After the Longford Marathon: Athlone and Lough Ree

The Route: Longford → Athlone → Longford Logistics: A direct 35–40 minute drive south on the N63/N55. Limited direct public transport, so a car is the practical choice. Marathon Month: August Duration: Day trip

Longford ──(35-40 min by car)──> Athlone ──(35-40 min by car)──> Longford

Abbott Longford Marathon finishes on Main Street after a flat, AIMS-certified route through three midlands counties. August in Athlone: the Shannon is at its most active with boat traffic, and Lough Ree's summer sailing season is in full swing, giving the waterfront genuine activity to watch rather than an off-season quiet town. The drive from Longford takes 35 to 40 minutes.

Athlone Castle and the Shannon

Athlone Castle, a Norman fortification substantially rebuilt over the centuries, sits directly on the River Shannon at the town's centre, with an interactive visitor centre covering the 1691 Siege of Athlone. Entry is modest and the site is largely level, with the castle's own tower involving stairs best skipped on tired legs. The riverside walkway below the castle is flat and paved, running along both banks and connected by the town's bridge.

Lough Ree, immediately north of the town, is one of the Shannon's larger lakes; Viking Tours and other operators run boat trips from Athlone's quay through the summer season, an easy way to see the lake without walking it. Athlone's Church Street and the surrounding old town hold a genuine concentration of pubs and restaurants for a town this size, a byproduct of its position as the traditional midway point on Dublin-to-Galway journeys.

Getting Back

The return drive to Longford retraces the N55/N63, taking 35 to 40 minutes. Check current road conditions before travelling if returning in the evening, as this is a rural route without street lighting for much of its length.