The National Famine Way™ is open to walkers at any time of the year and the route and associated stories can be followed through a free app. Walkers can also purchase an official passport to get stamped along the route. There are over 30+ bronze shoes marking the route.

The walk is 165km from National Famine Museum in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon to the Famine Sculptures on Dublins Docklands. Its crosses through six counties along the route from Roscommon, through Longford, Westmeath, Meath, Kildare and Dublin and from Clondra in Longlord follows the Royal Canal to Dublin.

Sample: 6 Day Walking Itinerary

The following itinerary was used by 2024 National Famine Way official Commemorative Walkers. The walkers averaged about 28-30km a day to cover the distance in 6 days.

The day can be completed as one experience over a set number of days, multiple trips or sections walked as a day trip. There is accommodation along the route, visit here for details. The train also runs from Longford to Dublin near the route. Visit Irish Rail for train timetables.

Recommend: visiting museums at the start and end of the trail.

Trail Head: National Famine Museum, Glass Wall at the front of the museum in Strokestown Park.

1. Strokestown, Co Roscommon to Clondra, Co. Longford – 20km
2. Richmond Harbour in Clondra, Co. Longford to Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford – 32km
3. Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford to Mullingar, Co. Westmeath – 27km
4. Mullingar, Co. Westmeath to Longwood Harbour, Co. Meath – 30km
5. Longwood, Co. Meath to Maynooth Harbour, Co. Kildare – 28km
6. Maynooth, Co. Kildare to Famine Scupltures in Dublin’s Docklands – 27km

Trail End: Visit EPIC Irish Emigration Museum and Jeannie Johnston.

For historical details on each location, county and the bronze shoes, please download the free National Famine Way app or view the shoes story pages here.

Walkers Information

The following information is practical information for walkers if following the six day itinerary, towns and villages we visited each day (on commemorative walk 2024).

Pre Walk: we recommend a visit to the National Famine Museum and stopping at the Glass Wall at the front of the museum in Strokestown Park. This is the trail head.

Day 1: Strokestown, Co Roscommon to Clondra, Co. Longford – 20km

• The walk is along rural country roads from gates of Strokestown park to Richmond Harbour, Cloondra.
• Suggested lunch stop: Leavy’s Pub – Scramogue Crossroad
• Stamping Location: Keenans Hotel, Tarmonbarry and Richmond Inn in Clondra

Day 2: Richmond Harbour in Clondra, Co. Longford to Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford – 32km

• The walk on day 2 takes place through Longford.
• Suggested lunch stop: Foigha Bar, 1 km from Foigha Harbour
• Suggested break location: Ballymahon Ticket House Harbour

Day 3: Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford to Mullingar, Co. Westmeath – 27km

• Villages of interest: Ballincarrigy Village and Coolnahay Harbour/26th Lock

Day 4: Mullingar, Co. Westmeath to Longwood Harbour, Co. Meath – 30km

  

• Village: Riverstown
• Downs Bridge, Mullingar. Suggested stop at Mullingar Pewter.
• Suggested stop: Moran’s Pub, Hill O Down, Meath.

Day 5: Longwood, Co. Meath to Maynooth Harbour, Co. Kildare – 28km

 

• Suggested stop: Enfield Harbour, Meath
• Suggested stop: Rye River Cafe, Kilkock, Co. Kildare

Day 6: Maynooth, Co. Kildare to Famine Scupltures in Dublin’s Docklands – 27km

   

• Suggested stop: 12th Lock, Fingal
• Suggested stop: Hilton Hotel, near bronze shoes.

Trail End: Visit EPIC Irish Emigration Museum and Jeannie Johnston.