Canal path from Clonsilla towards Maynooth etc

Caroline_ie

I was wondering if anyone you guys knew how far one can follow the canal offroad. If I start in Clonsilla heading west on my CX. I am sure that counts towards long (very) slow distance ...

Pigeon Reaper

Did it to help lock boats through a few years ago. You should get the whole way on a CX bike.

buffalo

I've followed the canal from Mullingar to city centre on a hybrid, you'll be grand.

(I lost it for a bit around Enfield, but managed to find it again. Crafty canal!)

Carawaystick

I've gone from Cross Guns bridge to Leixlip Louisa Bridge

It's a bit grassy after Clonsilla for a while, especially near the gaa club in Leixlip I think.

I was on a mtb with slicks, if it was wet ya'd sink in a bit alright.

vektarman

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone you guys knew how far one can follow the canal offroad. If I start in Clonsilla heading west on my CX. I am sure that counts towards long (very) slow distance ...

I've cycled the towpath from Drumcondra to Maynooth a few times and once from Maynooth to Mullingar, it's a mixture of gravel paths and grass from Clonsilla to Maynooth.
A decent gravel path along the Leixlip section and even where it's grass on other parts there's a decent worn path that you can keep to, quite energy sapping in places but good fun.

ThisRegard

It was only discussed on the Running forum
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056819698

morana

while we are talking about the canal paths
"The Canals and their pathways are under the control of Waterways Ireland and in the context of the Royal have recently announced a Tourism driven plan to connect Dublin and Galway.
There are parts of the Grand Canal in the City area which have been upgraded of late.
This is under consideration at the joint CI/Cyclist.ie/Dub Cycling Campaign meetings about how best to engage with what is proposed.
Not really a Council issue at this stage and may not be in the future.
I'd be interested in linking with anybody you know who might like to work with us on this."



so if anybody feels like they want to get involved let me know! I was asked about it on another thread and responded to the poster but have heard nothing back from him.

Sean02

Like E2E and C2C challenges The Royal and Grand canals cycles are a must do for all cyclists. Grand is much the easiest and is doable on hybrid in two days. Royal is a much bigger challenge and is best done in stages with the help of a motoring friend. The initiatives done and planned seem to concentrate in dublin city centre and go nowhere towards utilising the full potential for commuters, leisure and cycle tourists outside D2 & D4. Well done to Morana for getting CI involved.

wotdef

You will easily get out to just beyond Kilcock. Plenty of work being done on paths before Maynooth now.

monument

Sean02 wrote: »

The initiatives done and planned seem to concentrate in dublin city centre and go nowhere towards utilising the full potential for commuters, leisure and cycle tourists outside D2 & D4. Well done to Morana for getting CI involved.

The Grand is done to Adamstown, bar a gap of a few km which is in planning. Kissing gates need to be removed / the large gates opened.

Bits of the Royal are already done recently or to be done soon. There's recently upgraded and soon-to-be updated sections outside the M50. There's also some issues with gates and crossing which needs to be sorting. The sections inside the city council area is all in planning for upgrading.

The current central issues for both routes is getting a jointed up route which has a decent surface, is not blocked by gates or barriers, has as few as possable pinchpoints, and feels safe and secure.

Using Royal to Galway was recently mooted by the minister for transport. It seemed like he was putting his stamp on planning by others.

Sean02

Quite amasing how Minister Varadker could talk about such a big project before looking first at improving the existing towpaths. I remember requesting Ministers Burton and Varadker to use their influence with Waterways Ireland and erect warning danger signs at Castleknock, Coolmine and Portorstown. Seeing that it primarily would protect their own constituents I thought of success but alas no. I am convinced that W-Ireland are anti cycling on towpaths as historicely the canals were always the reserve of fishermen, boating and walkers, in that order. Unfortunatly Monument the kissing gates must stay until the yobs and Irish nation learn to respect and protect the environment.
Over Christmas I hope to ride from town to Leixlip and look forward to seeing all these improvments reported.