Running the Royal Canal

Murph_D

Which part of the canal do you run? What are the underfoot conditions like? And the scenery? Post below.

PaulieC

I've run from croke park to the M50. Starts off pretty urban as you can imagine, but from Drumcondra onwards it's pretty scenic, especially the locks. Underfoot it's mainly tarmac as far as ashtown, then it's more of a trail.

chinguetti

Croker to Ashtown and back for me which is about 8 miles. Been a while since i've gone the full 8 but good surface to Ashtown and no traffic. Swans, ducks and the odd mad dog make it an ever changing landscape and quiet nice in the city to feel like you're in the country.

ThisRegard

I was only on the Castleknock-Ashtown section the weekend and that part is fine, there's a grand track, mostly tarmac, along there.

I ran the section from the 12th Lock at Castleknock to around the Kildare border regularly during the summer as part of route I had for my long runs.

From Castleknock station to Coolmine Station can be pretty muddy, particularly at this time of the year, it's not a surfaced trail and can be narrow in places. It's the wildest section (apart from around Broombridge, but that's a different kind of wildlife).

From Coolmine Station to Clonsilla Station they're in the process of tarmacing it. Last time I ran it was the start of September and they just had the base layer of gravel down, not sure how much they progressed since.

From Clonsilla Station it's tarmac for a while again, can't remember for how far, probably about half way to the back of Wesmanstown.

And then from there as far as I've gone, the Kildare border I reckon, it's just a trail made by people through the grass and stuff.

It's a very cool route though, as said above you feel like you're in the middle of the country from Castleknock onwards, and once you go by Clonsilla station you really are in the country.

Patrick_K

I regularly run stretches between Castleknock and Kilcock.
It's all very runnable, can get mucky after heavy rain.
There's a a variety of under-foot surfaces along that stretch, some gravel path, some well maintained grass path, some rough enough grass trails.

Bludub

Between Kilcock and Lucan has a variety of gravel, tarmac and grassy sections

pistol_75

Gerry Duffy and a few others ran from Mullingar to Croke park one sunday morning there a few weeks ago. Think it is around 50 miles.

tang1

Run between Kilcock & Enfield, mixture of grass, gravel & tarmac. Grass is holding up well at the min, did 4 miles on Tuesday and it was mostly dry under foot.

plodder

So, there's a path the whole way then? Including the bit over the M50, or do you have to take detours or need to navigate anywhere?
I was thinking of taking the train out to Leixlip on Sun morning and running back into the city along it maybe..

PaulieC

Looking at this picture, it looks as if there is a path across the M50.



Picture is from here - http://www.pbase.com/alangrant - 'tis not mine

ThisRegard

Yeah, the M50 viaduct brings the canal and the path over the M50 at the 12th Lock.

runsir

Its fairly dark from Broombridge to where you cross the road at the porter house north, rolled the ankle there last friday bombing along in the dark!Great spot to run. Fairly narrow and mucky from Castleknock to Clonsilla.

tHE vAGGABOND

Its all about the Grand Canal

ThisRegard

Pffft with the Grand Canal. I was surprised to see that you can run along side the Royal Canal all the way out of the city, unlike the Grand Canal where you have to pop up onto the road at most bridges until probably around Drimnagh ?

PaulieC

The scumbags do drink a better class of cheap beer along the Grand Canal for sure, so each canal has its pros and cons

Murph_D

tHE vAGGABOND wrote: »

Its all about the Grand Canal

I agree with ThisRegard - the Grand is lovely but the city stretches are so short and the road crossings are a pain in the butt even at times when you'd think there'd not be a lot of traffic about. A lot of walkers too in the city stretches. The Grand is far less crowded.

ThisRegard

cambo_gueno wrote: »

The scumbags do drink a better class of cheap beer along the Grand Canal for sure, so each canal has its pros and cons

Better class of winos alright, but a more discerning artist can be found along the Royal Canal. Just out of sight in that photo of the viaduct theres a bit of graffiti asking other graffiti artists to stop being ****e or something like that.

Skittlebrau

ThisRegard wrote: »

Pffft with the Grand Canal. I was surprised to see that you can run along side the Royal Canal all the way out of the city, unlike the Grand Canal where you have to pop up onto the road at most bridges until probably around Drimnagh ?

You have go up onto the road at Drumcondra Road and Phibsboro Road along the Royal Canal but they're the only two spots I can think of.

I'm not much of a runner but I walk that way to work every morning.

Murph_D

Skittlebrau wrote: »

You have go up onto the road at Drumcondra Road and Phibsboro Road along the Royal Canal but they're the only two spots I can think of.

I'm not much of a runner but I walk that way to work every morning.

Road crossings also at Ballybough, Jones Rd, Ashtown, Porterstown, Clonsilla - but most of these are easy and not heavily trafficked.

ThisRegard

There's none at Clonsilla, you can stay on the path and it brings you under the humpback brdige at the station. You do at Coolmine Station though, is that the one you meant ?
I'll be pedantic and say Ballybough and Jones Rd are the only two in the city !

Skittlebrau

murphd77 wrote: »

Road crossings also at Ballybough, Jones Rd, Ashtown, Porterstown, Clonsilla - but most of these are easy and not heavily trafficked.

ThisRegard wrote: »

There's none at Clonsilla, you can stay on the path and it brings you under the humpback brdige at the station. You do at Coolmine Station though, is that the one you meant ?
I'll be pedantic and say Ballybough and Jones Rd are the only two in the city !

You don't need to go up onto the road at Ballybough Road or Jones Road, the path runs under the bridges.

You're forced up onto the road at Phibsboro Road and Drumcondra Road.

miguelk

Excellent, very handy to have reports section by section! Thanks posters.

Is it easy to get onto the pathway of the canal from Clonsilla train station if you got out there?

Also, are both sides of the canal more or less the same or would you recommend running one side over the other (in terms of surface/obstacles/no path) etc?

mattser

I used to run from Barbarstown Bridge ( 1st after Clonsilla ), to Leixlip Louisa Bridge. 6 Miles return. A beautiful country stretch of the R.C.

Unfortunately I gave up earlier this year after one too many incidents caused by tossers with their dogs off leash.

Skittlebrau

miguelk wrote: »

Also, are both sides of the canal more or less the same or would you recommend running one side over the other (in terms of surface/obstacles/no path) etc?

Most of the time you don't have a choice as the path is only on one side. Starting from North Strand Road, it's on the left hand side all the way until Drumcondra Road. Once you cross Drumcondra road, you have the choice of both sides but only until Phibsboro Road, then you'll have to move on to the right hand side.

It swaps back to the left hand side at Ashtown as far as I recall until at least Coolmine.. not sure what happens after that to be honest.

plodder

Decided last minute to do it on Sunday morning. So took train out to Leixlip and ran back to the city centre. Wasn't even that early but there was hardly anyone on the path. Wrong time of day for the Dutch Gold aficionados, I guess. The path is rough enough for the first few miles, though still easily runnable. Really enjoyed it, and the surface was surprisingly good and pleasant all the way from Coolmine/Castleknock approx. Will post a few photos if I can get them off my phone. photos

beeduybe

Had been planning on getting out for a run along the Royal Canal for some time but never quite got around to it but with a few hours free yesterday and this thread fresh in my mind I decided to give it a go and ran from Clonsilla to Carton House and back again. It was a real mix of path, trail and cross country. Very muddy between Leixlip and Clonsilla so I wouldn't recommend wearing your Sunday finest shoes for this one. Garmin Link if anyone is interested.

plodder

beeduybe wrote: »

Garmin Link if anyone is interested.

I think we passed each other somewhere between Leixlip and Clonsilla. I had just stopped to take a photo :pac: Garmin link

ThisRegard

I saw that Santa steam train at Ashtown when it was on its way back to the North Pole, or where ever it had been that day.

beeduybe

plodder wrote: »

I think we passed each other somewhere between Leixlip and Clonsilla. I had just stopped to take a photo :pac: Garmin link

Looks like our paths did cross alright. Met a few runners along the way but can't remember seeing one wielding a camera

plodder

beeduybe wrote: »

Looks like our paths did cross alright. Met a few runners along the way but can't remember seeing one wielding a camera

No, just a phone, and may have put it away just before we passed.

miguelk

plodder wrote: »

Decided last minute to do it on Sunday morning. So took train out to Leixlip and ran back to the city centre. Wasn't even that early but there was hardly anyone on the path. Wrong time of day for the Dutch Gold aficionados, I guess. The path is rough enough for the first few miles, though still easily runnable. Really enjoyed it, and the surface was surprisingly good and pleasant all the way from Coolmine/Castleknock approx. Will post a few photos if I can get them off my phone. photos

Hi Plodder - Is that run do-able in the dark (with a torch)?

Orobhsa

I've run a fair bit between Leixlip and Clonsilla with a head torch. Perfectly fine.

There is a bit at Barberstown (between Westmasntown and Clonsilla) that's pretty cut up because of work that Waterways Ireland have done recently but the rest of it is fine.

plodder

Maybe it's because I did it for the first time last week. But, I'd be reluctant to do the rough sections between Leixlip and Castleknock in the dark - weak ankles don't help. But, certainly no problem from Castleknock on towards the city.

runsir

I was doing a bit of a tempo 2 weeks ago at the broombridge section and rolled my right ankle in the dark so be careful enough, jogging should be fine but I'm going to stick to better lit sections for anything a bit faster.

shane1981

Training for DCM last year I i ran between Leixlip and Kilcock quite a bit. Nice, quiet route with towpath all the way. Just have to watch out for the odd hole in ground but generally a good surface.

Mr Slow

I've run from Clonsilla up past Maynooth, can get dodgy underfoot and is a bit undulating but hit there at 8 on a Sunday morning and you'll see a myriad of wildlife and the scenery is beautiful.

meathcountysec

FYI

http://www.cs.nuim.ie/~pmooney/lock_up_the_year_2012/

mattser

Thanks for that MEATH SEC. Fabulous idea. I'll go for the 10K. Hope the weather stays good.

Dtp79

mattser wrote: »

Thanks for that MEATH SEC. Fabulous idea. I'll go for the 10K. Hope the weather stays good.

I'm new enough to running. I'm doing a 6 km circuit in the morning. It's not level. Alot of ups and downs but nothing close to a sharp incline. I'm in reasonable shape. How long approx should it be taking me to do it ?

plodder

meathcountysec wrote: »

FYI

http://www.cs.nuim.ie/~pmooney/lock_up_the_year_2012/

That sounds brilliant. Would love to do it.

mattser

Dtp79 wrote: »

I'm new enough to running. I'm doing a 6 km circuit in the morning. It's not level. Alot of ups and downs but nothing close to a sharp incline. I'm in reasonable shape. How long approx should it be taking me to do it ?

Enjoy the run Dtp. By the time you read this you'll be finished the run. I'm reasonably fit myself, and run 3 or 4 miles every second day. Never mind your time, just go out and enjoy it, and measure it against your next 6K.
Happy Christmas.

tHE vAGGABOND

Digging this [slightly] old thread up, but was walking on this canal for the first time yesterday [severe hangover recovery!] - really would be sensational for a run, must get some kind of route sorted where I can, be that train out and run back in or indeed a simple out and back.

Bludub

I use the Royal Canal for my long run. I also add in hills by a 4 mile loop in Carton estate and/or a loop into St Catherine's Park down to the Liffey at Lucan/Leixlip. You can also detour off to Castletown estate in Celbridge where they have just put in new paths down by the Liffey. Plenty of options for variety and surroundings!

belcarra

I ran a segment of this recently and really enjoyed it. Phibsboro is a good place to start as any further East there's a lot of road crossings, etc.
It gets muddy and grassy from Castleknock station to Clonsilla and again from the far side 'til Leixlip.

If you want any more feedback let me know.

ThisRegard

I've recently moved office to around the corner from your starting point for that run and live in Dublin 15 but couldn't think of a decent route to run home without having to go through either Finglas or the back roads around the airport. I never thought of running down to the Canal from the Santry/Ballymun direction.

plodder

ThisRegard wrote: »

I've recently moved office to around the corner from your starting point for that run and live in Dublin 15 but couldn't think of a decent route to run home without having to go through either Finglas or the back roads around the airport. I never thought of running down to the Canal from the Santry/Ballymun direction.

I found the city section of the canal to be surprisingly nice. It's probably the best of it all as regards running surface and if you're coming from Santry, Phibsborough is definitely the place to get on to it. The only issue might be the "wildlife". Didn't see anything myself of a Sunday morning, but coming into nice Summer evenings, it could be different...

belcarra

Yep, this would be a nice way of getting home rather than the windy back roads of West Dublin.
Agree with Plodder about the 'wildlife' you might encounter. From what I've seen most of this is along the section from East of Phibsboro but the area around Broombridge probably wouldn't be the nicest while running solo in the dark.

rasher_m

belcarra wrote: »

Yep, this would be a nice way of getting home rather than the windy back roads of West Dublin.
Agree with Plodder about the 'wildlife' you might encounter. From what I've seen most of this is along the section from East of Phibsboro but the area around Broombridge probably wouldn't be the nicest while running solo in the dark.

Would've thought most of the riff raff would be too drunk to give you a chase?

ThisRegard

Outrunning flying bottles and cans is a different story.

Yeah, I'd imagine you could meet a few undesirables on nice sunny evenings, I'd imagine/hope I'd be well on the way home before things got messy.

tHE vAGGABOND

Yea one to do nice and early in the morning Im thinking

Deffo will factor it into my training over the next few weeks, get some good bit of it done.

belcarra

Sounds like there could be a few people on for a suitably sunny evening run over the next few weeks?

Upon reflection, I've ran variations of this route three times and have to say there were no undesirables on view at any stage, it's just that it's got all the hallmarks of where they might hang out. Having said that there were a good few 'respectable looking' people walking dogs and cycling so I guess if they are in fact the norm then happy days!