Running all of the Royal Canal

Cabaal

Tracks & Trails covered this as a walking route a few weeks back, looked like a something different and with exception of distance it should be all relatively flat and easy going I'm guessing,

Has anyone here run the length of it (144km)? - http://www.irishtrails.ie/Trail/Royal-Canal-Way/28/

Its something I'd like to do perhaps before the end of the summer, maybe do it over two days or something at a nice handy pace.

Any issues i should be aware of?

RunRoryRun

Haven't done it myself but I'm living in Dublin city centre and the folks are out in maynooth, so would be interested in hearing thoughts on that first section as it could be a nice route for me.

Only experience i have of it is running from Leixlip Confey to Maynooth. Confey to Louisa bridge is lovely - wide, and a good surface. louisa bridge to Pikes bridge is not so good. bumpy and uneven but passable. Pikes Bridge to Maynooth - it widens and the surface is good again.

Shuttle666

Clonsilla to Confey is a nice summer run. Have only walked into town once with a group so wasn't really thinking of it in running terms - most of it is fine, think there's a section Castleknock-Coolmine where we had to walk single file, so probably not the best running, but it was only a tiny part of the walk, otherwise it was nice.

eoin ryan

I've ran it. Very enjoyable and there is path the whole way.
Some areas are kept and some not so much. Can't rem specific areas
Make sure you get a map from Waterways Ireland that tells you which side to be on as it can switch from bridge to bridge. Don't end up jumping in. Its not easy to get out....

belcarra

Out of Interest how long did it take you Eoin?

C - I've ran it in sections in various runs all the way from Croker to not far from Mullingar.
As Eoin mentioned it's all runnable with some sections better than others. The T&T episode gives a good indication of the quality.
It'd be tough in some sections if cycling (rough terrain/grassy/muddy/Summer overgrowth in some areas) but no problem if running.

Keep an eye out for the Le Cheile Canal Marathon if it goes ahead this year as that will give you plenty of experience for it.

AlanG

I believe the section from Ashtown to Castleknock is closed at the moment as they are upgrading it - it's not far out of the way to go along the road. Section between Coolmine and Castleknock is pretty narrow with a big drop down into the canal.

eoin ryan

It took me 3 days to do the Royal but it was part of a 6 day 7 marathon charity gig so not really a benchmark.
2 days if you can go Ultra
3 days if can't
maybe....
Just be aware that it gets very isolating and you can be a long way from civilisation. Get the map, plan it and let ppl know where you are as you progress - just in case
And enjoy it - it's beautiful

Tombo2001

you wont run the stretch between drumcondra road and jones road as its closed off and has been since a heavy rainfall last summer knocked a part of the path into the canal.....

eoin ryan

One more thing
If you decide to take the branch off to Longford town - it isn't maintained.
I got destroyed on that bit. Stung, cut and electrocuted and it was pouring rain all day. Support crew went the wrong way too (which was my fault)
Will never forget it

PaulieC

Tombo2001 wrote: »

you wont run the stretch between drumcondra road and jones road as its closed off and has been since a heavy rainfall last summer knocked a part of the path into the canal.....

That's a handy detour though, either via Clonliffe or North Circular Road. You'll still get to sit beside aul Brendan on his bench

belcarra

eoin ryan wrote: »

One more thing
If you decide to take the branch off to Longford town - it isn't maintained.
I got destroyed on that bit. Stung, cut and electrocuted and it was pouring rain all day. Support crew went the wrong way too (which was my fault)
Will never forget it

Yet another reason to avoid Longford then!:pac:

nolinejudge

A few heads ran it from maynooth to Dublin the year before last. Took just over 9 hours I think. A good crisp morning and a great way to spend a saturday.

RunRoryRun

nolinejudge wrote: »

A few heads ran it from maynooth to Dublin the year before last. Took just over 9 hours I think. A good crisp morning and a great way to spend a saturday.

9 hours!? was thinking more along the lines of 3-4 hours? Was it a leisurely amble or is it just tough going?

sconhome

Is there a greenway all along the canal that you can run on?

PaulieC

it's green probably only outside the M50. From Ashtown to Ballybough it's paved. Between Ashtown and M50 it starts the transition from paved to grass, with the exception of the bit that bridges the M50.

ThisRegard

eoin ryan wrote: »

I've ran it. Very enjoyable and there is path the whole way.

There's no path for a section after Clonsilla along the back of Westmanstown is there, from what I can remember it was just worn trail in the grass around there ?

belcarra

ThisRegard wrote: »

There's no path for a section after Clonsilla along the back of Westmanstown is there, from what I can remember it was just worn trail in the grass around there ?

Yep, pretty much but still quite runnable. The surface changes back to gravel and paving around towns before returning to grassy terrain in the Westmeath backwaters.

ThisRegard

Cheers, I've only ever got as far as the Kildare border around Leixlip one summers evening before it started to get dark, and like it was said, it can start to feel quite isolated when you're not quite sure where exactly you are so I turned around.

KielyUnusual

RunRoryRun wrote: »

9 hours!? was thinking more along the lines of 3-4 hours? Was it a leisurely amble or is it just tough going?

They must have been going very leisurely RRR. I wouldn't worry. I ran the section all the way from Kilcock to Drumcondra and even in my beginner days, it took less than 3 hours. It is a lovely route and there's some good transitions in there. Very rural at times but also very urban in patches. When you hit the M50, you know for certain that you're back to the modern world. It was a bit of a sad, reflective moment actually. Would definitely recommend as an interesting long run to anyone. Train out, run back in. Sorted!

nolinejudge

My mistake don't post when you just wake up. Mullingar to Dublin they ran.I thought 9 hours was handy enough but it was taken easy enough.

ciaran76

At the moment from Castleknock to Ashtown is closed due to upgrading of the path.

tang1

Ran a section of Royal Canal this morning, set out from Longwood Harbour and headed West towards Mullingar. The first mile or so is on gravel/untarred road then a two mile section on grass trail. The grass bit was bumpy but firm underfoot considering the rain. After three miles i reached Hill of Down, surface changes to tarred roads here. Only continued for another half mile and turned back, but the tarred road continued on for as far i could see down the canal before i turned. Glorious place to run, really calm and no cars to contend with. Will be back to run/investigate further in future.

Murph_D

Been a couple of threads on this before - they always seem to peter out disappointingly quickly:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72326672

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81987913

I love running the Royal Canal myself, which I've done from the Liffey as far as the Kildare Border but not as far as Maynooth yet. Great route for a LSR, I find, although I echo the comments about the Castleknock Section where there's a very rocky section with a perilous drop. Apart from the temporary closure at Binn's Bridge (Drumcondra) to Jones' Rd. (detour via Whitworth Place and Russell Ave or alternatively NCR), there's also the permanently closed section between Ballybough and East Wall, where you have to bypass via a maze of East Wall roads, before you join the last short section at the Conference Centre, which has been beautifully restored.

There are some surprisingly wild and rural-feeling sections (e.g. between Phibsboro and Cabra) and the M50 overpass is an engineering wonder - must be seen!). If you're doing a shortish loop it's possible to cross to the Tolka river near here and return that way mostly through parkland all the way back to Drumcondra.

meathrunner

tang1 wrote: »

Ran a section of Royal Canal this morning, set out from Longwood Harbour and headed West towards Mullingar. The first mile or so is on gravel/untarred road then a two mile section on grass trail. The grass bit was bumpy but firm underfoot considering the rain. After three miles i reached Hill of Down, surface changes to tarred roads here. Only continued for another half mile and turned back, but the tarred road continued on for as far i could see down the canal before i turned. Glorious place to run, really calm and no cars to contend with. Will be back to run/investigate further in future.

I run the canal about 4/5 times per week & love it, so much more peaceful than the road. Also great for bringing the dog:)

There is about another half mile of tarmac road after that section you did and then its about 4 miles of gravel paths to next bridge (this section is not quite as nice & a bit lonely but fine surface for running), next section is tarmac again & very nice up to Killucan. Last time I was up there the section to Mullingar was a bit rough but I think there was some work going on at the time (haven't been on that section in a good while).

A good starting point is also Furey's restaurant/bar. It's also handy that there is a tap for a drink at dock at Longwood. I think the canal is a wonderful facility for running, walking & cycling.

Birdie Num Num

ciaran76 wrote: »

At the moment from Castleknock to Ashtown is closed due to upgrading of the path.

Nice section to run from Ashtown on. It gets kind of wild once you go past Ashtown but I fear the upgrade will make it a busy cycleway. I quite like the roughness of it as it stands for running. It is being paved at the moment but not sure how far that will go. It gets steep for about 100-200 metres at 'The Deep Sinking' at Coolmine. They have recently cut away all the trees there on both sides of the banks which might signal an upgrade there too. Not sure how they plan on paving that part, hopefully they don't cleanse it too much.

Gijima

Le Cheile AC have a trail run starting from Fureys bar and finishing in Leixlip at their ground, roughly 26mile, around June as a b2b with their midnight track marathon, they also run this on new years eve.

Clum

I've run just about the whole of the canal through Westmeath (not in one go). There's about 23km of continuous compact sand or tarmac with Mullingar in the middle. From the Meath border to the start of that surface (just before Mary Lynch's pub) there's grass and solid surface. About 10km west of Mullingar at Coolnahay Harbour where the sand ends the trail changes between stone, grass and eventually back to compact sand again. There are plans to upgrade all of this section as far as the Longford border (14km) to compact sand in the near future. But at the moment the majority of the canal path through Westmeath is suitable for running.

There's a section about 1km long (after lock 28 I think) that's uneven grass and I usually skip this by running on a road to the south of the canal rejoining at the next bridge.

I also run a fair bit between Kilkock and Leixlip. Either side of Maynooth there is compact sand and tarmac for a couple of kms each way but closer to Kilcock or Leixlip it's a grass surface. Fine for running in the summer, a bit slippy in winter.

TFBubendorfer

Am I the only thinking this screams for someone to organise an ultra to run the entire stretch?

Cabaal

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Am I the only thinking this screams for someone to organise an ultra to run the entire stretch?

Would certainly make my plan easier

Be great to see it happen though, from what I can make out a good few of the ultra's in the uk use canal paths for the routes, makes sense really

ultraman1

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Am I the only thinking this screams for someone to organise an ultra to run the entire stretch?

make ur way to clondra,,,ill see u in phisborro,wen u get there give me 200 euros and ill give u a medal and a tee shirt and a bottle of water,,,

Ron DMC

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Am I the only thinking this screams for someone to organise an ultra to run the entire stretch?

Great idea, but there'd need to be work done to make sure that impassable sections / single file sections are manageable.

For example the riverbank run section in Tri-Athy can be a little cramped and I can easily see people being a bit eager when passing each other and someone ending up in the water.

Cabaal

ultraman1 wrote: »

make ur way to clondra,,,ill see u in phisborro,wen u get there give me 200 euros and ill give u a medal and a tee shirt and a bottle of water,,,

Is there a discount for certain club members? :pac:

ThisRegard

Ron DMC wrote: »

Great idea, but there'd need to be work done to make sure that impassable sections / single file sections are manageable.

For example the riverbank run section in Tri-Athy can be a little cramped and I can easily see people being a bit eager when passing each other and someone ending up in the water.

Over the course of an ultra I would think people would be a bit more patient in terms of wanting to get by a runner in front, and given the first such tight spot coming out of Dublin is just after Castleknock station (although I've never ran past Ashtown towards the city so forgive me if I'm wrong) the field would be well settled by then.

TFBubendorfer

ultraman1 wrote: »

make ur way to clondra,,,ill see u in phisborro,wen u get there give me 200 euros and ill give u a medal and a tee shirt and a bottle of water,,,

Only if you provide chip timing, marshalls at every junction and fully stocked aid stations every 3 miles. :rolleyes:

T-shirt size is M, please.

RunRoryRun

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

.....fully stocked aid stations every 3 miles. :rolleyes:

Water water all around!

TheMightyI

Is there are path along the canal all the way from the Liffey?

i.e. if running from town, can anyone advise whether you can start running from the North Wall Quay, or do you need to take some roads before joining the canal path at a certain point?

Hard to tell for sure going by Google Maps.

Thanks

Murph_D

You can start at North Wall but after 200m or so the path is closed and you have to bypass via Sherriff St, rejoining at the North Strand. From there it's plain sailing until Finglas where there's a section temporarily closed at the moment. Think you're good from there to Galway.

yaboya1

Murph_D wrote: »

You can start at North Wall but after 200m or so the path is closed and you have to bypass via Sherriff St, rejoining at the North Strand. From there it's plain sailing until Finglas Ashtown, where there's a section temporarily closed at the moment. Think you're good from there to Galway.

FYP

Murph_D

yaboya1 wrote: »

FYP

I stand corrected. What's the issue there anyway?

PaulieC

You actually go via Seville Place and North Strand. You go on Sherriff Street you end up on Amiens Street.

annapr

PaulieC wrote: »

You actually go via Seville Place and North Strand. You go on Sherriff Street you end up on Amiens Street.

oh, impressive... for a southsider

but actually if you're running along the canal (guild st), you would come off onto sherriff st, then turn left onto Seville Place... and right onto North Strand...

PaulieC

annapr wrote: »

oh, impressive... for a southsider

but actually if you're running along the canal (guild st), you would come off onto sherriff st, then turn left onto Seville Place... and right onto North Strand...

I can't see that. I run that route regularly and you go from Guild Street directly onto Seville Place.

Enough semantics though, it's bloody obvious when you're on the street running it. If you get lost at this juncture, you probably want to rethink the plan altogether.

BTW, I'm not a southsider, just a blow in...

Firedance

Murph_D wrote: »

You can start at North Wall but after 200m or so the path is closed and you have to bypass via Sherriff St, rejoining at the North Strand. From there it's plain sailing until Finglas where there's a section temporarily closed at the moment. Think you're good from there to Galway.

does anyone know if you can get onto the canal from the junction of North Strand and Charleville Mall? Looking at google maps it looks like there's a gate there that could potentially be locked, is that where you're referring to Murph?

PaulieC

Firedance wrote: »

does anyone know if you can get onto the canal from the junction of North Strand and Charleville Mall? Looking at google maps it looks like there's a gate there that could potentially be locked, is that where you're referring to Murph?

Yes, that's exactly where you get on. There is a fence there from the bridge along the canal about 50 metres, but after that, there is unfettered access to the canal towpath.

Murph_D

If I was a female running alone, however, I'd be a bit wary however of running anywhere on the canal to be honest, especially anywhere between N Strand and Cabra. Long stretches with no escape route unless you feel like a swim. Having said that, I've witnessed very little "antisocial activity" on the canal, but I'd still be careful.

ThisRegard

I've ran from Ashtown or Castleknock to Leixlip some evenings and pretty much was the only one around, apart from the odd teenage couple having a mooch under one of the various bridges.

Firedance

Murph_D wrote: »

If I was a female running alone, however, I'd be a bit wary however of running anywhere on the canal to be honest, especially anywhere between N Strand and Cabra. Long stretches with no escape route unless you feel like a swim. Having said that, I've witnessed very little "antisocial activity" on the canal, but I'd still be careful.

great, thanks, now I'll have to redo my stava route! but you're probably right & thanks for the heads up..

annapr

Firedance wrote: »

great, thanks, now I'll have to redo my stava route! but you're probably right & thanks for the heads up..

It's a great place to run with company though. I'm sure we could arrange some!

Firedance

annapr wrote: »

It's a great place to run with company though. I'm sure we could arrange some!

I think most of my potential company is unavailable but another day for sure! I've put in a query with the 'local' garda though, lets see what advice is offered there although Murph has well and truly burst my route bubble...

PaulieC

Firedance wrote: »

If you are going during daylight hours, you will be fine. Maybe avoid the stretch from North Strand to Drumcondra, but from there onwards it's perfectly cromulent.

Murph_D

The N Strand to Drumcondra stretch should be avoided for the amount of doggy crap alone!