Shannonbridge - River Shannon loop

Walking
County Roscommon
2.3/5
6 reviews
Grade Moderate
Length 4.38897 km
Time 2 hours
Format Loop
Ascent Minimal m
Dogs Allowed No
Waymarking Green arrows on black background
Start Point
On west side of bridge at car park for The River Café
Finish Point
On west side of bridge at car park for The River Café
Nearest Town to Start Shannonbridge
Grid Ref. M 96583 25445
Lat. and Long. 53.27955, -8.05197

The River Shannon Loop takes the walker north along the banks of the Shannon and back by a quiet bog road and lane passing alongside a section of woodland at the northern end..Features of interest include the imposing Napoleonic Fortifications and the long bridge spanning the Shannon River.

Maps and other information

Trail Management

Shannonbridge Action Group, email tioshannonbridge@gmail.com

Facilities

Car parking, shops, pub serving food

The riverbank section of this trail is prone to flooding for about three months each winter.

OSI Maps

OSI Maps

Discovery Series Sheet 47
6 trail reviews
2.3/5
Write your own review of this trail
3/5
11/01/2020

Keith from Ireland

You start this trail on the opposite side of the bridge from the tourist office where there's a three story building with a cafe and plenty of parking. You go down the steps in the car park that lead under the bridge and walk the way the river is flowing. You should start to see the signs and arrow's for the walk. Only walk in summer time when river is low.
5/5
07/19/2020

Louise from Westmeath

Leaving a good review to balance out the older bad ones. Sure it could be better marked, but it's a lovely walk, especially if you pop up and include all of the fort as part of it. Use the map on this site and it's easy to find!
2/5
07/02/2019

Laura from Roscommon

This was a challenging loop as some of the callows were quite overgrown which meant we had to wade through 5 foot high grasses for most of the riverside trail. Green arrows are easy to spot to identify the trail but the loop is in need of some maintenance so that people can enjoy this beautiful, scenic trail more easily. Spotted some nesting swans and enjoyed the sense of calm on the quieter bank of the Shannon.
1/5
05/05/2019

Alex from Westmeath

Update from 2019 - it getting worse, no any sign of trail, very difficult to find out the start if decide to walk starting from the Shannon side.
2/5
07/30/2016

Ann from Galway

I agree with our New Zealand friend, this should have been a great walk but....firstly the Tourist Office were barely aware of it although they did point out the starting point which we missed on our last attempt to complete the walk. Secondly, the arrow markings were completely inadequate it was again down to one member of the group having 20\20 vision that saved us even at that we did not complete the walk fully. Thirdly I would strongly recommend that a walk way be cut through the grass (just wide enough for one) keeping walkers on the right path. Shannonbridge is a lovely spot and families today are actively looking for outdoor activities such as walking BUT I have to say our experience was not a good one. It wouldn't take much to upgrade this trail and make it an enjoyable experience like some of the great walks we have discovered through this website.

1/5
07/14/2016

Russell from New Zealand

This trail has the potential to be very good but our experience today was a walk from hell!



Initially it is a good walk beside the river from the bridge but soon descends into waist high grass and weeds and bog beside the river. The green arrow markers become few and far between and almost impossible to locate across the top of the grass.



The path has had no maintenance for ages and is almost impossible to follow - it was only because I have excellent long distance vision and am reasonably tall that I was able to find the markers. My wife couldn't see any!



When we reached the end of the long grass and weeds you turn up a narrow path beside a grassy paddock but are kept between two barbed wire fences to reach the narrow lane at the end. This part of the track was almost impassable as it is overgrown with blackberry and stinging nettles!



Someone needs to do some serious maintenance on this track or it should be closed to the public until the maintenance is done or removed from this website!

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