Cycling along Boyne

DBCyc

Hi,

I'll be doing a nice scenic cycle along the Boyne this week from Trim to Drogheda and back. I am thinking of a route like this

Does anyone know if it is possible to take a road bike along any of the Ramparts route along the river between Navan and Slane or would I need an MTB?

Cheers

alfalad

DBCyc wrote: »

Hi,

I'll be doing a nice scenic cycle along the Boyne this week from Trim to Drogheda and back. I am thinking of a route like this

Does anyone know if it is possible to take a road bike along any of the Ramparts route along the river between Navan and Slane or would I need an MTB?

Cheers

You would prob need a mountain bike. Don't think they improved the route enough for a road bike. I cycled it on an old mountain bike 10-15 years ago now and was fun on the mountain bike but was grass and rough gravel for a good section. That was only as far as Stackallen Bridge which is called Dunmoe on the map, after that it's not possible unless you bring a slash hook to cut your way through the trees. It's not actually on the map but there is a little road that goes from Dunmoe bridge towards Slane and gives a view of the river for a little bit there is a weir where you often have guys in kayaks etc.

blorg

I'd turn left at Bective Cross to take you across the river and by the abbey, it is well worth a look. River is nice around there too.



Other than that no particular opinion, bear in mind you won't actually get much of a view of the river on a lot of that route other than the points you cross it. Bits like going in and out of Navan will be not particularly pleasant, I'd consider skipping Navan entirely and just cutting across below it.

DBCyc

Cheers guys - thanks for the info.

@alfalad: I might throw on a wider set of tyres on the road bike cos I would like to cycle as much of that route as possible. If not I can always turn back. I have no mountain bike or slash hook

@blorg: nice one I'll definitely check out that abbey, it looks great. I don't mind cycling through Navan and I'd agree it would be more pleasant to avoid it. Basically I'm trying to stick to the river and historic areas of interest along the way as much as possible, although I'm aware that a lot of the route is away from the river

alfalad

DBCyc wrote: »

Cheers guys - thanks for the info.

@alfalad: I might throw on a wider set of tyres on the road bike cos I would like to cycle as much of that route as possible. If not I can always turn back. I have no mountain bike or slash hook

@blorg: nice one I'll definitely check out that abbey, it looks great. I don't mind cycling through Navan and I'd agree it would be more pleasant to avoid it. Basically I'm trying to stick to the river and historic areas of interest along the way as much as possible, although I'm aware that a lot of the route is away from the river

If it's historic sites you are after the the north side of the river might be of more interest as there is a round tower on the junction of Donaghmore Ln and the Slane road and there are some ruins overlooking the river on Dunmoe Ln (the one that leads down to toward the river between Navan and Slane. Not sure about access to this though and you can see it from the bank of the river. If you try the rampart as far as the bridge at Stackallen (and it may be fine to cycle on now) you can walk if not cycle the rough sections, doubt it is more than 1hr 30 walk.
Slane castle itself is also on the north bank of the river and is the village of slane.

As for where you need the slash hook there is actually deer in the forest along the river after Dunmoe bridge, brother has a farm along the edge of it and he had many of them jump the fence onto his land in the past!