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cycle the grand/royal canal

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#62 26-06-2014 1:06pm
HappyNoel

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Nope, they're a long way away from each other at that point. Take the N52 to Tullamore or perhaps some minor roads to Edenderry. Looking at over 30K to either destination from Mullingar though.

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#63 26-06-2014 3:07pm
01Surveyor

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SCOL wrote: »

Are there sign posts in Mullingar to get you from the grand to the royal ?

I looked at the next most convenient link between the canals after Maynooth and it seems to be Edenderry on the Grand and Killucan/Moyvalley on the Royal. I doubt if there are any signposted routes specifically from canal to canal. 30k on the road will seem easy after being on the towpath for a while.

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#64 26-06-2014 3:27pm
SCOL

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I was hoping to do a loop and not come back the same way. I might take the killucan/moyvalley routh and see how I get on.

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#65 27-06-2014 3:58pm
WaterwaysIre

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Canal Towpath Greenway Update.

Today the Ashtown-Castleknock and Longford sections of the Royal Canal Greenway opened. Big progress there.

Funding has been put in place to extend the greenway on the Royal from Mullingar through Coolnahay where it currently stops to the Westmeath Border. This work will be complete by year end. Work will be carried out out by Westmeath CoCo

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#66 27-06-2014 5:10pm
garancafan

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Well done WI.

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#67 28-06-2014 12:07pm
Mercian Pro

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garancafan wrote: »

Well done WI.

And Fingal CC and the NTA.

Any prediction WI for when the full Royal Canal Greenway from the Liffey to the Shannon will be completed?

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#68 28-06-2014 12:40pm
blobbie

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Mercian Pro wrote: »

And Fingal CC and the NTA.

Any prediction WI for when the full Royal Canal Greenway from the Liffey to the Shannon will be completed?

Varadkar was interviewed on radio yesterday and he estimated that the Dublin to Galway "greenway" would take 5 to 10 years to complete. Current progress was indicating a completion date closer to 5 years but due to budgetary constraints etc etc it could stretch to 10 years.

http://leovaradkar.ie/2014/06/latest-section-of-dublin-galway-coast-to-coast-greenway-opens-varadkar/

Something for the mobility scooter perhaps :-)

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#69 28-06-2014 5:57pm
Mercian Pro

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blobbie wrote: »

Varadkar was interviewed on radio yesterday and he estimated that the Dublin to Galway "greenway" would take 5 to 10 years to complete. Current progress was indicating a completion date closer to 5 years but due to budgetary constraints etc etc it could stretch to 10 years.

http://leovaradkar.ie/2014/06/latest-section-of-dublin-galway-coast-to-coast-greenway-opens-varadkar/

Something for the mobility scooter perhaps :-)

10 years and my mobility scooter might be about the same. Completion of the full route and my kids' mobility scooters mightn't be that different either.

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#70 30-06-2014 9:41pm
blobbie

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Currently in tullamore having cycled the grand canal way today from Dublin.

On a hardtail with carradice super c bag.

The majority of gates are fine however some are a complete joke. Had to lift bike over 2 gates as no cycle gateway available. Another had a turnstile which is near unusable with a bike. Around another 3 or 4 are so narrow the bike only fitted after taking bag off. Most others are passable but you need to dismount which is fine. Am heading back to Dublin tomorrow so will take some snaps of them.

Most of the pathway is in decent nick. A mix of local road, tarred pathway, grass & hardened mud . One horrible section just past edenderry turn with cobblestone type surface.

Hardly any people on it past 12th lock. Dog walkers and the very odd Fisher. No sign of any other cyclists and no ramblers.

Could do with some extra signage at road junctions especially robertstown where you need to keep to the right hand waterway and not go down the barrow-line even though you follow road signage for barrow line to canal junction.

EDIT:
Inchicore to 12th Lock, the path is on the southside of the canal.
12th Lock to Hazelhatch is on the northside.
Hazelhatch to Sallins in on the southside.
Past Sallins it is mainly on the northside of the canal. Last section into Robertstown is on the southside. Another section between Sallins & Robertstown is also on the southside.
Past Robertstown is all on the northside of the canal to Tullamore.

95kms or so in 5h 30m from Dublin to Tullamore. Flat as a pancake. Glad I'm on a mtb or arms & ass would be sore.

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#71 01-07-2014 4:55pm
vektarman

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A few pics from my cycle from Maynooth to Mullingar to-day along the Royal Canal. The route was handy enough with a mixture of gravelled surfaces, grass with a worn track through them, and about 4 kilometres of long grass between Kilcock and Enfield, although even the long grass had a worn down route through it. I didn't have to use many kissing gates as a lot of the main gates were unlocked, handy to watch out for, don't forget to close them after you.

Hill of Down.

Approaching Mullingar.

This was quite narrow, near Moyvalley.

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#72 01-07-2014 11:38pm
donkey balls

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vektarman wrote: »

A few pics from my cycle from Maynooth to Mullingar to-day along the Royal Canal. The route was handy enough with a mixture of gravelled surfaces, grass with a worn track through them, and about 4 kilometres of long grass between Kilcock and Enfield, although even the long grass had a worn down route through it. I didn't have to use many kissing gates as a lot of the main gates were unlocked, handy to watch out for, don't forget to close them after you.

Hill of Down.

Approaching Mullingar.

This was quite narrow, near Moyvalley.

Nice pics did I meet you at the lock just before Kilcock this morning?

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#73 02-07-2014 10:23am
vektarman

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donkey balls wrote: »

Nice pics did I meet you at the lock just before Kilcock this morning?

That was me alright, nice chatting to you, fantastic day for a cycle.

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#74 02-07-2014 5:10pm
donkey balls

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vektarman wrote: »

That was me alright, nice chatting to you, fantastic day for a cycle.

Did you manage to get the bus or train back without any issues? As I don't think I would be able for Castleknock Mullingar Castleknock in the one day.

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#75 02-07-2014 6:03pm
vektarman

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There were plenty of busses and trains from Mullingar, I got the 14:53 train back, no problems bringing the bike on.

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#76 02-07-2014 6:16pm
donkey balls

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vektarman wrote: »

There were plenty of busses and trains from Mullingar, I got the 14:53 train back, no problems bringing the bike on.

That's great going try and give it a go this weekend all going well.

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#77 02-07-2014 10:57pm
rje66

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Hi.
Am looking for some recommend bike routes along royal or grand canal closeish to dub suitable for fit bloke and first time cycling wife and 18 month on carrier. Ideally a village to drive to leave car and cycle along path then back to car.
Also open to other suggestions of nice easy trails away from traffic.
Ta.

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#78 03-07-2014 8:52am
Planet X

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There is the makings of an offroad/road (mixed surface) challenge(race) to do the Grand/Royal canals. Full distance self supported.

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#79 03-07-2014 4:48pm
TheBody

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So because of this thread and because I live quite close to Mullingar, I cycled along the Royal canal from Mullingar to Ballinacarrigy today.

Parts of it is gravel path with HUGH potholes. Parts are a grass track. Parts are tarred.

I have to said I really enjoyed my cycle. Beautiful scenery. No fear of getting flattened by a car or a lorry. High recommend!

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#80 06-07-2014 1:24pm
wanderer 22

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70k along the Grand this morning ; slow going but a great spin - even with a puncture and the occasional downpour.

http://www.strava.com/activities/162341273

Planning to cycle the entire route at the start of next month...may even upgrade my plans and do the Royal in the same trip as well

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#81 06-07-2014 1:49pm
CatFromHue

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I got 30 mins into the Royal Canal from Enfield heading out to Mullingar yesterday before I'd some bike problems and had to turn back.

I wouldn't have fancied doing it on a hybrid though, I was on mtb.

It was great though as in that 30 mins I saw a stoat swimming across the canal, lots of rabbits, and plenty of fancy dragonflies too!

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#82 06-07-2014 1:58pm
donkey balls

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CatFromHue wrote: »

I got 30 mins into the Royal Canal from Enfield heading out to Mullingar yesterday before I'd some bike problems and had to turn back.

I wouldn't have fancied doing it on a hybrid though, I was on mtb.

It was great though as in that 30 mins I saw a stoat swimming across the canal, lots of rabbits, and plenty of fancy dragonflies too!

Are you the lad who I met that had problems with the rear derailleur.

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#83 06-07-2014 2:11pm
blobbie

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Some gate types along the Grand Canal from Inchicore to Tullamore.

Dublin & Kildare mainy have kissing gates or "slot" type gates that you can get a bike without panniers through (see grey gate below for example). The majority of the rest are bike handle bar wide however some are not and the odd place you will need to lift your bike over. It even has a turnstile thrown in to make you wonder.

Dublin Gate:

Kildare Gate:

Some not so clever gates requiring bag removal or a lift:

Most of the other gates are passable:

and wider versions of

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#84 06-07-2014 2:16pm
donkey balls

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Finally got to cycle to Mullingar after months of saying that I would do it,85K from Castleknock to Mullingar according to sports tracker it took me 5 hours 18 mins:o.
Considering I cycled from Castleknock to Mullingar on Tuesday morning and it took me 3 hours I was hoping to do Mullingar in and around 4 hours,Saying that the wind was against me all the way and I got caught out in a down pour just outside Mullingar.(Altura jacket I bought for €50 held out well)
Anyway I caught the 1657 train back home which cost me €19.20 and no charge for the bike,But what I didn't know was that the train is an express one which does not stop at Leixlip Clonsilla castleknock etc it heads straight for Connoly :eek:.
After getting of the train I asked the lads at the gate about why the train did not stop he pointed out that I should have got off and swapped trains at Kilcock,The next train from Connoly to Castleknock was going be in 40 mins so I cycled home along the royal canal.
I am going do it again sometime maybe even go further out anyone got an idea of what sort of training I would need to be doing to make it to Longford,Or Dublin Mullingar Dublin.

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#85 06-07-2014 4:00pm
CatFromHue

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donkey balls wrote: »

Are you the lad who I met that had problems with the rear derailleur.

The one who said he needed a welder?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91144294&postcount=4193

I actually had my full tool kit with me too but nothing I could do about that break!

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#86 06-07-2014 4:03pm
donkey balls

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CatFromHue wrote: »

The one who needed a welder?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=91144294&postcount=4193

That's the one

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#87 12-07-2014 5:23pm
Red Kev

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SCOL wrote: »

Are there sign posts in Mullingar to get you from the grand to the royal ?

No. But an alternative is to cycle to Ballinea along the Royal canal on a good path 5km west of Mullingar, then on country roads around Lough Ennell to Kilbeggan. There is a spur of the canal here down to the Grand, arriving east of Tullamore. Beautiful stretch of canal.

Uberbeamerman wrote: »

Hi all,
My parents intend cycling the Royal canal towpath next weekend from Leixlip to Cloondara . Has anybody any clue as to which areas are best avoided.

My Dad'll have a mountain bike but my mother will have a touring bike.

Thanks

Did both last year on a bog standard bike with 700x25C tyres. Had no issues. Used Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres, had one puncture and that was on tarmac!!

donkey balls wrote: »

Finally got to cycle to Mullingar after months of saying that I would do it,85K from Castleknock to Mullingar according to sports tracker it took me 5 hours 18 mins:o.
Considering I cycled from Castleknock to Mullingar on Tuesday morning and it took me 3 hours I was hoping to do Mullingar in and around 4 hours,Saying that the wind was against me all the way and I got caught out in a down pour just outside Mullingar.(Altura jacket I bought for €50 held out well)
Anyway I caught the 1657 train back home which cost me €19.20 and no charge for the bike,But what I didn't know was that the train is an express one which does not stop at Leixlip Clonsilla castleknock etc it heads straight for Connoly :eek:.
After getting of the train I asked the lads at the gate about why the train did not stop he pointed out that I should have got off and swapped trains at Kilcock,The next train from Connoly to Castleknock was going be in 40 mins so I cycled home along the royal canal.
I am going do it again sometime maybe even go further out anyone got an idea of what sort of training I would need to be doing to make it to Longford,Or Dublin Mullingar Dublin.

I've basic to OK fitness, about 20 kg overweight, can average 22 km/h on a road bike over 3 hours. I did Cloondara to Dublin on a touring bike with panniers and a tent last year. Left Cloondara at 3.00 p.m, arrived near Mullingar (Mary Lynch's) at 9.30 p.m, left at 6.30 a.m. and was in Grand Canal at 3.00 p.m. Leisurely cycling, plenty of stops and a few pints en route.

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#88 12-07-2014 9:16pm
gzoladz

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Thanks all for the info and amazing photos, I am dying tomgive this a go.

From a security perspective, is there any area that should be avoided along this route?

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#89 13-07-2014 12:25am
Mec-a-nic

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Thanks to this thread for reminding me that I've wanted to do this for a while, but the time/bikes/way weren't in place before. I plan to do this in stages before repeating it completely, so a first step was Maynooth-Dublin on the Royal canal.

Firstly, the train takes 40minutes to get out to Maynooth and the cycle back was about an hour so I'd cycle both legs next time.

The track starts out pretty wide

before narrowing to a pair of hard running paths.

and both would be doable on a cross bike, or a road bike if dry.

Then it becomes an elevated, tree root strewn track at Coolmine, and one of my favourite MTB trails now!

Once in Dublin, one can follow the increasingly desolate path around to near the docks, or, turn off at Ashtown station, the closest point to the Phoenix Park and enjoy that route into the city.

Next leg is Enfield to Mullingar.

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#90 13-07-2014 8:02am
Qualitymark

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What kind of surfaces do they use on the huge long bike trails in Finland and Denmark?

The canal paths sound like a brilliant route for school cycling groups.

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#91 13-07-2014 3:34pm
donkey balls

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gzoladz wrote: »

Thanks all for the info and amazing photos, I am dying tomgive this a go.

From a security perspective, is there any area that should be avoided along this route?

I have cycled along the Royal Canal a good few times going from Castleknock to Kilcock and back with no problems,The trip that I did out to Mullingar last Saturday again no issues if you mean a few skangers drinking around the canal.

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