The 8 Best Food Stops on the Greenway-Gourmet Food Trail

The Gourmet Food Trail is a shortlist of the top Irish food producers situated along the 51km Off-Road Cycling lane from Westport Town to Achill Island in Co. Mayo!

The Gourmet Greenway or Gourmet food trail is a perfect blend of food and fun!

Hunger is the best sauce they say and what better way to keep that hunger coming but to cycle from one amazing “foodie” experience to the next!

The full Greenway is a leisurely 4 hour cycle from start to finish. This brings you from Westport town centre to Achill Island.

The entire cycle is off-road allowing you to completely lose yourself in the Wild Atlantic surroundings.

Combining the Greenway and the Gourmet Food Trail really is about having your cake, and eating it too! A blissful day of stunning scenery with delicious food – What could be better!

Cycling The Greenway

The Greenway cycling trail which stretches from Westport to Achill island brings you through archways and forrests, under bridges and along breath-taking scenery. It truly is a beautiful cycle.

This article is about combining that journey with some culinary delights along the way.

Unique stop off points which will help you rejuvenate, relax and unwind while enjoying some of the best food, the West of Ireland has to offer.

From chocolate to beer, healthy treats to scrumptious cakes, the Gourmet food trail caters to all manner of indulgences, ages and budgets. 🙂

The Four Stops from Westport to Achill Island

Quick Tip

In the list below I have tried to outline each cafe’s strengths and weaknesses so you can quickly decipher which spots would suit you best. Maybe you simply want a coffee and to get cycling! Others may want a nice large breakfast in preparation for the day. Some people have a sweet tooth. Others may be on the health kick. So….. at the bottom of each stop you will see a quick list of what each do best! I hope this will help you quickly decide which are the stop offs for you!

Cycling Westport to Achill Island

WESTPORT

1. This Must Be The Place

This Must Be The Place is a vibrant, little café situated right beside the clock tower in Westport town centre; the perfect little place to start your day.

They have an ideal menu for people about to start cycling. A fresh and tasty menu to suit all tastes, with dishes that are not too heavy.

They use a lot of local produce (hence why they are on this list) and punch far above their weight in creativity and originality.

This Must Be The Place is easy to find, up there with the best coffee and breakfast in Westport and offers an unrivalled view of the town.

A great spot to start your cycle. (or any day for that matter 🙂

NEWPORT

2. The Blue Bicycle Tearooms

The Blue Bicycle Tearooms is located in a charming 17th century, stone-fronted historical house in the centre of Newport.

Proprietors Phil & Frank Chambers oversee a menu that favours seasonal and local ingredients – many of which are from Gourmet Greenway producers – that includes: gourmet salads and sandwiches served on homemade breads; homemade soups; in-house salad dressings and pestos and freshly baked scones, cakes and tarts, including the signature Blue Bicycle Orange Cake, served with orange & cardamom syrup and fresh cream.

Speciality teas and freshly ground coffee are served in vintage bone china pots alongside charming vintage bone china tea sets.

Visitors have the choice of being served indoors or at picnic tables in the Blue Bicycle’s Victorian garden.

Main Street, Newport, Co. Mayo
Tel: 098 41145
Web: www.bluebicycletearooms.com

Tasty and delightful little menu
Vintage and Authentic Style
Smack bang on Newport Main Street
Fantastic Coffee
Huge Garden, perfect for sunning yourself in peace
Amazing place to relax with a book or paper
Homemade Cakes and Scones
Couldn't meet a nicer host

3. The Gráinne Uaile Award Winning Family Pub, Newport

Named after the famous Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley, The Grainne Uaile has been in the McManamon family for over one hundred years!

They offer simple, mouth- watering food, made from fresh, local produce.

In winter, enjoy a pint of Guinness and a hearty meal beside the open fire.

In summer linger over a glass of wine with local seafood.

Fine food, fine drink and fine company… the perfect place to stop on your Greenway adventure.

Locals, visitors and rock stars have all enjoyed the special welcome and good craic The Grainne Uaile has to offer.

Newport, Co. Mayo
Tel: 098 41776
Web: www.grainneuailenewport.ie

The Best of Everything Irish
Great Irish Pub
Top Notch Food!
Outdoor Seating which gets a lot of sun
Large Pub - lot of seating
Come for the food, stay for the craic!
Coming through Newport, you won't miss it

4. Newport House

If you’re feeling a little more fancy smancy, why not live like a lord for an hour and pop into the historic Georgian Newport House which provides its guests with a unique opportunity to experience the elegance and hospitality of an historic Irish Country House.

The high-ceilinged and elegant dining room, drawing room and sitting room overlook the garden and river.

The award winning menu offered at Newport House reflects our use of local produce only – fresh fish and shell fish sourced daily also including our own homesmoked salmon. Local beef, lamb, poultry and Irish farmhouse cheeses all combine to provide a sophisticated menu beautifully enhanced by our internationally recognised wine cellar.

Newport, Co. Mayo.
Tel: 098 41222
Web: www.newporthouse.ie

5. Kelly’s Kitchen

Homely café at the heart of the Great Western Greenway

Kelly’s Kitchen is an award winning café in Newport town, near Westport, on the Gourmet Greenway Food Trail.

Located at the top of Newport Main Street, Kelly’s is adjacent it’s very own family butcher shop; Kelly’s of Newport, which supplies the cafe – you can’t more fresh than that! 🙂

Call in for the excellent cooking, home baking and the best cup of coffee on the Wild Atlantic Way! The cosy café that locals love and visitors dream of.

Web: www.kellyskitchen.ie

Good for Groups
Meat Supplied by Family Butchers Next Door!
On Newport Main St
Few Seats Outside
Offers Large Filling Meals!
Cosy

MULRANNY

6. Mulranny Park Hotel

When all is said and done, is there anything better than freshly baked bread, amazing butter and fresh jam?

Everyday Mulranny bake an array of breads and cakes right on the premises which have become so popular that they are now available to purchase.

Choose from homemade brown, banana bread and sun dried tomato and parmesan. Also popular are their homemade jams and chutneys.

Inside the Mulranny Hotel is the Nephin Restaurant, one of the best vistas in the country, overlooking Clew Bay and with views of Croagh Patrick.

The dinner menu is a celebration of the Gourmet Greenway with all the producers featuring on Head Chef Ollie O’Regan’s menus.

The McKennas Guide lists the Restaurant as one of the ‘Top 100 Restaurants in Ireland for 2013’. The Waterfront Bar offers a more informal dining experience with a bistro menu from 12pm to 9pm.

And If weather permits, have a drink on the terrace and reflect on your Gourmet Greenway experience.

Mulranny, Westport, Co. Mayo.
Tel: 098 36000
Web: www.mulrannyparkhotel.ie

ACHILL ISLAND, YOU MADE IT!

7. The Chalet Restaurant serving Keem Bay Fish Products

These lads must be smoking something because they have been smoking fish since 1985! Are they mad!

Their salmon is 100% organic and of excellent quality for smoking. Foodies can find Gerry in his smoking house at Keel in Achill Island where he smokes salmon, mackerel and kippers in his own kiln and oak roasts salmon.

And if you want to taste this fine fish you can head on over to The Chalet Restaurant which Gerry runs – a restaurant which has been in Keel for over 50 years and specialises in premium seafood.

The Chalet Restaurant,
Keel, Achill, Co Mayo.
Tel: 098 43157

LAST STOP!

8. The Beehive Café

The beehive cafe is an Irish craft and coffee shop overlook Keel beach on Achill island.

Patricia and her team offer a range of home cooked sweet and savoury dishes using local produce along with a fully licenced drinks selection.

Browse the shelves for some Irish crafts and outdoor clothing on your visit to this must stop shop.

Amazing Food
Has a shop offering arts, crafts, clothes and more
Incredible Location
Overlooking the Bay
Outdoor Seating
Sun Trap 🙂

Have you cycled or are thinking of cycling the Gourmet Greenway?
Comment below and let us know how you found it and any tips and tricks you felt people should know!

Looking to rent a bike in Westport?
Check out Clew Bay Bike Hire.

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