The Ultimate Waterford Greenway Guide Starting from Kilmacthomas

TLDR

• Kilmacthomas is the natural halfway point on the 46km Waterford Greenway, with free parking, a café, and bike hire right at the old workhouse hub
• The family-friendly short spin is 12km return west to the Durrow Viaduct, flat and safe
• The Greenway is smooth tarmac both ways, so every kind of bike from road racer to kids’ bike works perfectly
• A shuttle minibus with a bike trailer runs between Dungarvan, Kilmacthomas, and Waterford, so you can cycle one way and get a lift back
• Coach House Café at the start has food, coffee, bike rental, and e-bikes, open daily

For anyone who grew up around here, the Waterford to Mallow railway was the sound of summer. That line closed long ago, but the same old track bed is now the Waterford Greenway, 46km of seamless tarmac from Waterford city to Dungarvan. And right in the middle, exactly where the train used to stop, you’ll find Kilmacthomas. If you are planning a Greenway day out, it is the handiest place to begin.

Why start in Kilmacthomas

The greenway hub sits inside the old Famine Workhouse beside the station house. You park for free right there, order a coffee at the Coach House Café, and then simply climb on a bike. Because you are exactly 23km from both endpoints, you can decide on the day which direction suits the weather, the wind, or your mood. There’s no faffing with bike racks on the car if you hire locally, and the whole set-up is quick and uncomplicated.

Two directions, two very different spins

From Kilmacthomas going east (towards Waterford city), you are heading back along the old railway path past the village of Kilmeaden. After about 13km you will see the Kilmeaden station platform, and if you peel off a few hundred metres you are on the edge of the village where Mount Congreve Gardens and The Sweep Bar are waiting. Keep going and the trail follows the River Suir, giving you glimpses of the water and eventually delivering you to Bilberry, just a short roll from Waterford city centre. The whole eastern leg from Kilmacthomas to Bilberry is roughly 23km, almost entirely flat, and you pass through open farmland and riverbank.

Going west (towards Dungarvan) you are in for the route most people talk about. About 6km from Kilmacthomas you dip into the cool darkness of the Durrow Tunnel, the old Ballyvoyle Tunnel. It is about 400m long, dead straight, and totally unlit. Bring a front light, take it handy, and when you come out the far side you are looking right across the majestic Durrow Viaduct. This is where everyone stops for the photo. From there the trail continues through quiet countryside, dropping gradually towards Dungarvan Bay. You’ll know you are near the end when you can smell the sea and the harbour wall comes into view, 23km after you left Kilmacthomas.

The family route: Kilmacthomas to Durrow and back

If you have a couple of hours and maybe a child on a tag-along or a bike trailer, this is the one. Cycle west from the hub, gentle tarmac under your wheels, past the fields and under the old bridges. You reach the tunnel in under half an hour. Walk through if you like, with the bikes, listening for the echo. Out the other side, let the kids see the viaduct and have a snack while you take a few pictures. Then turn around and freewheel most of the way back. Round trip: 12km, maybe an hour and a half cycling at a leisurely pace, leaving plenty of time for a wander. The whole thing is flat, no traffic, and completely stress-free.

Bike hire right where you need it

Right next to Coach House Café at the hub is a separate bike hire company. They keep a solid fleet of well-maintained hybrid bikes, and they also have electric bikes if you want to make the longer run to Dungarvan or Waterford without breaking a sweat. For families they have kids’ bikes in various sizes, tag-alongs, and child trailers. If you get a puncture or a loose chain, they can usually sort it too. Having the hire right at the hub means you just turn up and you are free to go east or west on a whim, rather than committing to an endpoint before you have seen the weather.

The shuttle: cycle one way, ride back in a minibus

The bike hire company at the hub offers a one-way option that takes the pressure off the return leg. Cycle the 23km west to Dungarvan, finish with fish and chips at the harbour, and they will bus you and your bike back to Kilmacthomas. Book this in advance, especially at weekends and during school holidays. Check with the bike hire when you collect your bikes for current prices and booking details.

What to bring with you

This is not the Alps, but Irish weather does its own thing. Bring a light rain jacket and a few layers even if the morning is sunny. A small backpack holds water, snacks, your phone, and a puncture repair kit if you have your own bike. The absolute essential is a front light for the tunnel. The Coach House might have some to borrow, but don’t count on it. A phone torch does a job, but it is not ideal when you are cycling. Everything else is straightforward: comfortable clothes, maybe gloves if your hands get cold, and a bit of cash for cake at the Coach House after.

Can my bike handle it?

Unless you are riding a delicate thoroughbred with wafer-thin tyres, the answer is almost certainly yes. The entire Greenway is smooth tarmac, no gravel, no potholes, so road bikes, hybrids, touring bikes, and the old mountain bike with slick tyres will all feel right at home. The gradient is a railway gradient, which means you barely notice it. It is genuinely wheelchair and pram friendly too, so you will see buggies on the Kilmacthomas to Durrow stretch on a quiet weekday.

Where to eat along the way

Right at the start, the Coach House Café does hot breakfasts, lunches, home baking, and proper coffee. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and it is all inside the restored workhouse buildings, so it has a bit of soul. If you head east, a short detour off the Greenway at Kilmeaden takes you to The Sweep Bar for a pub lunch. Near the Waterford end, Bilberry has a small takeaway kiosk, but you are as near to the city centre with loads of choices if you roll on another few minutes. Going west, Dungarvan is spoiled for food: The Moorings does excellent seafood right on the harbour, Ormond Café is great for a quick bite, and The Tannery is the famous spot if you are marking a special day out. Try to time your spin so you earn your meal in one of them.

Parking and getting started

There are three car parks worth knowing in Kilmacthomas. The main Greenway hub at the Workhouse is the obvious first choice — free, right beside the café and bike hire, and usually where everyone heads first. If it is full, the car park on Main Street next to the old mill also connects directly to the Greenway. A third option is the car park beside the Rainbow Hall and playground, which has a decent amount of space and is a short walk from the trail. Between the three you will nearly always find a spot, but on a sunny bank holiday weekend aim to arrive before 10am to be safe.

Once you are parked, the café is right in front of you at the hub, the bike hire is beside it, and the Greenway entrance is just beyond the old station building.