Kilkenny Castle Park

Peyton Manning

Hey all, what time does Kilkenny Castle Park open/close at or is it always open? Recently moved into town and looking for a nice running route, have been told it's nice in there? Would the Nore Walk be any good either? Thanks

Captain Havoc

Don't really know the opening hours but it's pretty much daylight hours. Nore walk would be worth it, it's nice. Welcome to Kilkenny City.

Peyton Manning

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Don't really know the opening hours but it's pretty much daylight hours. Nore walk would be worth it, it's nice. Welcome to Kilkenny City.

Cheers man Would you happen to know if the Castle would be open at say 6am by any chance? Much prefer running in the morning before work!

Cat Melodeon

Pretty sure that it's 8-8, reducing to daylight hours as the nights draw in.

Captain Havoc

If it's tomorrow the gardens will be closed until into the afternoon due to the traithlon. Found out there, 8.30am - 8.30pm.

Raze_them_all

Castle is a grand running spot used to do it myself if you avoid 12-4pm there should be alot less people around too

The pitches at Kieran's College are nice for an early morning run but you would need to go pre 8.30am,if security is around they will ask you to leave.For some reason they don't mind people bringing their dogs in for a crap but the President of the school takes issue with people using it to jog.

Sky King

Run down along the river. It's nice down that way.

Start at John's bridge and go down along the wall by the castle.

DerryRed

Opening times on the Park vary according to the time of the year. For example at the moment it's "supposed" to open at 8.30am. I say supposed, as it's often 8.45am (sometimes close to 9) when the minor gates are open.

catbear

I used to run in James park out near the hospital, it's big so if there's something going on there's no bother. Gates usually open late in the evening.

kenn0

as the title says the opening times for the castle park are at the main gates. The ringroad is open 24/7 365 too

PhilipMarlowe

A nice alternative may be the Nore Linear Park (from Green's bridge and heading away from town alongside the river). It's a smooth surface and plenty use it for walking/running/cycling. It was beautiful this evening...

Peyton Manning

Thanks for the suggestions all, appreciate it.

Licksy, where is the linear park/ greens bridge? Not overly familiar with place names here I have to stay. I'm up around MacDonagh, anywhere near there?

PhilipMarlowe

At McDonagh, when you walk down John's street toward the town centre, you cross John's bridge (near the castle). There's a lovely walk along the river from here on the castle-side riverbank, out to the ring road (and beyond?).
Up stream from John's bridge is Green's bridge and the linear park is up-stream from Green's bridge, which isn't too far from McDonagh via Wolfe Tone St...
The walk between John's bridge and Green's bridge is on the 'other' riverbank and is up beside the library, the peace park etc and is lovely too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomaspom47kk/5441914651/in/photostream/ shows a pic...
http://www.advertiser.ie/kilkenny/article/7633 has an article on its opening...

Rantan

best place to run around town IMo is the trail kilkenny starting at the Lacken walk on the dublin road. 6miles to Bennetsbridge great mix of surfaces and some goregeaous riverside scenery especially at this time of year - if you have problems hopping over the occasional stile maybe stick with the ring road.
There are a lot of riverside walks/runs around - the Linear one as mentioned is good too and if you continue on at the weir throught the gate it has a nice mile or two off the path through forest, fields etc The discovery park in comer is nice too but a bit out of the way

ergonomics

Sorry now but I still can't figure out where the linear walk is! Heading home to Kilkenny for the weekend and this sounds like a lovely place to go for a run. Anyone care to enlighten me as to how I access it? Maybe on Google Maps?

PhilipMarlowe

Into Riverside Drive (off the freshford road, junction at the bend near Troy's Gate House) if you're driving... I'm not sure if you can access it from the old stub of Green's Street (opposite where Dominos Pizza is)...
Certainly if you look up google maps for Riverside Drive Kilkenny then you'll see the river and the path is along side the river up as far as the back of Talbot's Inch as far as the weir (The Weir View estate across the Bleach Road is at the opposite side of the river).
There are two parallel pathways about a metre apart for a lot of the route (with street lighting until 10:30 when required I think), then it converges into one path (unlit) which ends at the weir... that's ~2km. I haven't gone further but Rantan above says you can go cross country if you venture further that the gate...

ergonomics

Thanks a mill. Found it on Google Maps thanks to your instructions. I was expecting it to start at Greens Bridge which had me all confused. Looking forward to heading down there for a run over the weekend now!

Cabaal

Must try some of these runs, turns out I'm going to end up in Kilkenny for about an hour each week now which I need to kill. Ideal time to get some miles in.

I've previously tried to the outer ring road as part of a 10km "loop" but didn't find it great, Linear walk sounded ok as something different but abit disappointed its only a 2km route.

ergonomics, how did you get on with the route you were going to try?

holyhead

1. Follow the perimeter of the castle walls. Leave from in front of the Castle and head downhill to the traffic lights. Turn right down Rose Inn St. Turn right onto Canal Square and follow the river. At the end of the Castle Walls turn right and head up to take Castle/Bennettsbridge Road, and take a right to return to the Castle.

2. Leave the castle and head to the lights. Continue up High St, Parliament St, Irishtown and turn left on Dean St. Turn left at the Waterbarrack and left again onto Blackmill st. Up the hill continue past St Mary's Cathedral. Up Parnell St, New St, turn left onto Jacob St. Take a right and then left onto Fr Hayden Road and at the top take a left onto the Parade and return to the Castle.

ergonomics

Cabaal I didn't actually get near any of the routes I wanted to do although I did get a couple of riveting runs along the ringroad done. Back in Kilkenny next week so I'm definitely going to be checking out the Linear Walk.

PhilipMarlowe

As emperor, I will build a funky pedestrian/cylce link from John's quay to the canal walk so that you can walk beside and over the river without bothering with traffic.
Then I'll do the same from the peace park at green's bridge to the linear park.
At the other end of the linear park I'll join it up to the non-existant ring-road extension and do something similar at the Bennettsbridge road end of the ring road.

This would give you an unencumbered 5km waterside route and allow people to add it to their semi-loop around the city on the ring if they wish for something more interesting than traffic...

Sky King

So, your manifesto consists entriely of building bridges? I mean decent proper REAL bridges, not the stupid metaphorical ones Mary McAleese goes on about?

I take it you are a fellow bridge enthusiast. Have you considered subscribing to Bridge Monthly?

It's an exciting new publication on the subject of bridges featuring bridge quizes, 'bridge of the month' and a super cool bridge centrefold that you can hang up in your bedroom.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bridge-Monthly/181913385183451

Cabaal

So just back from town, had just over an hour to kill so did the ring road and did the Linear Walk, wasn't bad though a few walkers with dogs on long leads.

Might make it part of new route as it'll allow me to easily hit the 10mile mark on a nice run

Rantan

I got in the kilkenny - Bennetsbridge (trail by the river) run on Sunday. 12m round trip. Best run in town(IMO) if you can tolerate a few stiles/footbridges and the like - makes a great change from the ring road! Stunning scenery and running on trails makes a good addition to a training plan....

Cabaal

Rantan wrote: »

I got in the kilkenny - Bennetsbridge (trail by the river) run on Sunday. 12m round trip. Best run in town(IMO) if you can tolerate a few stiles/footbridges and the like - makes a great change from the ring road! Stunning scenery and running on trails makes a good addition to a training plan....

I've been meaning to do it for awhile now, still not sure where the entrance to the trail is. Anyone care to show me on streetview or something?

Rantan

not sure if I've done this right but here is a link to streetview pic of where I start from near the viewing area on Dublin Road over the weir at the top of Maudlin St- down the steps on left of pic wherre the black and yellow bollards are and then down the narrow alley for a bit - come out on the conc path by the river for about 1/3mile them through the kissing gate - onto trail, under the bridge and through wood - by the bank for anothe 1/3mile turn left up a steep hill, up the steps(railway sleepers) at the concrete outfall chamber on your right - up the lane between houses onto Sion road - right at gate onto Sion road for about .8m - pass treatment plant through s bend over stream and then finger post and stile into field right - through field as far as river and follow river all the way to B'bridge.
Hope this helps - let mem know if the link works


http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=52.651989,-7.239513&spn=0.001303,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.651989,-7.239513&panoid=LNnU3OIRlwT5GyA4VZ1R6w&cbp=12,264.04,,0,18.71

Cabaal

Rantan wrote: »

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=52.651989,-7.239513&spn=0.001303,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.651989,-7.239513&panoid=LNnU3OIRlwT5GyA4VZ1R6w&cbp=12,264.04,,0,18.71

Thanks Rantan, link works great.
Now I know exactly where I need to be, for whatever reason I thought it was further towards the old Dublin road.

How well sign posted is the trail?

Rantan

there are several finger posts and little marker posts along the way - shouldn't be a problem, they are pretty new and have not been vandalised or destroyed......yet. Here is the gate that takes you off the Sion road and back on the trail, you have already travelled the .8m on the road once you meet this gate. It has been improved since google took these shots - there is now a good sign at this gate and a green stile

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=52.641169,-7.208523&spn=0.001304,0.004128&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=52.641215,-7.20866&panoid=t73zfv9xe8gskRrNeeluYg&cbp=12,230.54,,0,11.7

also here is a link to a map on Trail Kilkenny's website that shows this trail.

http://www.irishtrails.ie/maps/NW%20-%20Map%201%20Kilkenny%20to%20Bennettsbridge.pdf

hope you enjoy it..

Peyton Manning

Hi rantan, would I be right in saying this trail is closed for 3 months?

If so, any other recommendations?

Rantan

Tom_Brady wrote: »

Hi rantan, would I be right in saying this trail is closed for 3 months?

If so, any other recommendations?

Hey, its only a small section between the end of the Lacken walk and the ossory bridge that is closed. THe rest of the trail is business as usual. I dont see why the council are spednignmoney concreteing a perfectly good trail and erecting a pointless fence. Any one have any insode info?? Seems like a waste of money, if they want to encourage tourists/walker sto use the trail, covering a perfectly good trail in concrete isn;t the answer.
by the way the trail isn;t exactly "closed" either - if you want to pass you will - at your own risk obviously as it is a closed site.............

Peyton Manning

Ah I didn't know that, so where could I get back onto the trail then? Usually I would go down the lacken steps and turn left but that's where it has closed. Is it much further up the Dublin road where I can re-enter the trail?

Captain Havoc

There used to be a way down at the bridge on the city side, I couldn't tell you if it's still clear or not though.

Rantan

Tom_Brady wrote: »

Ah I didn't know that, so where could I get back onto the trail then? Usually I would go down the lacken steps and turn left but that's where it has closed. Is it much further up the Dublin road where I can re-enter the trail?

aahhh...I didn;t realise they had closed it at the steps,,,last time I was down, the Lacken walk was open down to the kissing gate/stile. You can get onto to it through Canices if you go down the lane by the P&P course. You need to hop a wall though so you are prob better going down by the bridge. you can get down either side of it(L or R) not sure iof the path on the canices side of the bridge is still passable though? I went down that a few months ago.

Rantan

Tom_Brady wrote: »

Ah I didn't know that, so where could I get back onto the trail then? Usually I would go down the lacken steps and turn left but that's where it has closed. Is it much further up the Dublin road where I can re-enter the trail?

hey Tom B, was just passing the steps on the way home tonight, the steps are open - they just have a sign up saying its closed - you can still go down if you want

Peyton Manning

Rantan wrote: »

hey Tom B, was just passing the steps on the way home tonight, the steps are open - they just have a sign up saying its closed - you can still go down if you want

The steps are open alright, but when you get down to the bottom you can't turn left - it's closed directly at the bottom and you can only turn right. At least that's how it was last week.

Cabaal

Went for a quick run this morning around the castle and Nore walk and decided to see what the bennetsbridge walk was like. Headed over and could run down perhaps 400-500metres but then I met fencing.



Behind the fencing is a brand new raised wooden path/bridge which is about another 400metres long and goes down as far as the bridge, given we are hitting into the winter and the fence looked pretty permanent I'd say its going to be closed off until next year

Awful same as the new raised walkway looks great and in places is over the river.

Rantan

Cam Newton wrote: »

The steps are open alright, but when you get down to the bottom you can't turn left - it's closed directly at the bottom and you can only turn right. At least that's how it was last week.

hi, last time I went down the steps and the lane was open, its been a while, I'll be passing again tonight and will check, anyway as Cabball said the fence further down is still up, last time i was there you could hop it, but that was early in the works, might be differrent now. Also...just to be sure...when you go down the steps do you go all the way down to the bottom and look left or check the narrow alley half way down that turns left? there is a green gate there that is normally open, maybe they have locked that now....yeah the walkway looks great, have to take back my commecnt earlier where I said a concrete path would ruin it, well done to the council and trails kilkenny, looking forward to getting a run on it, hope the floods dont take it though?? I'm sure the designers took that into account...........

Rantan

Cam Newton wrote: »

The steps are open alright, but when you get down to the bottom you can't turn left - it's closed directly at the bottom and you can only turn right. At least that's how it was last week.

I checked last night in the pitch dark and nearly f***in' killed myself - the walk is open from the steps - I dont know what you are doing!! are you looking in the right place?

Rantan

great day for a run on the trail yesterday - made it all the way to b'bridge - its a little sticky in places and a bit awkward getting through the fence at the stile at the end of the Lacken walk but there is a way.... if you are determined.....the new board walk is great - fair play to the Co co. loads of people out on the trail, great to see it in use

Trail Kilkenny

Hi All
I've just stumbled on this tread and wanted to update interested parties on a few things:
- Boardwalk from end of the Lacken Walk to Ossary bridge
This is nearly complete and will have a usable width of 1.2 metres and is raised above the ground so should be usable it the Nore floods
- Link from Lacken Walk to Ring Road
The current dirt track from the end of the boardwalk to the ring road will be replaced by a ramped boardwalk. This will enable walkers to walk along the Lacken walk, along the boardwalk, up the ramped boardwalk to the ring road. They can then travel along the Ring road to the Bennettsbridge roundabout down by the Black Quarry and onto the Canal walk. The plan is to have looped walk around the city.
Signposing
- once the Lacken Walk is complete signage for the Linear Park and the Nore Valley Walk is planned along the route. This will include mapboards at access points i.e Maudlin Street, Ring Road etc
The Nore Valley Walk officially starts under Ossary Bridge and stage one continues to Bennettsbridge. If anyone has any specific questions re: the Nore Valley Walk please e-mail me at trails@trailkilkenny.ie
Regards
Trail Kilkenny

Rantan

Trail Kilkenny wrote: »

Hi All
I've just stumbled on this tread and wanted to update interested parties on a few things:
- Boardwalk from end of the Lacken Walk to Ossary bridge
This is nearly complete and will have a usable width of 1.2 metres and is raised above the ground so should be usable it the Nore floods
- Link from Lacken Walk to Ring Road
The current dirt track from the end of the boardwalk to the ring road will be replaced by a ramped boardwalk. This will enable walkers to walk along the Lacken walk, along the boardwalk, up the ramped boardwalk to the ring road. They can then travel along the Ring road to the Bennettsbridge roundabout down by the Black Quarry and onto the Canal walk. The plan is to have looped walk around the city.
Signposing
- once the Lacken Walk is complete signage for the Linear Park and the Nore Valley Walk is planned along the route. This will include mapboards at access points i.e Maudlin Street, Ring Road etc
The Nore Valley Walk officially starts under Ossary Bridge and stage one continues to Bennettsbridge. If anyone has any specific questions re: the Nore Valley Walk please e-mail me at trails@trailkilkenny.ie
Regards
Trail Kilkenny

hi, any update on section two of the Nore walk(B'bridge - T'town)? is there any work or prgress ongoing? Also congrats on the improved lacken walk - its a super addition to the trail and kilkenny

Bowlardo

What time does the castle park open at?
I tried looking up the times but could only get the times for the actual castle

Rantan

If you go back through the thread you ll find a post with a pic of the opening times. Think its aroound page 2 or 3

brettmirl

Parkland Opening Hours:

January and December:

9.00 to 16.00
February and November:

9.00 to 16.30
March and October:

9.00 to 17.30
April and September:

8.30 to 19.00
May, June, July and August:

8.30 to 20.30
Please note that the locking of the Park will begin 30 minutes before the scheduled closing time, with the last gate located at the Courtyard area.