blessington lakes greenway?

Fian · 10-10-2016 3:06pm #1

I saw in the sunday times this weekend mention of a 50km greenway around the blessington lakes. It suggested that there was already 6km in place, I have seen the short paths on either side of the valleymount road, shortly after you turn off the N81 and the bit that runs up to avon rí - is that the existing 6km they are referring to?

Occasionally i head out to blessington and either go around the lake (turning left after valleymount and coming back into Blessington) or if I am feeling braver/have more time heading over the wicklow gap to laragh and back to Dublin via Enniskerry.

A greenway around the lake would be great, just wondering is this talking up the area (the article was on buying property in Blessington) or is it likely to really arrive in the next year or two?

Brian? · 11-10-2016 11:46am

Does it need a green way? The roads are peaceful enough in my experience, I'm not sure painting some bike lanes will make a difference.

smacl · 11-10-2016 12:04pm

Brian? wrote: »

Does it need a green way? The roads are peaceful enough in my experience, I'm not sure painting some bike lanes will make a difference.

I suspect it would be more light off road than painted lines, though not sure where exactly.

Fian · 11-10-2016 12:08pm

Brian? wrote: »

Does it need a green way? The roads are peaceful enough in my experience, I'm not sure painting some bike lanes will make a difference.

Well that's true. I am more likely to get my wife and kids to join me in a spin around the lake if it is off-road though.

tomasrojo · 11-10-2016 12:08pm

Not sure where this greenway would begin and end, but the bit of the main road to Blessington just after the turn off for Citywest used to be hair-raising. Narrow, terrible sightlines, trucks and buses hurtling up and down it. I was so intimidated one day that, completely out of character, I tried to cycle on the footpath. I met a motorcyclist coming the other way who took me to task for cycling on the footpath. Which was fair enough (it's not something I normally do, and I was going to get off if I saw any pedestrians), except that he was also on the footpath. Going full speed on a motorbike.

Doctor Bob · 11-10-2016 12:16pm

I think this is the 6km referred to: http://visitwicklow.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Blessington_Greenway.pdf

The Council applied to DTTAS for funding a couple of years ago for a greenway around the lakes, but they didn't make the cut. I haven't heard any more since then.

smacl · 11-10-2016 12:19pm

tomasrojo wrote: »

Not sure where this greenway would begin and end, but the bit of the main road to Blessington just after the turn off for Citywest used to be hair-raising. Narrow, terrible sightlines, trucks and buses hurtling up and down it. I was so intimidated one day that, completely out of character, I tried to cycle on the footpath. I met a motorcyclist coming the other way who took me to task for cycling on the footpath. Which was fair enough (it's not something I normally do, and I was going to get off if I saw any pedestrians), except that he was also on the footpath. Going full speed on a motorbike.

A bit more work, but climbing Bohernabreena/Ballinascorney followed by Manor Kilbride is the nicer way of getting there, N81 can be a pain.

tomasrojo · 11-10-2016 12:31pm

smacl wrote: »

A bit more work, but climbing Bohernabreena/Ballinascorney followed by Manor Kilbride is the nicer way of getting there, N81 can be a pain.

That's good to know. I might try going there in the summer. The greenway in Doctor Bob's link looks quite nice.

magicbastarder · 11-10-2016 1:09pm

Brian? wrote: »

Does it need a green way? The roads are peaceful enough in my experience, I'm not sure painting some bike lanes will make a difference.

maybe not for experienced leisure cyclists, but an explicit marked cycle route may be the sort of thing to attract casual cyclists, and be a much more explicit reminder for motorists in the area to expect them on the roads.

Brian? · 11-10-2016 2:51pm

smacl wrote: »

A bit more work, but climbing Bohernabreena/Ballinascorney followed by Manor Kilbride is the nicer way of getting there, N81 can be a pain.

My preferred way is through either saggart or Rathcoole. About 2km on the N81 and turn off at Lisheen golf club and into Manor Kilbride.

I hate the N81 between Blessington and Tallaght. Buzzed by trucks too many times.

Brian? · 11-10-2016 2:53pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

maybe not for experienced leisure cyclists, but an explicit marked cycle route may be the sort of thing to attract casual cyclists, and be a much more explicit reminder for motorists in the area to expect them on the roads.

It'd be lovely for everyone.

I like the sound of a light off road track around the lakes. I thought it was the usual nonsense of painting lines on a road we were talking about.

A surface like the canal paths would be perfect.

Brian? · 11-10-2016 2:54pm

Doctor Bob wrote: »

I think this is the 6km referred to: http://visitwicklow.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Blessington_Greenway.pdf

The Council applied to DTTAS for funding a couple of years ago for a greenway around the lakes, but they didn't make the cut. I haven't heard any more since then.

I'd love if they finished that. Perfect for the kids

jober · 11-10-2016 5:10pm

I live just of the n81. And there was proposed plans dropped into the house a while back about a new dual carriageway starting just after jobstown pub bypassing the n81 and bypassing blessington altogether.there was no mention of a greenway thou.but if it go ago ahead it would take all the traffic away from n81 leaving it a nice cycle route

crosstownk · 11-10-2016 5:24pm

jober wrote: »

I live just of the n81. And there was proposed plans dropped into the house a while back about a new dual carriageway starting just after jobstown pub bypassing the n81 and bypassing blessington altogether.there was no mention of a greenway thou.but if it go ago ahead it would take all the traffic away from n81 leaving it a nice cycle route

This appears to be the preferred route from the SDCC website. The project is awaiting funding so it could be a long wait.

http://www.sdcc.ie/sites/default/files/publications/n81-hollywood-cross-to-tallaght-road-map.pdf

recedite · 11-10-2016 9:34pm

Brian? wrote: »

I'd love if they finished that. Perfect for the kids

I walked around it about two years ago. Its a grit surface. Its not really for cyclists, but would be an OK spot to take kids on bikes. Another similar place good for kids is the road inside the grounds of Bohernabreena reservoir.

smacl · 12-10-2016 9:02am

Brian? wrote: »

My preferred way is through either saggart or Rathcoole. About 2km on the N81 and turn off at Lisheen golf club and into Manor Kilbride.

I hate the N81 between Blessington and Tallaght. Buzzed by trucks too many times.

I'm usually coming from the other direction but if I'm looking for a less hilly way of getting out to Blessington for a longer cycle I'll take the Grand canal out of town, and either get off before it gets muddy if its been wet here and head out via Peamount, or if its dry or I've knobbly tyres on go out past Sallins and come back to Blessington via Naas, Craddockstown road and Punchestown.

Boaty · 24-03-2017 1:41am

Wicklow County Council have just put in a planning application for this greenway. The files on the application should be up in the next few days.

"Construct a new crushed stone track in order to create a walking & cycling greenway which will follow the edge of the Blessington Lakes "

http://www.eplanning.ie/WicklowCC/AppFileRefDetails/17307/0

Fian · 27-03-2017 12:56pm

Boaty wrote: »

Wicklow County Council have just put in a planning application for this greenway. The files on the application should be up in the next few days.

"Construct a new crushed stone track in order to create a walking & cycling greenway which will follow the edge of the Blessington Lakes "

http://www.eplanning.ie/WicklowCC/AppFileRefDetails/17307/0

sounds great, and that would make a nice cycle, out to Blessington, round the lakes, back home. Or put the bikes in the boot and bring the kids out there then spin around the lakes with them. Though by the time it is built kids may have left teh nest of course.

Boaty · 30-03-2017 11:20pm

The files has been added to the application.

40 kilometers of track around the lakes and going to Russborough house, what a great project for WCC to undertake, it will be interesting to see if any cranks object!

Fian · 31-03-2017 11:53am

I cycle that route occasionally - out to Blessington, follow that route around the lake, then back into Dblin from Blessington again. Nice route so the track should only make it better. There is very little traffic on those roads around the lake anyway though, would make a much bigger difference if there was an off road from Dublin to Blessington tbh. Still an off road cycle track is nicer than cycling on even a quiet road i guess.

magicbastarder · 31-03-2017 1:12pm

Boaty wrote: »

40 kilometers of track around the lakes and going to Russborough house

i don't see a path out to russborough house marked on the map there?

Boaty · 31-03-2017 5:24pm

It looks like they are using an existing roadway to get to Russborough rather than a new path.

Mercian Pro · 31-03-2017 7:18pm

Boaty wrote: »

40 kilometers of track around the lakes and going to Russborough house, what a great project for WCC to undertake, it will be interesting to see if any cranks object!

I would be more worried about the National Parks & Wildlife Service given that the lakes are a Special Protection Area. Hopefully it will have been cleared with them before getting this far. It was their intervention that caused the S2S to be rerouted from the coast on to the Merrion Road.

If it does go ahead, it will be a fantastic amenity, not so much for training spins but for walkers, families and less confident cyclists.

loyatemu · 03-04-2017 12:28pm

"Crushed Stone" - what will this be like in reality, could mean anything from resin-bonded gravel to railway ballast - anyone know?

Whatwicklow · 03-04-2017 12:40pm

Cl804 - typical green way surface or road base. Good material to pedal on as it bonds well plus as time passes it matures into its environment and looks fine.

Mercian Pro · 03-04-2017 7:47pm

loyatemu wrote: »

"Crushed Stone" - what will this be like in reality, could mean anything from resin-bonded gravel to railway ballast - anyone know?

Similar to the Great Western Greenway I would imagine. Fine for 28mm or wider tyres and ok for 25mm if you take it easy.

stampydmonkey · 03-04-2017 7:52pm

Whatwicklow wrote: »

Cl804 - typical green way surface or road base. Good material to pedal on as it bonds well plus as time passes it matures into its environment and looks fine.

Cl804 is most definitely not good to cycle on and is not typical surface for greenway. It's quite a large aggregate used for base course only

Whatwicklow · 04-04-2017 7:47am

stampydmonkey wrote: »

Whatwicklow wrote: »

Cl804 - typical green way surface or road base. Good material to pedal on as it bonds well plus as time passes it matures into its environment and looks fine.

Cl804 is most definitely not good to cycle on and is not typical surface for greenway. It's quite a large aggregate used for base course only

Ok expert- its used the length and breadth of the country for forest roads and green ways that have hundreds of km cycled weekly and I'd near guarantee this one will also be 804 .

tigerboon · 04-04-2017 8:35am

Whatwicklow wrote: »

stampydmonkey wrote: »

Whatwicklow wrote: »

Cl804 - typical green way surface or road base. Good material to pedal on as it bonds well plus as time passes it matures into its environment and looks fine.

Cl804 is most definitely not good to cycle on and is not typical surface for greenway. It's quite a large aggregate used for base course only

Ok expert- its used the length and breadth of the country for forest roads and green ways that have hundreds of km cycled weekly and I'd near guarantee this one will also be 804 .

Most likely to be Cl804 with a thin layer of 6mm aggregate laid on top and compacted

smacl · 04-04-2017 9:09am

tigerboon wrote: »

Most likely to be Cl804 with a thin layer of 6mm aggregate laid on top and compacted

Yep, the surface layer on the GW Greenway and more recent Grand canal additions would be better described as grit than gravel, and no bother for 25mm tyres on relatively flat ground. Nothing like the surface of any Coilte tracks I've been on which are far coarser.

Muahahaha · 06-08-2018 4:04pm

Any update on progress for the greenway? WCC site says a planning decision was due in May 2017 but I cant seem to find any new information

Rechuchote · 06-08-2018 6:16pm

smacl wrote: »

A bit more work, but climbing Bohernabreena/Ballinascorney followed by Manor Kilbride is the nicer way of getting there, N81 can be a pain.

Climbing Ballinascorney is nice? Am I living in an alternate universe? :eek:

mloc123 · 06-08-2018 7:22pm

Rechuchote wrote: »

Climbing Ballinascorney is nice? Am I living in an alternate universe? :eek:

It is certainly nicer than taking your chances with the trucks on the N81.

Whatwicklow · 06-08-2018 8:26pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

Any update on progress for the greenway? WCC site says a planning decision was due in May 2017 but I cant seem to find any new information

It went to the courts late last year, a couple of local challenges. unfortunalty id imagine the money will be reallocated to a another project,

Muahahaha · 06-08-2018 8:41pm

Do you know what the outcome of the court challenges were? Surely not insurmountable? And have WCC officially called it off or what is their position? Be a shame if it didnt go ahead, it would clearly be of great benefit to the locality to have a 40km greenway within the greater Dublin catchment area.

Grassey · 06-08-2018 9:11pm

Muahahaha wrote:

Do you know what the outcome of the court challenges were? Surely not insurmountable? And have WCC officially called it off or what is their position? Be a shame if it didnt go ahead, it would clearly be of great benefit to the locality to have a 40km greenway within the greater Dublin catchment area.

Would be even better if they could wrangle a route from say the dodder greenway / kiltipper valley area around Mount seskin into Manor Kilbride to join it all together. Make a nice car free route out of Dublin to it so the n81 can be avoided.

Hoagy · 06-08-2018 9:23pm

Still looking for funding.

https://www.facebook.com/BlessingtonGreenway/

Muahahaha · 06-08-2018 10:04pm

Cheers thanks Hoagy, good to hear that the project is at least still alive in any case

Grassey · 22-06-2019 6:03pm

http://www.dttas.ie/press-releases/2019/minister-ross-and-griffin-announce-launch-bike-week-2019-along-greenway-funding-

Blessington Lake Loop

€5m

Wicklow County Council

42km of Greenway around the Blessington Lakes, incorporating Russborough House and the villages of Valleymount, Ballyknockan and Lacken.

Muahahaha · 22-06-2019 6:45pm

Great news that it is getting done and at 42km it is a fine distane, much of it lake side too which will make for a pleasant cycle

secman · 22-06-2019 8:31pm

What exactly does the blessington greeenway mean, as you can already cycle though valleymount, ballyknockan and Lacken ?

cletus · 22-06-2019 9:05pm

secman wrote: »

What exactly does the blessington greeenway mean, as you can already cycle though valleymount, ballyknockan and Lacken ?

Presume it means you are fully segregated from traffic...

Whatwicklow · 22-06-2019 9:20pm

It's offroad, similar to the phase 1 works already completed.

Mercian Pro · 22-06-2019 9:47pm

Brian? wrote: »

My preferred way is through either saggart or Rathcoole. About 2km on the N81 and turn off at Lisheen golf club and into Manor Kilbride.

I hate the N81 between Blessington and Tallaght. Buzzed by trucks too many times.

Just after leaving Tallaght, take a left onto the road up to Seskin, drop down into Brittas, a few hundred metres on the N81 before turning off at Lisheen golf club etc.

fat bloke · 22-06-2019 11:09pm

I do the big lake en route to Wicklow gap every Saturday in complete peace and serenity and virtually traffic-free. Every Saturday for about 6 years now with three mates.

... at about 7.30am.

A lake view greenway would be a fantastic family amenity though.

Tigerandahalf · 23-06-2019 12:15pm

That should be a good boost to the facilities at Russborough House - a cafe and a playground are there already and there is a fairy trail there as well.

Muahahaha · 23-06-2019 12:48pm

I know a couple of hotels in the area are planning on setting up hire stations of electric bikes, mainly because as it is going to be 42km long and will have a fair few hills on it.

With its proximity to Dublin I can see it being pretty busy. Also unlike many greenways this one is going to be a loop whereby you wont need to get transport back to your starting position

Duckjob · 23-06-2019 4:53pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

I know a couple of hotels in the area are planning on setting up hire stations of electric bikes, mainly because as it is going to be 42km long and will have a fair few hills on it.

With its proximity to Dublin I can see it being pretty busy. Also unlike many greenways this one is going to be a loop whereby you wont need to get transport back to your starting position

Yeah the fact that it's a loop is extra appealing if you're doing it with family / kids. No going 30km and then getting the dreaded "Daddy I'm tired!"

ED E · 23-06-2019 8:42pm

secman wrote: »

What exactly does the blessington greeenway mean, as you can already cycle though valleymount, ballyknockan and Lacken ?

This will be dead flat aroudn the lake (reservoir) shore.

It really won't suit the users of this forum but it will suit them with their kids.

cletus · 23-06-2019 10:26pm

ED E wrote: »

This will be dead flat aroudn the lake (reservoir) shore.

It really won't suit the users of this forum but it will suit them with their kids.

I thought the plan mentioned going through Lacken and Valleymount, does that not require using at least some of the climbs you would do around the lakes now?

ED E · 24-06-2019 1:14am

Well, the problem is this has only got as far as DTTAS funding. Thats long before formal planning permission (if req) is sought etc so we don't have blueprints to review.

What we can assume they intend to do is continue as they started - below the road but above the high waterline.

My bet is it'll connect to Lacken etc but not run through them, if they did sections on the main road it'd mean CPOing farmers ditches and building new fences further back, making breaks in the g.way for tractor access and so on. Chances of a court battle would be high.

The question I have is where the reservoir formally ends. It should have been specified when they flooded it in 1940. Will need to look.

blessington lakes greenway?

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