Sutton-Malahide-Swords Cycle Route

surpy

got this via facebook earlier, fingal are looking for comments and suggestions which you can send in via the attached form.

i'm sure there are people on here who would not have received this but would like have to input

Carawaystick

Have you a link to this on the fingal coco website?

surpy

Carawaystick wrote: »

Have you a link to this on the fingal coco website?

No, just this info that was shared by a community centre. Presume it came in via post to put on their notice board

NeedMoreGears

I can't find anything on the website (fingalcoco.ie). Anyone got a linky?

It seems to go off the road between Baldoyle and Portmarnock which would be great (although those fields flood quite a bit) - could be a slip of the pen of course.

whiskeyman

That'd be fantastic.
That stretch from Baldoyle to Portmarnock is terrible for cyclists.
I always thought a dedicated cycle track would be much safer, and also great for tourism.

crosstownk

The map looks somewhat out of date.

Wishbone Ash

NeedMoreGears wrote: »

...It seems to go off the road between Baldoyle and Portmarnock which would be great (although those fields flood quite a bit) - could be a slip of the pen of course.

Possibly the intention is to put it inside the existing wall that runs along there?

a148pro

If this was a separated lane it would be great, would make the dublin sutton malahide run a real premium route. I already cycle this exact line a lot, including along the estuary, and apart from the baldoyle bit it's all quite good for bikes. If the baldoyle bit was tucked off road it would be great, there's plenty of vacant land there anyway.

There are also loads of options along the way to take a slightly off road route - existing cycle lane between malahide and portmarnock, up on the grass hill behind the hotel in portmarnock (probably not realistic), behind the scout den in malahide, through the castle.

The holy grail would be to extend the route along the north side of the estuary, it could loop back along the viaduct to malahide with another spur going along portrane. There's already a highly enjoyable off road track along a cliff walk there followed by a spin up country lanes opposite lusk. Throw an aul pedestrian bridge across to lusk....?

With a bit of imagination and commitment you could have a world class spin up to balbriggan along the Coast, 100k return. I've spent a lot of meandering spins exploring this route trying to take the most coastal line possible, just got thwarted at the estuary, lusk and loughshinney (where they could make the millennium walk cycleable).

Basically they should hire me as a consultant. With an appropriate consultancy fee. Are we all agreed?

Puggy

The route will turn right at malahide station and run across the viaduct to Donabate, through the park to the village. At least the budget was set aside for that work in 2014, but has not commenced yet.

It was part of a plan some years ago, as a sweetener to get the super sewage processing plant into Portrane. Have not heard much about the walk/cycleways since then.

ted1

So it'll be a swords to sandycove one when its completed.. What's distance is that?

Carawaystick

If they could cut through by the shore at the sailing club in the inner estuary instead of routing up through Yellow Walls it's be good.
Although there is a lot of cycle track from Portmarnock to Malahide at the minute, but it spits you out off the route and you've to yield to side roads and cars on the road. Hope any new plan gives cycling and walking right of way.

monument

ted1 wrote: »

So it'll be a swords to sandycove one when its completed.. What's distance is that?

It will be part of the "East Coast Trail" strategic greenway outlined in the GDA Cycle Network, which is planned to stretch from Arklow to Drogheda, and includes the S2S.

Inquitus

Its says proposed Pedestrian/Cycle route, unless the 2 are segregated it will be of no real value, much like some of the existing off road bits one must cycle slowly to ensure your own safety and that of pedestrians and pets encroaching on the cycle lane.

lennymc

monument wrote: »

It will be part of the "East Coast Trail" strategic greenway outlined in the GDA Cycle Network, which is planned to stretch from Arklow to Drogheda, and includes the S2S.

that would be awesome (for me, cos I live up that way)

Wishbone Ash

a148pro wrote: »

...There's already a highly enjoyable off road track along a cliff walk there......

Walkers seem to frown upon cyclists using the cliff walk at Portrane. I'm not sure where FCC stands on the matter but there used to be 'no cycling' signs there many years ago. I use it occasionally but stop or pull over if I encounter pedestrians. As with everything in life, a small number of cyclists spoil it for the rest by cycling at speed forcing walkers to take evasive action.

a148pro wrote:

....I've spent a lot of meandering spins exploring this route trying to take the most coastal line possible, just got thwarted at the estuary, lusk and loughshinney

Have you gone via Balleally Lane? After turning right at Blake's Cross, take the next right onto Balleally Lane. This will bring you close to the northern side of Rogerstown Estuary. When you pass the entrance to the tiphead, keep going straight - do not follow the road which turns to the left. Go under the railway bridge and the road will bring you to the sea. At low tide you can cross to Rogerstown at the south side of Rush.

a148pro

Thanks, I'll look that up, a full coast tour would be great, its really annoying to have to go on to the old belfast road there after such a beautiful spin out

Re the cliff walk, in fairness I can't blame the walkers, if there was any amount of cycle traffic on the walk, it would no longer be a walk

surpy

Regarding the cliff walks, definitely around howth it's not permitted, both for conservation and safety reasons.
I don't think any kind of cycling is good in those type of areas, not sure of th lusk one ( not trying to annoy anyone)

Wishbone Ash

surpy wrote: »

... not sure of the lusk one ( not trying to annoy anyone)

Portrane/Donabate - (Lusk is inland! )

Carawaystick

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Portrane/Donabate - (Lusk is inland! )

I think the post was referring to the track from Balleally dump to Spout road Rush, which a mtb would manage.
That track is road width, so shouldn't be an issue with walkers, just corrosion from the saltwater....

Balleally is in Lusk, and its by the sea...