HERITAGE TRAIL Arthur’s Way is a heritage trail across northeast County Kildare that follows in the footsteps of Arthur Guinness. In just 16 km, it links many of the historic sites associated with Ireland’s most famous brewers – the Guinness family. Visitors are invited to explore Celbridge - where Arthur spent his childhood, Leixlip - the site of his first brewery and Oughterard graveyard - Arthur’s final resting place near his ancestral home. The trail rises gently from the confluence of the Liffey and Rye rivers at Leixlip to the Palladian Castletown House estate and onto Celbridge. It then departs the Liffey Valley to join the Grand Canal at Hazelhatch. The grassy towpaths guide visitors past beautiful flora and fauna and the enchanting Lyons Estate. At Ardclough, the route finally turns for Oughterard which offers spectacular views over Kildare, Dublin and the Province of Leinster. R o yaal l C a MAAYNOOTHYNOOTH nnala l R . L i e y 7 LEIXXLIXLLIP M4 6 5 N4 CELBBRIBRRIDGE DDUBLINUBLIN HHAZELHATCHAZELHAAAZZZELHATCELHHAATCH R . L i e y l a n a C d STRAFFAN n ra G NEWCASTLE 7 ARDCLOUGGHH N THHEE VVILLAGVILLAGEILLAGE AATT LLYONYONS CLLANEANE 4 RATHCOOLE OUGHTEERARDRRARDARD l 5 a nnal a C d nnd 6 a r G N7 y SSALLINSALLINS e 7 i L . R 8 9 NNAASAAS STAGES AND POINTS OF INTEREST STAGE POINTS OF INTEREST LEIXLIP to Arthur Guinness Square, Original Brewery Site, St. Mary’s Church, CELBRIDGE Leixlip Castle, The Wonderful Barn CELBRIDGE to Batty Langley Lodge, Castletown House, 22 Main Street, Oakley Park, HAZELHATCH Malting House, Celbridge Abbey, The Mill HAZELHATCH to Hazelhatch Railway Station, Hazelhatch Bridge, LYONS ESTATE The Grand Canal LYONS ESTATE to Aylmer’s Bridge, Lyons House, The Village at Lyons, OUGHTERARD Henry Bridge, Ardclough Village, Oughterard Graveyard LEIXLIP CELBRIDGE HAZELHATCH ARDCLOUGH OUGHTERARD 5 km 3 km 5 km 3 km 0 km Castletown House 5 km 8 km Lyons Estate 13 km 16 km LENGTH: 16km approx. TIME: 3 – 3.5 hours walking; 1 – 1.5 hours cycling GRADE: Easy. Generally flat with good surfaces. Inclines at Old Hill, Leixlip and Ardclough. Mix of footpaths, tracks, roads and canal towpath. Suitable for family groups. Normal outdoor footwear can be worn. Arthur’s Way is a waymarked linear route which can be enjoyed in either direction. PUBLIC TRANSPORT www.dublinbus.ie To and from LEIXLIP: Dublin Bus – all 66 routes Irish Rail – Maynooth Suburban Line www.irishrail.ie To and from CELBRIDGE: www.buseireann.ie Dublin Bus – all 67 routes Bus Eireann – 120 route www.transportforireland.ie Irish Rail – Portlaoise Line Log on to the website to get more information on the route, including MAPS and LEAFLETS , and an AUDIO GUIDE . County Kildare Fáilte project WWW .ARTHURS WAY .IE supported by Kildare County Council HERITAGE TRAIL ARTHUR’S WAY, LEIXLIP - FROM LEIXLIP TO CELBRIDGE s ’ n Please note: the section marked in i a e t GREEN at Arthur Guinness Square is y P p R l l for pedestrians only. These are two . a R i C short, signed routes called Arthur’s LEIXLIP H Walk and Brewery Way. Cyclists should O also dismount going up or down the ad eet 1 o ld Str Old Hill. Castletown Demesne, R H ain Celbridge, has several possible ge il M d l walking routes but cyclists should ri b 2 R. Lie stay on the recommended route and el P always give way to pedestrians. C 4 P 3 5 M4 Hewlett Packard LEIXLIP 1. Arthur Guinness Square 2. Original Brewery Site 3. Leixlip Castle 4. St. Mary’s Church 5. Wonderful Barn 6 6. Batty Langley Lodge = ARTHUR’S WAY The Arthur’s Way trailhead can be found in the centre of Leixlip town. Your journey begins where Arthur once stood and surveyed a landscape that has not changed too much, if you cast a careful eye on the surrounding landscape. Across the river is the imposing Leixlip Castle. Beside Arthur Guinness Square is St. Mary’s Church; resting place of Archbishop Price whose seed capital allowed Arthur and his brother Richard to start their brewing enterprise HERITAGE TRAIL ARTHUR’S WAY, CELBRIDGE - FROM CELBRIDGE TO HAZELHATCH Please note: the section in Castletown Demesne marked in P GREEN is for walkers and cyclists only. This public space has several possible walking routes but 2 cyclists should stay on the recommended route and always CCastletownastletown give way to pedestrians. DDemesneemesne ey 1 Li! R. e u n M e ay v n A o o th R o ad CELBRIDGE t YOU ARE HERE e e r t 4 S in 3 a d Roa CELBRIDGE M lin Dub 1. Batty Langley Lodge 5 2. Castletown House d H a a 3. 22 Main Street o ze R P lh ne a 4. Oakley Park la tc C h Ro 5. Malting House ad 6 7 6. Celbridge Abbey 7. The Mill = ARTHUR’S WAY There is a rich history in Celbridge dating back 5,000 years, with many sites of interest. St. Patrick is linked with the town, and in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Normans developed Celbridge with the construction of castles, mills, houses and monastic sites. And of course, here Arthur spent his youth with his family, and would have learned his trade by his father’s side. HERITAGE TRAIL ARTHUR’S WAY, HAZELHATCH - FROM HAZELHATCH TO LYONS ESTATE Please note: much of the Hazelhatch Road has footpaths and some cycle paths. The Bridge at Hazelhatch over the CELBRIDGE canal is very narrow. Please use caution when crossing. H a z e l h a t c h R o a d 1 HAZELHATCH 2 HHazelhatchazelhatch BBridridge l na Ca d an HAZELHATCH Gr 1. Hazelhatch Station 2. Hazelhatch Bridge YOU ARE HERE = ARTHUR’S WAY This stretch of Arthur’s Way introduces you to the Grand Canal. This feat of 18th Century Victorian engineering allowed the Guinness brewery in Dublin to expand its operations. These days, what was once a business enterprise is now a valuable amenity for walkers, cyclists, anglers, boating enthusiasts and nature lovers. Here you will discover some of the secrets of Guinness brewing, learn the importance of the canal and the Milltown Feeder, and enjoy some wonderful wildlife. HERITAGE TRAIL ARTHUR’S WAY, LYONS ESTATE - FROM LYONS ESTATE TO OUGHTERARD Please note: once you leave the towpath at Henry Bridge, Ardclough, you are back on public road. There follows a Aylmer’sAylmer’s BridgeBridge long but reasonable climb up 1 to Oughterard. l na Ca d an YOU ARE HERE Gr 2 13th LockLock 5 VILLAGE 3 6 at LYONS 4 ARDCLOUGH HenryHenry BridgeBridge LYONLYONSLSYONS ESTATEESTATE 1. Aylmer’s Bridge 2. Lyons House CLONAGHLISCLONAGHLIS 3. Lyons Church 4. Lyons ‘Pale’ Castle LLyonsyons HHillill 5. The Village at Lyons 119797 mmetresetres 6. Henry Bridge = ARTHUR’S WAY BOSTO N As you leave behind Hazelhatch and head south-west, you will get glimpses of Lyons Hill amongst the foothills of the Dublin Mountains further south. The trail leads you past the spectacular Village at Lyons estate where weary travellers can refresh th emsel ves with fine lunches at the Canal Café on Fridays and weekends with food inspired by Clodagh McKenna. The area is steeped in history and colourful characters, and the canal banks will delight with wild flowers, insects and birds. HERITAGE TRAIL ARTHUR’S WAY, OUGHTERARD - OUGHTER ARD GRAVEYARD HenryHenry BridgeBridge Please note: the graveyard at LLYONSYONS EESTATESTATE Oughterard is maintained by the local community and is still in use. Please be considerate when locking bicycles or parking cars, and be respectfulCCLONAGHLISLONAGHLIS of the monuments and headstones within. LLyonsyons HHillill 119797 mmetresetres BOSTON 1 YOU ARE HERE 2 OUGHTERARD 1. Boston Hill 2. Ancient ‘Slí’ Route 4 OUGHTERARD 3. Oughterard Castle 4. Graveyard, Round Tower, and resting place of 3 Arthur Guinness = ARTHUR’S WAY Oughterard (in Irish Uachtar Árd ) means high place. It is an apt description. The relatively easy climb to the cemetery is deceptive; when you reach the open ground in the graveyard, you are rewarded with remarkable views of the plain of Kildare and a broad sweep of Leinster to the west, and the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains stretching away to the south. Here you will find the final resting place of Arthur and some of his family. Whilst many journeys end here, yours can continue back into Ardclough and beyond and discover other delights of Kildare..