Railway Walk Burtonport Meenbanad

Siúlóid an tSean Bhóthar Iarainn-The Old Railway Walk.
This beautiful walking trail filled to the brim with spectacular scenery and woodland was originally the route taken by the train which connected Burtonport to Letterkenny between 1903 and 1940.
There are many features of the old railway remaining which you can view along the way including: stations, gatehouses, accommodation crossings-the pillars, cuttings, embankments, a bridge, rusty gates and much much more.
The Burtonport Walks are a series of trails of various lengths, all of which lead the walker along part of the abandoned railway line between Burtonport and Meenbannad in West Donegal, lreland.
The original railway line was built to serve the excellent harbour in Burtonport and as a Government attempt to alleviate the
poverty in North Donegal. lt was a joint venture between the British Government and the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway.
Opening for traffic in 1903, the line ran through the remote and difficu lt terrain of North Donegal often skirting towns it was meant to serve by miles in an effort to save on the cost of construction . The line was the subject of two enquiries over its safety and operation . The Derry Chamber of Commerce noting "defective construction and inadequate and unsuitable equipment" as a cause of t he lines many ills. Despite this the line managed to survive unti l 1947, the Burtonport - Gweedore section closing earlier in June 1940. The station in Burtonport was demolished early in 2003.
Following a prolonged period of heavy snowfall in the winter of 2009 some of the line on the Burtonport side was cleared to
access water mains which needed repairing . The remaining section was later cleared and gradually developed as a walkway with
the support of the local community.
Getting here:
From Letterkenny and Dungloe - SITI Rural Transport - Tel [phone].
From Dublin - Bus Eireann@ www .buseireann .ie
Donegal Airport : 00353(0) 74 95 48284.
From Scotland & Northern lreland - Doherty Travel (00353) 749521867.
Special Thanks to the North West Digital Film Archive, Derry to make the historic clips available.

[@bewildered6866]

used to live there, i'm far away but still see it every day. many thanks Rolf.

[@bianchikat]

I was there recently.. cycling between Creeslough and Burtonport, if i had known i could have followed the old railway i would have done that.. maybe next time!

[@mikebuttell]

Really enjoyed this video, there is something almost magical about walking an old railway line.

[@patrickboner9782]

Dear Rolf, I've just shared your video with the people who were on the Heritage Week railway walk yesterday. I hadn't watched it for a while and forgotten how wonderful it is and what great music you chose too. Thank you again, warm regards, Patrick

[@belcruit]

Lovely video. :)

[@lairdoharray]

Great video and also hats off to the people who hatched up the idea of the walk and then built it.

[@johnm3201]

Thanks for posting; lovely clip.

[@micealmacdonnchadha]

Great Video

[@cliffordadams8353]

Hi be wildered sad that you have live so far away from somewhere you love

[@cliffordadams8353]

If only you could take a few of these train journeys

[@cliffordadams8353]

Jeez I have to do that How far is it?