Royal Canal Greenway

coleen · 06-05-2021 8:39pm #1

Hi We are looking to cycle the Royal canal greenway this summer. We would also like to play 2 rounds of golf.
We are thinking of Glasson and Esker hills. Are theses good courses or what other options should we look at , for golf we want to spend €50 each approx . We might check open days also.
We are looking at staying mid way to cycle east towards Dublin on one day and west another day what would be a nice location . Would Mullingar be good or is there a nice village with a restaurant and a pub or two (if opened )
We will probably book an air Bnb as we will have bikes with us so self catering works best.
Look forward to advice and ideas thanks again.

finbarrk · 07-05-2021 8:00am

I don't know about golf courses. But we plan to do this cycle in June. Have Mullingar booked for a couple of nights. Go one direction the first day, and get the train back, and the opposite direction the next day and train back again. Or train first and cycle back depending on the wind.

beggars_bush · 07-05-2021 8:12am

coleen wrote: »

Hi We are looking to cycle the Royal canal greenway this summer. We would also like to play 2 rounds of golf.
We are thinking of Glasson and Esker hills. Are theses good courses or what other options should we look at , for golf we want to spend €50 each approx . We might check open days also.
We are looking at staying mid way to cycle east towards Dublin on one day and west another day what would be a nice location . Would Mullingar be good or is there a nice village with a restaurant and a pub or two (if opened )
We will probably book an air Bnb as we will have bikes with us so self catering works best.
Look forward to advice and ideas thanks again.

Pubs on or near canal
Keenagh
Foigha
Ballymahon
Abbeyshrule (no shops)
Ballynacarrigy
Mullingar (golf)
Killucan
Moyvalley (golf)

kildarecommuter · 07-05-2021 7:55pm

Slightly east of halfway but you could try Nanny Quinn’s or Cunningham’s near Killucan.
Cunningham’s have accommodation on Airbnb
Mary Lynch’s pub nearer to Mullingar on canal might also be an option.
The Royal Canal route is a lovely cycle Enjoy

dingding · 15-05-2021 6:48pm

And if you are staying in Mullingar, (We stayed in the Mullingar Park Hotel) you can get the old rail trail to Athlone, however no train back as you are traveling over the old railway line.

The old rail trail and the canal are alongside each other for a bit.

I have traveled along the canal by bicycle a few times over the past couple of years, it is flat so relatively easy to cycle, generally quiet and off the beaten track, but some great nature to see.

There is also a spur to Longford along a disused / dry part of the canal from just East of Killashee.

This is a bit narrow in parts (a couple of years since I was on it) but you can cycle it with care.

dingding · 15-05-2021 6:51pm

kildarecommuter wrote: »

Slightly east of halfway but you could try Nanny Quinn’s or Cunningham’s near Killucan.
Cunningham’s have accommodation on Airbnb
Mary Lynch’s pub nearer to Mullingar on canal might also be an option.
The Royal Canal route is a lovely cycle Enjoy

It might be worth trying to book the pub as the last time (pre COVID) there was no availability at Fureys. The section between Fureys and Mary Lynches is a nice stretch. Also there is Kilcock where you pass on the edge if it. Some nice spots there for a cup of tea.

dingding · 15-05-2021 6:53pm

beggars_bush wrote: »

Pubs on or near canal
Keenagh
Foigha
Ballymahon
Abbeyshrule (no shops)
Ballynacarrigy
Mullingar (golf)
Killucan
Moyvalley (golf)

And near the end, there is a pub in Richmond harbour, Clondara if you go a bit past the end of the Canal, Killashee (no Shops)

beggars_bush · 15-05-2021 8:16pm

dingding wrote: »

And near the end, there is a pub in Richmond harbour, Clondara if you go a bit past the end of the Canal, Killashee (no Shops)

Two very good places to eat in tarmonbarry too.

dingding · 15-05-2021 8:51pm

beggars_bush wrote: »

Two very good places to eat in tarmonbarry too.

Sorry it was Tarmonbarry I was thinking off. There is a petrol station / convenience store with a seating area and there is a lovely restrurant / pub with a hotel. Had planned to stay in the hotel, but never got there with COVID.

finbarrk · 10-06-2021 3:53pm

We did the cycle over the last couple of days. It's long enough. Mullingar to Longford the first day and Mullingar to Maynooth the next day. Got the train back with the bicycles each day. About 60km each day.

Seth Brundle · 10-06-2021 4:48pm

You certainly got the weather for it!

finbarrk · 11-06-2021 11:32am

We did. Probably wouldn't have done it if rain was in the forecast. The breeze is a factor also. it was strong enough against us going towards Maynooth in patches of it anyway.

Stark · 11-06-2021 11:35am

finbarrk wrote: »

I don't know about golf courses. But we plan to do this cycle in June. Have Mullingar booked for a couple of nights. Go one direction the first day, and get the train back, and the opposite direction the next day and train back again. Or train first and cycle back depending on the wind.

Be careful with the train. A group of us were planning a one way trip on the canal a few weeks ago and turned out the Intercity trains on that line only take 2 bikes on the entire train. Grand if it's only 2 of you and you pre-book but a PITA if you have more than 2 people.

A Neurotic · 13-06-2021 3:27pm

Anyone done the Dublin - Maynooth stretch recently? Is it cycleable?

The Davestator · 14-06-2021 11:51am

A Neurotic wrote: »

Anyone done the Dublin - Maynooth stretch recently? Is it cycleable?

Yes, no problem except for the deep sinking part where you'll have to walk or have a bumpy ride!

Careful of glass on parts through Dublin though

A Neurotic · 14-06-2021 3:13pm

The Davestator wrote: »

Yes, no problem except for the deep sinking part where you'll have to walk or have a bumpy ride!

Careful of glass on parts through Dublin though

Thanks. Will be getting on the greenway at Ashtown and know it's lovely out as far as Castleknock or so, I ventured into the "deep sinking" a couple of years ago but wasn't sure how long it went or if it had been upgraded in the meantime. Is it a long stretch before getting back onto a proper path? Planning on doing the greenway out to Longford, considering just hopping on a train to Maynooth if the Ashtown-Maynooth stretch is more trouble than its worth.

The Davestator · 15-06-2021 6:25am

A Neurotic wrote: »

Thanks. Will be getting on the greenway at Ashtown and know it's lovely out as far as Castleknock or so, I ventured into the "deep sinking" a couple of years ago but wasn't sure how long it went or if it had been upgraded in the meantime. Is it a long stretch before getting back onto a proper path? Planning on doing the greenway out to Longford, considering just hopping on a train to Maynooth if the Ashtown-Maynooth stretch is more trouble than its worth.

Not too long and not worth avoiding in my opinion as its a nice stretch.

When I did it, I wanted to make sure I did every inch of it so started at the convention centre but it depends on what you want to do. Maynooth is the official start of the greenway

Royal Canal Greenway

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