Kerry's Greenways: Tralee-Fenit, Listowel and South Kerry
Kerry has one greenway open at 13 km, another at 53 km, and a 32 km coastal route still to come. Route detail, highlights and funding news.
Introduction
Kerry has three greenways and only two of them are open. Both of the open routes are surfaced in compacted limestone or shale rather than tarmac, and the gradients top out at three or four per cent, so a hybrid or a gravel bike will be happier on them than a road bike. The third, in South Kerry, is still a construction site.
The three routes as they stand in 2025:
- Tralee-Fenit Greenway: a 13.6 km coastal trail from the county capital to the fishing village of Fenit.
- Listowel-Limerick (Great Southern) Greenway: a 53 km rail-trail linking the literary town of Listowel with the River Shannon at Limerick.
- South Kerry Greenway: a 32 km project under construction from Glenbeigh to Renard on the Iveragh Peninsula.
1. Tralee-Fenit Greenway: Coastal Charm in 13 km
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | Approx. 13.6 km (9 mi), staged opening: 6.5 km (June 2022), 11.2 km (Oct 2022), full length by 2025 |
| Surface | Compact crushed limestone, sealed in high-traffic sections; suitable for hybrid, gravel-grip or road bikes |
| Difficulty | Easy, gentle gradients (max ≈ 3 %) and well-graded paths |
| Opening year | 2022 (full length 2025) |
| Key towns | Tralee, Blennerville, Camp, Fenit |
| Facilities | Bike-racks, water points, benches at Blennerville, Camp and Fenit; signage in Irish and English |
| Funding | €150,000 from the 2025 national greenway programme (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) |
Route highlights
- Tralee Town Centre: start at the historic Tralee Railway Station; easy access to bus and train services.
- Blennerville Windmill: a 19th-century stone windmill overlooking the River Lee; a short detour leads to a café and visitor centre.
- Camp Village: a former railway settlement with a restored Camp Heritage Centre and a small harbour.
- Fenit Harbour: the trail finishes at the working fishing port; the Fenit Lighthouse offers panoramic views of Mount Brandon and Tralee Bay.
- Coastal wildlife: keep an eye out for seals, otters and winter-visiting geese along the shoreline.
Practical tips
- Bike hire: several local shops in Tralee (e.g., Kerry Bike Hire, Cycleworks) offer hybrid and e-bike rentals with optional helmets and locks.
- Parking: free car parks at Tralee Railway Station and Fenit Harbour; limited spaces at Blennerville (arrive early in summer).
- Navigation: the route is fully signposted with greenway icons; downloadable GPX files are available on the official site traleefenitgreenway.com.
- Safety: surface can be slippery after rain; wear puncture-resistant tyres and bring a light rain jacket.
2. Listowel-Limerick (Great Southern) Greenway: A 53 km Journey Through Kerry’s Heartland
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 53 km (33 mi), the longest Kerry greenway currently open |
| Surface | Hard-packed shale and compacted gravel; suitable for touring, hybrid and gravel bikes |
| Difficulty | Moderate, mostly flat with occasional gentle climbs (max ≈ 4 %) |
| Opening year | 2022 (full route completed 2023) |
| Key towns | Listowel, Ballybunion (detour), Rathkeale, Limerick City |
| Facilities | Rest stops every 5 km, bike-repair stations at Listowel, Rathkeale, and Limerick; cafés and pubs along the way |
| Funding | €400,000 from the 2025 national programme (linking Tralee-Listowel sections) |
Route highlights
- Listowel: start at the Listowel Heritage Centre; explore the town’s literary links to John B. Keane and the Listowel Writers’ Week.
- River Shannonside: the trail follows the River Shannons through lush flood-plains, offering abundant bird-watching opportunities.
- Woodland sections: mature oak and ash woods near Ballybunion provide shaded respite and a chance to spot red deer.
- Rathkeale: historic market town with a 13th-century castle ruin; a good spot for a picnic.
- Limerick City: the greenway terminates at the King John’s Castle precinct, linking to the city’s cycle-hire scheme and public transport.
Practical tips
- Accommodation: a range of B&Bs and guesthouses in Listowel and Rathkeale; Limerick’s hotels provide easy onward travel.
- Food: try the Kerry lamb stew in Listowel, fresh seafood in Ballybunion, and Limerick pork pies at the city’s traditional pubs.
- Bike hire: e-bikes are popular for the longer distance; available in Listowel (e.g., Kerry Bike Rentals) and Limerick (city cycle-share).
- Navigation: the route is mapped on the Sustrans Ireland website; a free Sustrans Route Planner app offers turn-by-turn guidance.
- Safety: sections cross minor roads; keep to the designated path and obey local traffic signs.
3. South Kerry Greenway: The Future 32 km Coastal Trail
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 32 km (20 mi), under construction (expected completion 2027) |
| Surface | Planned compacted limestone with boardwalks over sensitive dunes |
| Difficulty | Easy to moderate, a few short climbs near the Glenbeigh headland |
| Status | Construction started 2024; 7 km of boardwalk completed (Glenbeigh-Glenflesk) |
| Key points | Glenbeigh, Ballinskelligs, Cahersiveen, Renard |
| Funding | €7 million from the 2025 national greenway investment; additional €200 000 for the final Cahersiveen-Renard segment |
Anticipated highlights
- Glenbeigh: launch point with a cliff-top café offering views of Dunmore Head and the Skellig Islands.
- Ballinskelligs: a scenic harbour village; a short side-loop leads to the Ballinskelligs Beach (Blue Flag) and the Múirín Archaeological Site.
- Cahersiveen: historic Ballycarbery Castle and Stone Age ring forts; the town hosts the Cahersiveen Festival each August.
- Renard Point: the trail’s southern terminus, featuring rugged cliffs and a sea-stack viewing platform.
- Biodiversity: the route passes Coillte-managed woodlands, heathland, and marine-influenced dunes home to rare orchids and seabirds.
Practical tips for early access
- Partial rides: the opened 7 km section can be enjoyed from Glenbeigh to the Glenflesk loop; suitable for families and e-bike users.
- Future connections: the greenway will link to the Tralee-Fenit and Listowel-Limerick routes, creating a 100 km “Kerry Loop” for long-distance cyclists.
- Accommodation: Glenbeigh’s The Lodge, Ballinskelligs B&Bs, and Cahersiveen’s The Old Bank Hotel.
- Transport: Bus Éireann routes 275 (Killarney-Cahersiveen) stop at Glenbeigh and Ballinskelligs; a seasonal shuttle service is planned for 2026.
4. Funding, Development and the Vision for Kerry’s Greenways
In 2025 the Irish Government allocated €8.25 million to the Kingdom of Kerry Greenways as part of a €67 million national investment in active-travel infrastructure (Transport Infrastructure Ireland). The breakdown is:
- €7 million: South Kerry Greenway (Glenbeigh-Cahersiveen-Renard).
- €200 000: Final Cahersiveen-Renard segment.
- €400 000: Linking Tralee-Listowel sections to create a continuous north-south corridor.
- €150 000: Upgrades and signage for the Tralee-Fenit Greenway.
- €100 000: Feasibility work on a proposed Cockleshell Road-to-The Spa greenway (a short coastal loop near Tralee).
These funds support surface improvements, under-passes, way-finding signage, visitor facilities and the development of e-bike charging points at major trailheads. The long-term vision is a 100 km Kerry Greenway Loop that connects all three routes, encouraging tourism, local business growth and healthier lifestyles.
5. Planning Your Kerry Greenway Adventure
| Consideration | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Bike type | Hybrid or gravel bike for most sections; e-bike for the longer Listowel-Limerick ride. |
| Time needed | Tralee-Fenit: 2–3 hours (leisurely). Listowel-Limerick: 1 day (≈ 6 hours) or split over two days. South Kerry (full): 2 days when completed. |
| Best season | Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (Sept-Oct), mild weather, fewer tourists, autumn foliage. |
| Accommodation | Book B&Bs early in July/August; use Kerry Tourist Board website for a searchable list. |
| Food & drink | Pack water (minimum 1 L per rider) and snacks; stop at local cafés for a taste of Kerry produce. |
| Navigation | Download GPX files from Sustrans Ireland, Kerry Greenways website, or use Komoot/Ride with GPS. |
| Safety | Wear helmets, carry a basic repair kit, and check weather forecasts on Met Éireann. |
| Accessibility | Tralee-Fenit Greenway is wheelchair-friendly; other routes have some uneven sections, check the latest accessibility updates on the official site. |
Conclusion
Tralee-Fenit is the one to ride with children. It is short, gently graded, fully signposted and wheelchair-friendly, and it starts at a railway station, so nobody needs to drive.
Listowel-Limerick is the proper day out, long enough that most riders either take an e-bike or split it across two days. It crosses minor roads in places, so it is not the traffic-free proposition the shorter route is. South Kerry is worth watching rather than visiting until the Cahersiveen to Renard section is done, though the opened boardwalk section from Glenbeigh is fine for families now.
The money is there to join all three into a single loop. If that happens, Kerry will have something worth building a week around. In the meantime, ride what is open, expect the limestone surface to be slick for a day or two after rain, and pack the rain jacket whatever the forecast says.