5km until it meets up with the Tuam road. Follow the signs to the left for Athlone. This road has some quite long ups and downs. It will lead back into Athlone passing the Elan factory on the right. Immediately after this factory, there is a right turn signposted for Dublin, take this turn to get back onto the by-pass, otherwise continue straight into Athlone
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Route no 7 Athlone
- Mount Temple - Drumraney - Athlone
Total Distance: 36.4km
Climbing: Long enough uphill to Mount Temple. Downhill from Walderstown P.O. into Athlone
Traffic: Heavy to start on Mount Temple road (Ind. estate) and can be heavy on the Mullingar to Athlone road
Road Conditions: Reasonably good
Maps: O.S. 1:50 Discovery series No. 47 (Galway, Offaly, Roscommon & Westmeath) and No. 48 (Offaly & Westmeath),
Approx. time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Nearest train station: Athlone
Route:
Starting from the national school at Cornamaddy, cycle straight towards the by-pass. Just before the by-pass bridge there is a turn to the left signposted Mount Temple. Take this road. It can be very busy because this road leads to part of the industrial estate. After 1.5km, the road comes into farmland. The surface on the ..