Royal Canal on a Road Bike

Weepsie · 09-01-2018 5:52pm

Threads merged

Carawaystick · 09-01-2018 8:00pm

Mercian Pro wrote: »

In terms of Phase III of the project, between the North Strand Road and the Phibsborough Road, the Council has had to review the documentation surrounding the cost of the project,

What is the issue between Binns Bridge and North strand road? there is a tarmac surface the whole way, and no barriers?

Mercian Pro wrote: »

Phase 4 of the project, from CrossGuns Bridge to Ashtown, was stalled in 2016 due to the lack of planners caused by the Luas cross city project.

Again the only issue here is opening the barriers, its tarmac the whole way

When's the missing Link from North Strand to Sherrif St getting done, i.e. the bit that needs actual engineering to bridge the railway.

Mercian Pro · 09-01-2018 11:37pm

Carawaystick wrote: »

What is the issue between Binns Bridge and North strand road? there is a tarmac surface the whole way, and no barriers?

The plan is to upgrade this section to full Greenway standard. As far as I remember, the published plans involved additional landscaping, access points and more gradual ramps. For example, at Jones Road, there will be ramps allowing access in both directions,

Again the only issue here is opening the barriers, its tarmac the whole way

Phase 4 as originally proposed didn't involve much work from Cross Guns to the railway bridge before Cabra but the section beyond that is to be widened, resurfaced and presumably get better screening of the derelict industrial units. Parts of the section between Pelletstown and Ashtown are breaking up and presumably will be replaced. The section beyond Ashtown gives a good idea of what is intended for much of the Fingal/Dublin route.

When's the missing Link from North Strand to Sherrif St getting done, i.e. the bit that needs actual engineering to bridge the railway.

This is Phase 2 mentioned in my post #46 above.

mr spuckler · 10-01-2018 11:29am

am interested to hear any reviews of new sections that people cycle sometime soon. i'll be planning a spin down to athlone in April and will take in any of the more interesting stretches. am in 2 minds about continuing then from Mullingar to Athlone on the old rail trail - obviously far safer but can get a bit boring...

tnegun · 10-01-2018 2:58pm

Just a heads up the newly opened section between Maynooth and Kilcock has been closed again by KN Networks for some reason. No info on the Waterways site just fencing erected across the path and some signage indicating its closed until the 22nd of this month.

Mercian Pro · 10-01-2018 6:56pm

tnegun wrote: »

Just a heads up the newly opened section between Maynooth and Kilcock has been closed again by KN Networks for some reason. No info on the Waterways site just fencing erected across the path and some signage indicating its closed until the 22nd of this month.

There's mention above in post #46 of further works at Bailey's Bridge taking place in Spring 2018. Maybe Spring has come early?

tnegun · 10-01-2018 9:38pm

Must be it I've been on it a couple of times since it opened and finished path stops a couple of meters each side of that bridge and is just muck. Its a nusance to close it so soon after it reopened lots of people using it now.

Mercian Pro · 12-01-2018 9:23pm

Latest news on the Dublin City sections of the greenway here: https://raymcadam.com/2018/01/10/so-just-when-will-work-start-on-the-royal-canal-greenway/
There had been a suggestion before that the absence of a Northern Executive would delay Waterways Ireland approval but this seems to have forgotten about now. However, Irish Rail and the Commission for Railway Regulation are now being flagged as delaying factors.
Good to see that Phase 4 from Drumcondra to Ashtown is beginning to move again even if it will be 2019 before any work starts.

Gerry · 12-01-2018 11:03pm

tnegun wrote: »

Just a heads up the newly opened section between Maynooth and Kilcock has been closed again by KN Networks for some reason. No info on the Waterways site just fencing erected across the path and some signage indicating its closed until the 22nd of this month.

That's a pity I was just on that section last week.

tnegun · 12-01-2018 11:08pm

I emailed Waterways and in fairness they called me back that day there is a precast section being installed under the accommodation bridge so thats the reason behind it. I guess once thats done we've a great piece of Greenway on our doorstep. I know I'm looking forward to it reopening its great for the kids and their bikes!

guanciale · 13-01-2018 10:29am

I have mixed feelings regarding the development of the canals.
On the sections I have been on that have seen redevelopment they are simply a replacement of grass with rather ugly hardpacked gravel, less compatible with nature. Also i enjoyed cycling the canal because the terrain was challenging and it is significantly less challenging now.

I think a compromise could have been a narrower path with a grass verge between the path and water. Also a surface more compatible with nature would have been preferrable.

Fully support cycle and walk ways away from roads but feel this could have been more sympathetic and better thiught out.

blueballfc · 19-01-2018 8:19am

"http://irishcycle.com/2018/01/18/royal-canal-greenway-in-dublin-city-delayed-by-nearly-a-year/"

Weepsie · 19-01-2018 9:30am

Yet they'll disrupt everything around Clontarf to the tune of 500 k for a few weeks/months

Carawaystick · 19-01-2018 11:50pm

guanciale wrote: »

I have mixed feelings regarding the development of the canals.
On the sections I have been on that have seen redevelopment they are simply a replacement of grass with rather ugly hardpacked gravel, less compatible with nature. Also i enjoyed cycling the canal because the terrain was challenging and it is significantly less challenging now.

I think a compromise could have been a narrower path with a grass verge between the path and water. Also a surface more compatible with nature would have been preferrable.

Fully support cycle and walk ways away from roads but feel this could have been more sympathetic and better thiught out.

You do realise the canal is an entirely human built thing? not a natural feature of the landscape.

Harrybelafonte · 20-01-2018 10:19am

Carawaystick wrote: »

You do realise the canal is an entirely human built thing? not a natural feature of the landscape.

He/She referred to the surface around the canal and made a point with which I totally agree.

magicbastarder · 20-01-2018 10:57am

Carawaystick wrote: »

You do realise the canal is an entirely human built thing? not a natural feature of the landscape.

not sure what your point is; we can't favour grass over gravel?

CapnHex · 21-01-2018 9:40pm

In my opinion, the best sections of the royal canal are the gravel sections all the way to Ballymahon. Looking forward to Meath completing their sections. Much of Grand Canal is way behind and hard to cycle outside of perfect dry conditions.

TooObvious · 22-01-2018 10:49am

Yeah, gravel sections from Mullingar all the way to Ballymahon are lovely, just the right amount of gravelliness! I'm going to cycle from B'Mahon to Clondara at the weekend, hopefully it won't be as pissy as last weekend.

marvin80 · 22-01-2018 10:59am

TooObvious wrote: »

Yeah, gravel sections from Mullingar all the way to Ballymahon are lovely, just the right amount of gravelliness! I'm going to cycle from B'Mahon to Clondara at the weekend, hopefully it won't be as pissy as last weekend.

As far as I know Longford County Council have been working on the section after Ballymahon for the past few weeks - let us know how it looks.

TooObvious · 22-01-2018 12:30pm

Thanks for letting me know - will advise how i get on!

Gorteen · 25-01-2018 8:25am

TooObvious wrote: »

Yeah, gravel sections from Mullingar all the way to Ballymahon are lovely, just the right amount of gravelliness! I'm going to cycle from B'Mahon to Clondara at the weekend, hopefully it won't be as pissy as last weekend.

PM sent

TooObvious · 29-01-2018 9:50am

So, I cycled from Brannigan Harbour in Ballymahon to Clondra via the canal at the weekend. Gorteen joined me for the outward leg. The full route can be cycled without dismounting on a CX bike, though it is at the moment fairly muddy in places - chiefly where works are being carried out to lay down the track. I don't recall any singletrack so all of the route is either paved now or to be completed imminently. I spoke to a Inland Waterways chap whilst en-route and he said that the work would be completed in about 6 weeks.

Carawaystick · 30-01-2018 1:03am

TooObvious wrote: »

Yeah, gravel sections from Mullingar all the way to Ballymahon are lovely, just the right amount of gravelliness! I'm going to cycle from B'Mahon to Clondara at the weekend, hopefully it won't be as pissy as last weekend.

How do they compare with the dust sections immediately east of Mullingar?

TooObvious · 30-01-2018 11:46am

The surface is a mix of older tarmaced (road) surface and the new surface which is a grit surface with a similar grade to that used between Mullingar and Ballymahon. Once complete should be happily doable on 25's, 23 even if you want to.

CapnHex · 03-02-2018 8:16pm

Cycled from Thomastown Bridge/Nancy Quinns Pub to Moyvalley/Fureys Pub today, about 17km of mainly fine grit/gravel with some top quality tarmac and some rougher tarmac. My first time to cycle this section since the surface was upgraded. I think that must give The Royal Canal the title of the longest continuous greenway in Ireland. I believe you can now cycle from Fureys Pub to Longford Bridge/Ballymahon, a distance of roughly 70km.

Gorteen · 03-02-2018 11:26pm

CapnHex wrote: »

Cycled from Thomastown Bridge/Nancy Quinns Pub to Moyvalley/Fureys Pub today, about 17km of mainly fine grit/gravel with some top quality tarmac and some rougher tarmac. My first time to cycle this section since the surface was upgraded. I think that must give The Royal Canal the title of the longest continuous greenway in Ireland. I believe you can now cycle from Fureys Pub to Longford Bridge/Ballymahon, a distance of roughly 70km.

Work ongoing on last "grass" stretch of Ballymahon to Clondra. Is expected to be finished in 6 weeks time. That will make a continuous greenway from Furey's Pub to Clondra, a total distance of 95km approx.... All that's required now is the same level of marketing and promotion that has been given to Waterford & Westport Greenways....

surball · 04-02-2018 2:51pm

Work ongoing on last "grass" stretch of Ballymahon to Clondra. Is expected to be finished in 6 weeks time. That will make a continuous greenway from Furey's Pub to Clondra, a total distance of 95km approx.... All that's required now is the same level of marketing and promotion that has been given to Waterford & Westport Greenways....

What about the section between ballyduff and killashee? Last time I cycled around here I had to come off the canal and on to the road

dermot65 · 04-02-2018 3:01pm

Has section from kilkock to maynooth reopened, was closed for bridge works, any update on section from maynooth towards Dublin, still nothing happing on this section

Mercian Pro · 04-02-2018 4:51pm

Gorteen wrote: »

... All that's required now is the same level of marketing and promotion that has been given to Waterford & Westport Greenways....

.....and for the other County Councils to complete their sections of the 145km Royal Canal Greenway.

CapnHex · 04-02-2018 8:27pm

I met a local cyclist near Furey's and she said there was some issues getting under the R148 at Furey's. She thought it would take a bridge over the road, as the canal and rail line didn't leave enough room to go under the road. Looks like the road was realigned some time in the past. Maybe something like the new bridges added for the Waterford greenway.

lamaq · 04-02-2018 10:19pm

The current bridge doesn't allow for the towpath, think an underpass would be better than a bridge, like they also have on the Waterford Greenway. Seems they prefer traffic lights on the canal though.

Missus Doubtfire · 05-02-2018 5:54pm

dermot65 wrote: »

Has section from kilkock to maynooth reopened, was closed for bridge works, any update on section from maynooth towards Dublin, still nothing happing on this section

I was down that way yesterday and it still looks like it's just a grass verge from the level crossing at Intel (Lock 13) out towards the bridge at Carton House.

guanciale · 05-02-2018 8:28pm

Kilcok to maynooth is open. In fact the section runs from about 5km west of Kilcock all the way to Maynooth.
From Maynooth to Dublin;
First 2 km or so leaving Maynooth jeading toward Leixlip are fine. Then there is a muddy section that runs from parallel to Carton House all the way to railway crossing close to Intel.
From there to Leixlip is hard packed fine gravel. Not bad to cycle on at all.

Gorteen · 05-02-2018 8:58pm

From past Kilcock (Fern's Lock / McLoughlin Bridge) to Enfield was hard work a few weeks ago. Boggy, Muck, Grass... nothing pleasant about it!
Improved from Enfield for a while (even though it's "work in progress" and then hard work (again) from Kilmore Bridge to Moyvalley (Furey's Bar)......... Excellent from there to Mullingar.

blueballfc · 04-03-2018 10:16pm

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1964542373808324&id=1549278628668036

Better late than never

Mercian Pro · 15-03-2018 10:52pm

Copied from lamaq's post over on the Greenways thread:

Cycled the Royal Canal from Leixlip, no photos unfortunately:

Leixlip to Pike Bridge/Carton House entrance - no work done here, still a mix of narrow paths or grass.

Pike bridge to Maynooth harbour - ok surface.

Maynooth Harbour to Kilcock - finished, the underpass at Bailey's bridge is complete.

Kilcock to about 2km west at drainage bridge - finished.

Drainage bridge to Ferran's Lock - the gravel foundations are down but not the finished surface. Generally ok to cycle on.

Ferran's Lock to Cloncurry bridge - still grass, no work has started yet.

Cloncurry Bridge to Enfield - all done except for last 500m into Enfield which has gravel, not sure why this was left.

Enfield to Blackwater aquaduct - finished.

Blackwater aquaduct to Moyvally - have the foundations down and currently being worked on, looked like they were cutting back some of the trees.

Couldn't go any further than this.

Thargor · 16-03-2018 1:13pm

You can't do it on the Grand but on the Royal canal do you have the option of cycling out say 50km on one bank, crossing over to the other side then cycling back on the opposite bank? Or is it one track for most of the way like the grand.

lamaq · 16-03-2018 2:53pm

Thargor wrote: »

You can't do it on the Grand but on the Royal canal do you have the option of cycling out say 50km on one bank, crossing over to the other side then cycling back on the opposite bank? Or is it one track for most of the way like the grand.

Not really, the other bank tends to be privately owned by farms. In some sections the greenway is being developed on the other side than the existing path, so it should be possible in places.

Harrybelafonte · 16-03-2018 7:21pm

I would stick the signage provided regarding which side to go on. You could get a couple of km then find an obstacle and have to double back.

lamaq · 25-03-2018 3:26pm

I cycled from Moyvalley to Foygh (about 5km North of Ballymahon) yesterday. It's pretty much all complete with a mixture of ashphalt roads and fine gravel. Only one busy road to cross at Mullingar. The section past Foygh bridge is blocked off currently.

Road bridge at Moyvalley, the greenway should be going between the canal and railway. Photo was from a couple of weeks earlier, hence the snow.

Section past Foygh Bridge currently blocked off. Opposite bank from where photo was taken.

Typical fine gravel section.

Mercian Pro · 25-03-2018 10:56pm

An update on surface conditions heading out from Dublin and incorporating lamaq's earlier post:

Drumcondra to Castleknock Train Station - tarred surface ranging from pristine beyond Ashtown to a bit rougher closer to Cabra/Finglas

Castleknock to Porterstown Road - Grass, clay (muck), tree roots and some rocks along the Deep Sinking

Porterstown to Clonsilla Station - good surface

Clonsilla to Leixlip Confey Station - mix of grass and clay

Leixlip Convey to Collinstown Bridge (at western end of Leixlip) - ok surface

Collinstown to start of Carton Estate - grass and clay

Carton to Maynooth harbour - ok surface.

Maynooth Harbour to Kilcock - finished, the underpass at Bailey's bridge is complete.

Kilcock to about 2km west at drainage bridge - finished.

Drainage bridge to Ferran's Lock - the gravel foundations are down but not the finished surface. Generally ok to cycle on.

Ferran's Lock to Cloncurry bridge - still grass, no work has started yet.

Cloncurry Bridge to Enfield - all done except for last 500m into Enfield which has gravel, not sure why this was left.

Enfield to Blackwater aquaduct - finished.

Blackwater aquaduct to Moyvally - have the foundations down and currently being worked on, looked like they were cutting back some of the trees.

Mercian Pro · 02-04-2018 2:38pm

A bit of an update on this with length of sections included:

Mercian Pro wrote: »

An update on surface conditions heading out from Dublin and incorporating lamaq's earlier post:

Drumcondra to Castleknock Train Station - tarred surface ranging from pristine beyond Ashtown to a bit rougher closer to Cabra/Finglas. 8.2km

Castleknock to Porterstown Road - Grass, clay (muck), tree roots and some rocks along the Deep Sinking. 2.2km

Porterstown to Clonsilla Station - good surface 1.2km

Clonsilla to Leixlip Confey Station - mix of grass and clay 5.0km

Leixlip Convey to Collinstown Bridge (at western end of Leixlip) - ok surface 2.6km

Collinstown to Pike Bridge (Carton entrance) - grass and clay. 2.7km

Carton to Maynooth harbour - ok surface. 2.3km

Maynooth Harbour to Kilcock - finished, the underpass at Bailey's bridge is complete. 5.9km

Kilcock to about 2km west at drainage bridge - finished. 2.0km

Drainage bridge to Ferran's Lock - the gravel foundations are down but not the finished surface. Generally ok to cycle on. 1.9km

Ferran's Lock to Cloncurry bridge - still grass, no work has started yet. 5.9km

Cloncurry Bridge to Enfield - all done except for last 500m into Enfield which has gravel, not sure why this was left. 2.7 + 0.5km

Enfield to Blackwater aquaduct - finished. 3.5km

Blackwater aquaduct to Moyvally - have the foundations down and currently being worked on, looked like they were cutting back some of the trees. 2.6km

Moyvalley to Westmeath border - finished. 12.4km

So between Dublin and the Westmeath border (61.5km), all but about 18.4km is either completed or OK to cycle on. The rest is a mix of grass, clay or muck depending on weather conditions and use.

Harrybelafonte · 02-04-2018 2:58pm

"Clonsilla to Leixlip Confey Station - mix of grass and clay"

Worst section of the whole thing.

lamaq · 02-04-2018 3:30pm

Kilcock to about 2km west at drainage bridge (Spin Bridge?) - finished. 1.1km

No, just an unnamed drainage bridge to the Rye Water. I've put the updates on OSM.

Heavy blue dots = finished greenway
Light blue dots = under construction
Red dots = grassy path
Brown dots = grassy track

queldy · 04-04-2018 3:21pm

Hi guys,

thanks for this thread. Does a gps, strava, whatever map exist of the whole route?

lamaq · 04-04-2018 6:43pm

The greenway is not finished yet and in some places the greenway is on the opposite side of the Royal Canal Way walk. I don't know if they are going to change the signage once it's complete.

You can view the Royal Canal Way here - http://ra.osmsurround.org/analyzeMap?relationId=3466963

Strava mostly uses OpenStreetMap.org (OSM) for maps, which can be downloaded and used on Garmin devices.

tnegun · 04-04-2018 7:44pm

Cycled between Kilcock and Maynooth today and I think maintenance of the surface is going to be an issue. The hedges have been cut and debris has been left along the route extending about a foot from the hedges in places and rain run off has already washed away the loose stone topping in some places too

Greybottle · 07-05-2018 12:40pm

Cycled from Mullingar out to Furey's Pub (Moyvalley) yesterday. All done. Either tarred existing roads or new Limestone sand paths. Excellent surface, parking bays near most bridges, loads of people out and about. Proof that it does work.

I cycled the canal a few times over the years and this was one of the more difficult stretches. Nice to see it done up. Had a look over the fence at Moyvalley to see if the stretch towards Enfield has been done, but couldn't see anything. Looks like there's 2 Km of tough but easily walkable canal path here.

So, if I've got this right, almost all of >Maynooth-Clondra (Shannon) is done?

Carawaystick · 07-05-2018 11:52pm

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

"Clonsilla to Leixlip Confey Station - mix of grass and clay"

Worst section of the whole thing.

East of Porterstown is the worst bit, I abuse my road bike but I wouldnt do that.

Mercian Pro · 08-05-2018 9:34am

Greybottle wrote: »

So, if I've got this right, almost all of >Maynooth-Clondra (Shannon) is done?

Yes, as you can see from earlier posts, there are still a few sections between Maynooth and Moyvalley to be completed but heading west towards the Shannon and the branch to Longford town are fine. Good to hear it's being well used.

Royal Canal on a Road Bike

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