01 Royal Canal Walking Guide

Section 1 Details

Grade: Easy Format: Linear Trail Quality:**

County: Dublin

Category: Walking Trail

Type: National Waymarked Way

Length (kms): 10km

Estimated Time: 2 to 3 hours

Start point: 1st lock, North Strand Road, Dublin CIty

End point: Castleknock train station (Granard Bridge)

Surfaces: Paved towpaths

Dogs Allowed: Yes

Attractions: Dublin is a vibrant city that offers the tourist many attractions. Attractions within walking distance include the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Croke Park, Phoenix Park, the National Museum of Ireland, plus many art galleries, historical buildings and monuments. For more information check out www.visitdublin.com

Accommodation: For accommodation around this section of the Royal Canal, please see www.discoverireland.ie .

Facilities:

Public Transport: Dublin City has a wealth of bus, train and light rail services, and there are various train stations (Broom Bridge, Ashtown, Castleknock) along this section of the canal. Please see www.transportforireland.ie for details.

Map guide available: Guide to the Royal Canal of Ireland – Waterways Ireland & Inland Association of Ireland Section 1: First lock, North Strand Road, Dublin City - Castleknock

The Royal Canal begins at Spencer Dock on the north bank of the tidal River Liffey. But the best place to start walking the canal is at the 1st Lock, which is just off North Strand Road on the north side of Dublin City. Here you will see the first waymarker for the Royal Canal Way across the canal from the old lock cottage. The Dublin to Sligo railway line is on the far side of canal.

The Royal Canal was built around the start of the 19th century as a rival to the more southerly Grand Canal, to transport people and goods between Dublin City and the north Shannon. Walking the canal through the city is a great way to experience its rich architectural and historical heritage.

As you head west along the left bank, the canal rises steeply out of the city. As you pass beneath Clark's Bridge, Croke Park stadium will tower above you. At Binn's Bridge, by the 2nd Lock, the Royal Canal Way switches to the right bank of the canal. There is a statue of Brendan Behan here, the famous poet depicted in conversation with a bird on a bench.

As you pass the 3rd and 4th Locks, you will see the former Whitworth Fever Hospital to your right. The oddly named 'Cross Guns' Bridge (officially Westmoreland Bridge) and the nearby 5th and 6th Locks are surrounded by industrial ruins, some now converted into apartments.

You may also spot the O'Connell Monument in Glasnevin Cemetery to your right, and you might notice a railway line disappearing in a tunnel underneath the Royal Canal — this marks the start of the little-known railway tunnel running underneath the Phoenix Park

Stay on the right hand side of the canal as you pass through Cabra. You pass the 7 th Lock and Broome Bridge, near the railway station of the same name. There is a plaque on the bridge commemorating the mathematician and astronomer Sir William Rowan Hamilton, who is said to have thought up the formula for quaternion multiplication while walking here.

You pass Reilly's Bridge and then the 8th and 9th locks. At Longford Bridge, by Ashtown train station, the Royal Canal Way switches back to left hand side of the waterway. Now the canal leaves the city behind, and starts to turn more rural. The canal is lined with tall mature trees between the 10 th and 11th locks. The canal traverses beneath a complex of bridges, and crosses the M50 on an impressive aqueduct. You arrive at the 12th lock. Continuing on the left bank of the canal, you pass Granard Bridge and arrive at Castleknock train station.