Boyne Valley Greenway
The Boyne Valley Greenway was constructed over several years and completed in 2024. It is 30 Kms in length and was originally a rail line between Navan and Kingscourt. Kingscourt was a centre for the mining of gypsum and this was transported by rail until road haulage took over and the line was closed in 1975. The factories in Kingscourt are world famous for their production of insulation products used in the building industry.
The surface of the greenway is constructed of fine grit which is said to be a more sustainable material than asphalt. Many recent greenways have been constructed using fine grit. It is probably just a slightly slower surface for cyclists but safer as greenways are used by walkers and runners as well as cyclists and bikes can generally be more easily heard approaching. It is overall an excellent surface for cycling and very flat throughout its length.
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The River Boyne flows through this part of Ireland, famous for the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, see the History Section for more details.
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The route passes through counties Meath and Cavan. The route starts in Navan town and ends a few kilometres outside Kingscourt. Note that it is possible to cycle all the way into Kingscourt town but the final section is on a very busy windy road with a steep hill. There is a footpath and one could walk with the bike but that is not ideal.
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The route passes through several of the now disused railway stations but there is only one town on the route, Nobber which is 18 Kms from Navan. The Park Beo greenway hub, a cafe/ shop/ bike hire centre, is 8Km from Navan at Wilkinstown. It is 300m off the greenway on a cycle-friendly path.
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Leaving Ratholdren Road in Navan we cross the R163 just past Gibbstown station - 4 Kms
A further 4 Kms we cross the R162 at Wilkinstown - 8 Kms
Access to Park Beo is just up ahead.
Crossing several small roads we pass Castletown village, under the N52 bridge - 14 Kms
2 Kms later we cross the R162 - 16 Kms
Crossing another small road, the village of Nobber is just 2Km up ahead - 18 Kms
After another 3.5Kms, we pass Whitewood Lake on our left - 21.5 Kms
Another km ahead we pass the pretty Whitewood railway station at Kilmainhamwood - 22.5 Kms
Continuing on we cross the R162 - 25 Kms
Leaving Co. Meath for Co. Cavan, after 3 Kms we cross the Enniskeen road - 28 Kms
Crossing the R165 before reaching our destination at the old disused Kingscourt station - 30Kms​​​​
Drogheda to Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre
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There is a separate short 4 Km greenway from Drogheda town to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre west of the town. The Battle of the Boyne of 1690 is still commemorated to this day, particularly by the Protestant/ Unionist community in Northern Ireland, see the History page here for some further details. The greenway starts at St Dominic's Bridge which is a pedestrian bridge over the River Boyne in Drogheda town centre. It follows the southern bank of the river passing St. Dominic's Park on the left hand side. After 2.5 Kms it meets the Rathmullan Road, the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge is just in sight. Cycle under the bridge on a path at the side of the road. Use the footpath which is intended to be shared with pedestrians. Continue on alongside the banks of the river passing the Boyne Lock gates. The visitor centre is just 1Km ahead. It is planned to connect the Boyne Valley greenway at Navan to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre.
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​If visiting this area of the country, a must-see for visitors to Co. Meath is Newgrange, a world Heritage site. Newgrange is a 5,200-year-old Neolithic passage tomb in Ireland’s Brú na Bóinne complex, famous for its precise, dramatic alignment with the winter solstice sunrise, where sunlight illuminates the inner chamber. It is older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.
