How far west is the royal canal manageable on a road bike?

RINO87

Hi folks, would like to take a spin today along the royal canal, how far west can I get before the path deteriorates?? Did a few searches on here, the most recent posts, from a few months back had people mention works along the towpath. Thanks

buffalo

RINO87 wrote: »

Hi folks, would like to take a spin today along the royal canal, how far west can I get before the path deteriorates?? Did a few searches on here, the most recent posts, from a few months back had people mention works along the towpath. Thanks

It's tarmacked from the North Strand Road, but there's a lot of glass and dog droppings until you get to Dorset Street.

After that it's a nice stretch until the M50 (despite road crossings and kissing gates), with a diversion at Ashtown (Ratoath Road) due to construction.

After the M50, I'm not sure, it turns into a trail that can be quite muddy depending on the weather. Others might know better.

mr spuckler

yeah on a bike i don't think it's great much further than that. further down (enfield etc) it's manageable and then further again there's a good path but if just looking to head out of dublin you're limited enough in how far you can get.

ThisRegard

buffalo wrote: »

After that it's a nice stretch until the M50 (despite road crossings), with a diversion at Ashtown (Ratoath Road). After the M50, I'm not sure, it turns into a trail that can be quite muddy depending on the weather. Others might know better.

Is the diversion still there? I went as far as Ashtown itself from the Blanchardstown side a couple of weeks ago and there's none, is it on the Cabra side?

Once you get to Castleknock train station it's not very road bike friendly, particularly at this time of year, it's a complete mud fest with very slippy tree roots.

After Coolmine (I'm sure they resurfaced from that point on but can't remember) and Clonsilla stations you'll manage but once you get to the point where the canal diverges away from the railway near Westmanstown it's basically off road and grass.

smacl

You have the Deep Sinking section between Castleknock and Clonsilla which I personally find awkward enough on a CX bike after its been raining, and wouldn't go near on a road bike.

buffalo

ThisRegard wrote: »

Is the diversion still there? I went as far as Ashtown itself from the Blanchardstown side a couple of weeks ago and there's none, is it on the Cabra side?

Yes, it's short enough. Roughly this: https://goo.gl/maps/bQ1uf1ze4cz


PS this might be an interesting read: https://www.dublininquirer.com/2016/04/06/on-the-royal-canal-big-plans-for-redevelopment/

RINO87

Thanks!

Indricotherium

From coolmine to clonsilla it's actually "no bikes allowed'

From clonsilla on there are parts that are difficult to run on if it's been wet. Maynooth to kilcock is mountain bike only if it's wet.

silver campaign

Get the train to mullingar. You should be able to go from there to abbeyshrule in Longford along the canal. Also have the option of the new Mullingar Athlone greenway.

benneca1

If you get to Killucan from there to Athlone is very good, I am not sure in the Longford direction how good it is but the stretch from Mullingar to Athlone is the best cycle route in the country imo

cdaly_

I've ridden it from around Enfield back to Dublin. Grass, track, paved, mud and roots. There are a number of locked gates across the route at times requiring a lift over. I was on 35mm slicks, others were on 25mm road tyres...

irishrover99

I've ridden from ashtown gate to neat clonsilla on a road bike in December just gone using 28 mm schwable marathon type tyres. The deep sinking section was great fun in the mud and would have went on further only for it was my lunch break spin.

The did get a puncture but only noticed when I was leaving work a few hours later but I think I got it on the canal. Lots of roots sticking out so I'd be careful that you don't damage your wheels

smacl

irishrover99 wrote: »

I've ridden from ashtown gate to neat clonsilla on a road bike in December just gone using 28 mm schwable marathon type tyres. The deep sinking section was great fun in the mud and would have went on further only for it was my lunch break spin.

The did get a puncture but only noticed when I was leaving work a few hours later but I think I got it on the canal. Lots of roots sticking out so I'd be careful that you don't damage your wheels

Don't know if they've patched it up, but last time in Deep Sinking parts of the path had collapsed leaving a reasonably narrow route to traverse with a deep drop if you got it wrong. Wimp that I am, I dismounted for a couple of those sections, though still really enjoyed the place. It is marked as no bicycles, and it is easy enough to understand why.

RINO87

So it was a nice wee spin in the rain. Again thanks for the info, it was exactly as described. Clear run thru to the small diversion at ashtown. Deep sinking section (the small bit that we did!) was a bit hairy on the road bike but would be fine on a mtb or even a hybrid with decent tyres. We called it quits at carpenterstown as my better half was on an ex-rental that weights appox 250 kg!! Nice spin down to the strawberry beds from there then back around the phoenix park for a bit, returning to drumcondra via the NCR, phibsboro and back to the canal.

beauf

After castleknock station its just too rough unless on a MTB.

Where does it improve after clonsilla station?

kildarecommuter

benneca1 wrote: »

If you get to Killucan from there to Athlone is very good, I am not sure in the Longford direction how good it is but the stretch from Mullingar to Athlone is the best cycle route in the country imo

Canal towpath is fine to Abbeyshrule on Co Longford border