The Old Railway Walk
A linear walk from Burtonport Harbour to Meenbannad Station along the Burtonport–Letterkenny railway, which ran from 1903 to 1940. Stations, gatehouses, cuttings, embankments and a bridge survive along the way.
Elevation
Use the left and right arrow keys to move along the route.
Show the heights as a table
| Distance (km) | Height (m) |
|---|---|
| 0.0 | 1 |
| 0.5 | 4 |
| 1.0 | 5 |
| 1.5 | 13 |
| 1.9 | 12 |
| 2.4 | 13 |
| 2.9 | 11 |
| 3.4 | 18 |
| 3.9 | 21 |
| 4.4 | 28 |
| 4.9 | 33 |
| 5.3 | 36 |
| 5.8 | 39 |
| 6.3 | 41 |
| 6.5 | 34 |
| Distance | 5.5 km |
|---|---|
| Typical time | 1 hr |
| Grade | Easy |
| Format | Linear route |
| Surface | Minor roads and surfaced track |
| Start | Burtonport Harbour |
| Finish | Meenbannad Station |
| Total climb | 78 m |
A walk along the line the train took. From 1903 to 1940 the railway ran from Burtonport to Letterkenny, and this is its corridor: 5.5 km out to Meenbannad Station, or 11 km if you walk back the way you came, which is what most people do. It is easy, mostly level, and it makes a good cycle.
What survives is the point of it. Stations, gatehouses, accommodation crossings, pillars, cuttings, embankments, a fine cut-stone bridge and a good deal of rusting ironwork, with woodland along much of the way.
Following the route
A red train and red arrows on a white background mark the walk throughout.
- A–B: leave Burtonport Harbour through the industrial area, past the wind turbine and over the causeway to Alcorn’s gatehouse No 24. Keep straight on past the gatehouse, where the surface turns to gravel, until you meet the main Dungloe Road opposite Sweeney’s gatehouse No 23. Take care crossing the road.
- B–C: carry on along the gravel path past Dungloe Road Station — originally Lough Meala Station, with the goods shed opposite and the cut-stone bridge the railway ran under — then under the bridge and through the ash woodland, past Marjorie’s gatehouse No 22.
- C–D: cross the back road and continue past the lake until the track turns sharp right and climbs the steep bank onto the tarred road.
- D–E: turn left and follow the red arrows along the tarred road for about 1 km to the end of the walk at Meenbannad Station No 21.
Near the start, O’Donnell’s Bar — Jimmy Johnnie’s — was the railway hotel, and the Burtonport platform and the engine shed are still there to see. The 1918 War of Independence memorial stands near the far end.
Before you go
- Minor roads and surfaced track throughout.
- Full services in Ailt an Chorráin at the start.
- Dogs on leads. There are sheep on the land.
- Phone signal is generally good.
- Open all year. Grid reference B717 151, OSI Discovery Series sheet 1.
In an emergency, call 999.