Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Derry/Londonderry

Foyle Greenway (Derry-Strabane)

Free, flat riverside cycling from Derry city along an old railway line.

5 photos
Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
Derry/LondonderryGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
5kmDistance
1-2 hoursHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Buggy okBest for

Foyle Greenway (Derry-Strabane) — Free, flat riverside cycling from Derry city along an old railway line.

  • Distance: About 5km traffic-free from Derry; 34km full Foyle Valley route (much of it on quiet roads). Strathfoyle Greenway 2.7km.
  • Surface: Smooth tarmac on the purpose-built greenway sections.
  • Gradient: Flat - follows the old railway line and riverbank.
  • Traffic-free: Yes on the purpose-built sections; the wider 34km route continues on quiet minor roads, so keep kids to the segregated path.
  • Bike hire: No bike hire on the route - bring your own.
  • Buggy / scooter: Yes on the flat tarmac sections.
Plan your visit

A flat riverside ride on an old railway line

The Foyle Valley Greenway follows the former Great Northern Railway, so the surface is flat with no hills to fight. The first stretch out of Derry is roughly 5km of purpose-built, fully traffic-free tarmac running south along the River Foyle from the Craigavon Bridge toward the Donegal border near Carrigans. You pass woodland, river views and open farmland, with the old railway alignment keeping everything level and easy. This is the part to ride with kids. The full 34km route carries on past the segregated path onto quiet minor roads through to Lifford and Strabane, so it suits confident older riders rather than small children.

Free Traffic-free section Flat Tarmac Riverside Buggy-friendly
Good to know before you go:

Greenways across NI host seasonal sportives, family cycle days and ranger-led rides through the year - check listings for dates near you.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🚲Bikes (or hire on the day)Check whether you bring your own or can hire at the start.
  • 🪖Helmets for everyoneEspecially the kids — a comfy helmet makes the whole spin better.
  • 💧Water and snacksNot every route has a café on it, so pack a little something.
  • 🧥A light layerYou warm up cycling but cool down at stops — easy to peel on and off.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free
Start / parking
North West Transport Hub, Derry city, between Craigavon Bridge and Peace Bridge; parking nearby
Distance
About 5km traffic-free from Derry; 34km full Foyle Valley route (much of it on quiet roads). Strathfoyle Greenway 2.7km
Surface
Smooth tarmac on the purpose-built greenway sections
Gradient
Flat - follows the old railway line and riverbank
Traffic-free?
Yes on the purpose-built sections; the wider 34km route continues on quiet minor roads, so keep kids to the segregated path
Bike hire
No bike hire on the route - bring your own
Buggy / scooter friendly
Yes on the flat tarmac sections
Toilets / food
Cafes and toilets in Derry city centre near the start
How long to allow
1-2 hours for an out-and-back; half a day to ride both banks
Address
Craigavon Bridge / North West Transport Hub, Derry/Londonderry, BT48
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free
How long is the route?
About 5km traffic-free from Derry; 34km full Foyle Valley route (much of it on quiet roads). Strathfoyle Greenway 2.7km
Is it traffic-free?
Yes on the purpose-built sections; the wider 34km route continues on quiet minor roads, so keep kids to the segregated path
Can I hire a bike?
No bike hire on the route - bring your own
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Yes on the flat tarmac sections
Getting there

Foyle Greenway (Derry-Strabane) starts at North West Transport Hub, Derry city, between Craigavon Bridge and Peace Bridge; parking nearby. Tap below for directions to the start.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around Derry/LondonderrySee what else is close by More greenways & trails across NITraffic-free routes to walk and cycle
The story

About this trail

The greenway is built on the line of the former Great Northern Railway, which once carried trains along the Foyle valley between Derry, Strabane and beyond. With the line long closed, the level railway alignment has been reused as a flat, traffic-free path - the first stretch of it the first official cross-border greenway built on the island of Ireland, reaching toward the Donegal border near Carrigans.

It forms part of the wider North West Greenway Network, a cross-border project led by Derry City and Strabane District Council with Donegal County Council, the Department for Infrastructure and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (formerly Sustrans). Once complete the network will run to roughly 126km across the North West.

On the eastern bank, the Strathfoyle Greenway opened to extend the Waterside route by 2.7km from the Foyle Bridge to Stradowen Drive, built at a cost of around 2.64 million pounds. It runs past St Columb's Park and the historic Ebrington site, with lighting for winter use and a width and surface designed to be accessible for all.