Bus route to take to the mountains

Tabnabs

A NEW bus service linking Dublin city with the nearby mountains and forest recreation areas will begin from this weekend.

The service, which is a pilot project operated by the Dublin Mountains Partnership, will run five times a day at weekends and on bank holidays between the city and Dublin mountains, bringing families and visitors to the heart of the local amenity.

Dubbed the Dublin Mountaineer, the bus route begins at Sandyford Luas station and will service Enniskerry Road, Ballyedmonduff, Glencullen, the Wicklow Way, Tibradden, Cruagh/Killakee, Hell Fire and Marlay Park. It begins on July 25th and will operate until the end of September.

“This service will provide walkers, recreation users and visitors to Dublin an alternative to the private car for accessing the wonderful resource of the Dublin Mountains,” said Karen Woods of the Dublin Mountains Partnership.

The rambler bus will cost €5 for a daily hop on, hop off pass, and a family rambler ticket for two adults and two children will cost €12. Tickets can be bought on board.

Operated by an Enniskerry-based coach company, the Dublin Mountaineer was officially launched yesterday by Tony Killeen, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The new service comes only weeks after the first section of a 38km walking trail across the Dublin mountains was opened. The route, links Tibradden, Kilmashogue and Cruagh forests.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0723/1224251143240.html

Cabaal

sounds like a great idea to get more people into hill walking and being out doors in general

Cookie_Monster

Don't forget the 161 which has been running from Nutgrove to that area for years and years!

IrlJidel

I've started mapping the route for openstreet map but am unsure what exact route it takes from Grange Road to Sandyford Luas station. Does it travel along the M50 or all along the R133?

Here's what I've mapped so far:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?relation=180640

Are there physical bus stops along the route?
Much appreciated if people can get waypoints for the stops.

dogmatix

Spotted a mountaineer bus at the hell fire club on Sunday - a daily ticket is a fiver apparently.

Here is the link - http://www.dublinmountains.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Rambler_Bus_timetable_LR.jpg

IrlJidel

dogmatix wrote: »

Spotted a mountaineer bus at the hell fire club on Sunday - a daily ticket is a fiver apparently.

Here is the link - http://www.dublinmountains.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Rambler_Bus_timetable_LR.jpg

Are there physical bus stop signs?

dogmatix

No - but there is a copy of the timetable and other info at each location (or there was at the hell fire club, so I assume it is the same for each location). The buses are easy to spot as well and the one at the hell fire club stopped for a minute or so before moving on.

nerraw1111

Hi guys,

Would appreciate any recommendations.

Will be taking the bus on sunday to go into the mountains. But I'm a bit in the dark as to what hiking routes are available tjhat are near to the bus route? Ideally, I would like a four to six hour walk, taking in a peak or two.

I've searched the coilte outdoors route and the only walk I can find is Tibradden Wood which is along the bus route.

Map of bus route here:

http://www.dublinmountains.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Dublin_Mountaineer_Map.pdf

Stops include Glencullen, Wicklow Way bus terminus, Tibradden.

Thanks for any recommendations. The bus is a great idea and hope to make the most of it.

dogmatix

You could get off at the ballyedmonduff stop - walk up to the three rock/two rock summits - head along to the fairy castle - then along to tibradden - and down and up to Cruagh. I'd imagine that would occupy you for at least 4 hours. I also saw a route description posted somewhere here in boards (or possibly mountainviews.ie) where the walker started in cruagh and headed east to King williams seat - then down to glencullen and up through the three rock - tibradden and back to cruagh. Essentially a circuit of the glencullen valley. Never tried that one myself but it looks like a 5 hours trek at least.

mreasy

IrlJidel wrote: »

I've started mapping the route for openstreet map but am unsure what exact route it takes from Grange Road to Sandyford Luas station. Does it travel along the M50 or all along the R133?

Here's what I've mapped so far:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/?relation=180640

Are there physical bus stops along the route?
Much appreciated if people can get waypoints for the stops.

There are normal Bus Stops for the urban areas (Luas, Aikens Village, Marley Pk), and wooden poles with the timetable to mark the rest of the stops. There's a map with Dublin Mountaineer Bus Stop locations and route on Google maps at:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100446335715868541953.00046b9acdf719f75e1a7&ll=53.261106,-6.252251&spn=0.102888,0.307961&z=12


Went on the bus on Sunday and really enjoyed it. You won't miss the bus, it has a Dublin Mountaineer sign on the bonnet and in the side windows / rear window and also has a red/blue Tony Doyle Coaches logo on the side. Also I hear that a Bike Rack at the front of the bus will be available in the next few weeks.

IrlJidel

Thanks for that. I emailed dublinmountains and was helpfully provide with the googlemaps link yesterday.

Not sure if the stop positions in gmaps are 100% accurate. Prob best to collect gps waypoint of the stops and verify what side of the road they are on etc. Thanks.

mreasy

Well as it is a circular route the Bus Stops are all going to be on the passenger side of the bus, I don't have the GPS positions though sorry.

Judge

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Don't forget the 161 which has been running from Nutgrove to that area for years and years!

Which, like the 44B no longer runs at the weekends.

mreasy wrote: »

Went on the bus on Sunday and really enjoyed it. You won't miss the bus, it has a Dublin Mountaineer sign on the bonnet and in the side windows / rear window and also has a red/blue Tony Doyle Coaches logo on the side. Also I hear that a Bike Rack at the front of the bus will be available in the next few weeks.

Were there many users? It seems strange that Dublin Bus say they can't operate a service at weekends into this area - either 161 or 44B - and yet DMP are able to get a private operator. I presume there's some subsidisation going on but I can't believe it's much more than DB must have been putting in to subsidise these routes.

mreasy

When I got the bus there was 12 onboard. To be honest I didn't have time to get out for a walk and thought I'd just go up for a drive in the Dublin mountains. There is a book on the bus which has general info regards the walks available from the different stops.

I'll be going back up this weekend for a walk this time. If anyone else has used the service then could you please leave some comments as to how you got on.

trad

I think it would be a much better / another idea to run a bus service from Dublin to Glenmalure linking up with the Wicklow Way all along the route. This would let you complete a section or two of the WW without the need for an out and back route.

With a timetable you know where you can reach by the pick up time. Fares would be a lot dearer probably towards €15 to cover costs.

I'm not knocking the new service, great idea.

Cookie_Monster

Judge wrote: »

Which, like the 44B no longer runs at the weekends.

:mad::rolleyes:

trad wrote: »

I think it would be a much better / another idea to run a bus service from Dublin to Glenmalure linking up with the Wicklow Way all along the route. This would let you complete a section or two of the WW without the need for an out and back route.

With a timetable you know where you can reach by the pick up time. Fares would be a lot dearer probably towards €15 to cover costs.

I'm not knocking the new service, great idea.

St Kevin's bus covers some of this route already. From Roundwood to Glendalough. The 185 also allows you to travel from Knockree area (short walk though) And powerscourt bus from the waterfall area which is just down from Crone Wood.

trad

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

:mad::rolleyes:



St Kevin's bus covers some of this route already. From Roundwood to Glendalough. The 185 also allows you to travel from Knockree area (short walk though) And powerscourt bus from the waterfall area which is just down from Crone Wood.

I agree St Kevins bus covers some of this route but from memory only goes out at 10.30 and back at around 4.30. Not a lot of time for a long walk, bite to eat etc.

I was thinking of 08.30 depart city center arriving Glenmalure about 10.30 Leaving glenmalure at 16.30 (light permitting) and then back to Dublin via Roundwood, Laragh, Sally Gap Road, Djouce, Enniskerry.

Cookie_Monster

trad wrote: »

I agree St Kevins bus covers some of this route but from memory only goes out at 10.30 and back at around 4.30. Not a lot of time for a long walk, bite to eat etc.

I was thinking of 08.30 depart city center arriving Glenmalure about 10.30 Leaving glenmalure at 16.30 (light permitting) and then back to Dublin via Roundwood, Laragh, Sally Gap Road, Djouce, Enniskerry.

The only problem with that is the Laragh Glenmalure road is not one you would want to be taking any kind of large vehicle on!

Donny5

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

The only problem with that is the Laragh Glenmalure road is not one you would want to be taking any kind of large vehicle on!

They do bring large coaches over the military road there all the time, bringing daytrippers to the Lounge in Glenmalure.

Alun

Donny5 wrote: »

They do bring large coaches over the military road there all the time, bringing daytrippers to the Lounge in Glenmalure.

I've never seen anything bigger than a minibus there all the times I've been there, and that's a lot! Certainly not anything as big as a standard coach / bus such as, say, St. Kevin's bus would use.

trad

The bus would have to be rugged more than cosmetic (wet rain gear, muddy boots etc) but it could also open up the Wicklow mountains to foreign hillwalkers who want to spend a few days on the Wicklow Way whilst staying in Dublin. Could be a boost for tourism here if anyone is willing.

Judge

Dublin Mountaineer back up and running this weekend. Now also serving Tallaght.

http://www.dublinmountains.ie/transport/transport/

IrlJidel

Judge wrote: »

Dublin Mountaineer back up and running this weekend. Now also serving Tallaght.

http://www.dublinmountains.ie/transport/transport/

Thanks. I've updated the route in openstreetmap.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?relation=180640

Judge

Dublin Mountains Partnership is conducting a survey of what users want from the Dublin Mountaineer bus in future.

Made a couple of suggestions, mainly that they could look at extending to places like Glencree. They probably don't have the money but worth a shot...

K09

Hi,

Is there a starting point for the Dublin Mts from Stepaside?

Thanks!

ColleenS

Are there any stops in Dublin city centre?

foolelle

i generally get the 16a from dame street to marley park - the start of the wicklow way then i'll walk up over three rock an down into glencullen, from there ya can get the 44b to dundrum and the luas back into st stephens green.
its about a 10k walk and about 1.5 hour travel time in total.

Sr. Assumpta

Interesting feature on Nationwide last Wednesday (19th Jan.) about how the Stephen's Green Luas line extension now brings walkers right into Bride's Glen. The final stop on the extension is called Laughanstown and, as shown on Nationwide, it seems to serve walkers well.

The episode faetured a local walking club starting out their walking day by disembarking from the Luas. The episode is available to view online on RTE Player, it will be there for about another 19days according to the website just now.... Check it out: http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1089401

hmmm

Sr. Assumpta wrote: »

Interesting feature on Nationwide last Wednesday (19th Jan.) about how the Stephen's Green Luas line extension now brings walkers right into Bride's Glen. The final stop on the extension is called Laughanstown and, as shown on Nationwide, it seems to serve walkers well.

I don't know that area at all - if I got off at that stop, where would be a good place to head for a walk?

Sr. Assumpta

Am not that familiar with the area myself, I really only posted on here because I thought the Nationwide episode was very informative, and might be useful to people here.

Perhaps it might be worth watching the episode (via the link above) and maybe get hold of the new map* that they refer to, or even contact the walking club featured?

*I don't have time to re-watch the episode of Nationwide just now myself, but there are several references to what appears to be a new map covering the hils/mountains of South Dublin/ North Wicklow.

IrlJidel

Sr. Assumpta wrote: »

but there are several references to what appears to be a new map covering the hils/mountains of South Dublin/ North Wicklow.

This is the map published by eastwest mapping:

http://www.eastwestmapping.ie/dublin-mountains

(off topic: I see they finally updated their web site - looks a lot better)

Judge

As far as I know the station is along the path referred to in this thread:

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056020487

I wasn't aware until I saw the programme that the Brennanstown portal tomb can be accessed from there but I found the directions confusing: do you go north along the lane until you get to the river or do you follow the luas tracks until you get to the river? Anyone know?

IrlJidel

Judge wrote: »

I wasn't aware until I saw the programme that the Brennanstown portal tomb can be accessed from there but I found the directions confusing: do you go north along the lane until you get to the river or do you follow the luas tracks until you get to the river? Anyone know?

megalithomania (also featured on the program) is your best bet:

http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/24/glendruid.htm#misc

Judge

IrlJidel wrote: »

megalithomania (also featured on the program) is your best bet:

http://www.megalithomania.com/show/site/24/glendruid.htm#misc

Thanks. That would suggest you follow the tracks, which I think constitutes trespassing. Very strange that an RTÉ programme would condone such a thing!

You know, if someone in DLR County Council or maybe the Dublin Mountains Partnership used a bit of imagination, there is great potential for a heritage trail along here, starting either at the Luas stop or Cabinteely Park, taking in the the ruins at Tully and Rathmichael and then connecting into Rathmichael Wood and onto the Dublin Mountains Way either back to Shankill (past another old Christian cross) or onwards to the Lead Mines etc. Might be a great way of boosting traffic on one of the Green Line's "ghost" stops.

coalshed

I note that the Dublin Mountain Partnership are running a survey at the moment looking for feedback on the Mountain Bus Route.

If you've used it or plan on doing so then you may like to give your feedback.

http://www.dublinmountains.ie/transport/transport/

I have no affiliation with the DMP, or buses.

dogmatix

hmmm wrote: »

I don't know that area at all - if I got off at that stop, where would be a good place to head for a walk?

I'd hazard a guess and say that the Brides glen stop would put you within a few miles of the likes of the Scalp, Barnaslingan, the leadmines and Carrickgollogan. All great locations for short strolls or longer walks if joined up. Could be handy for some of the eastern end parts of the dublin moutain way also. The lehaunstown stop would be handy for a nice late evening summer stroll to Tully church, and heronsford lane.

Have not checked out the above options yet so it might be a bit ambitious but you never know.

dogmatix

Recently tried out this option - got the luas to Brides glen for access to the Leadmines chimney and Carrickgollogan. There and back is an easy 2-3 hours.

Brides glen is a hideous monostrosity. You get off here and the impression is you are stranded on concrete platform high above a bleak blasted landscape of bare earth, very deep open excavations filled with muddy water and choked with abandoned equipment, concrete pillars and exposed rebar. It's an advertisment for the failure of the celtic tiger and this rotten government.

So head quickly for the N11, go in behind the spar shop and walk around a landscaped pond (looks suspiously like a former excavation pit. Then down through a small public park and onto the brides glen road. From there it's under the brides glen viaduct (I assume sometime in the future the luas will be going over this) and the M50. From there it's easy to follow the road to Leadmines chimney and Carrickgollogan (pity you cant go in to admire Pucks castle). Great views from Carrickgollogan.

Coming back you can vary the route (and avoid ugly brides glen luas stop) by heading down heronfords lane and past the 10th-11th century ruins of Tully church and the nearby Celtic crosses. Short stroll down the lane to the isolated (and attractive) Lauganstown luas stop.

A fair bit of tarmac walking but that never bothered me.