Felicity LongWe're likely to hear more about individual countries that promote the outdoors as Europe travel recovers its footing.You can call it a delayed response to the pandemic, an honest acknowledgment of the reality of climate change, or just a desire to escape it all. Even for those who think that a perfect European vacation is people-watching at a sidewalk café.Ireland is a great example of a country that knows a lot about beautiful scenery. This summer, the new Limerick Greenway https://www.limerick.ie/greenway is the latest addition to a network of greenways that showcase the countryside and coastline of Ireland.A family rides the Limerick Greenway in Ireland. Photo credit: Tourism IrelandThe Limerick Greenway was inaugurated July 1, and follows an old railway line which once ran from Tralee, County Kerry. It runs 25 miles through County Limerick.The route has been resurfaced at 10 feet, giving runners, walkers, and cyclists plenty of space to enjoy the beautiful agricultural landscapes west Limerick.Bike rides and historical sitesThe greenway connects the towns of Abbeyfeale and Rathkeale, winding past villages, towns, and heritage sites.Highlights include a Victorian-era tunnel railway, ancient castles, abbeys, and for those who truly seek solitude, the rugged native forests.You can also break free from the long, pandemic-induced quarantine and meet locals in shops, restaurants, or pubs along your route.Bike rentals and hotels, B&Bs, and guesthouses that offer special greenway packages are also available www.ireland.com.Visitors can enjoy the route in smaller sections, which is ideal for families with small children, or for anyone who doesn't want to do a marathon.Staying on the Limerick GreenwayAccommodations include the boutique Rathkeale House Hotel http://www.rathkealehousehotel.ie/ in Rathkeale and the Mustard Seed Country House Hotel https://www.mustardseed.ie/ in Ballingarry or head to Newcastle West, the second-largest town in County Limerick, for a wider selection of hotels and inns.Newcastle West is situated at the midpoint of the greenway. It is home to shopping and dining options as well as fishing and horseback riding.The new greenway, which is eventually slated to run all the way to Tralee, joins the Royal Canal Greenway https://www.waterwaysireland.org/greenways/royal-canal, the longest greenway in Ireland at 80.8 miles, which opened earlier this year.
