Quiet leisure routes in north Dublin?

Bloch

I'm looking to do some quiet mid-range cycling 25 - 55 km from the northside.

I've tried a few roads the far side of the Phoenix park. The strawberry beds was beautiful, but fairly busy (at around 7pm). The roads around Blanchardstown are mad busy and it was a strain - keeping constantly right to the edge keeping a steady grip. Cars meeeaaawwing on country roads at 60mph.

It's not that I'm nervous in traffic, but I get enough of it in town. In some ways cycling in the city centre is less nerve-racking than out in the near countryside.

So are there any quiet routes I'm missing? Any quiet old roads left after the 90's motorways?

I'm new to cycling (after some time abroad) and am only beginning to realise the city goes on and on twice as far as in 1989.

kona

Cycle track from dun laoghrie all the way out to howth via the summit, then out towards portmarnock and malafide, then home, should be about 50K there with a nice hill too midway.

Im sure some of the roadies will give better routes.

Trojan

If you're starting from near the Park, then a spin up the quays, out to Fairview, Coast Road cycle lane out to Sutton, right at the Cross, and up Howth Head and back should be a decent spin for you. I'm a bit fan of that (starting elsewhere).

Edit: SNAP!

Acoustic

dude i head up from cappagh hospital ( in finglas ) up to dolly heffernans and up through hollystown and then up really small back roads ( 8 feet wide ) with bushes on both sides for about 12km and then come out on the ratoath road and then back down through kibride and kilshane , hollystown

all in all about 40km spin and its great , f all traffic , its like a different world its so quiet

more than welcome to join me and my friend

Ant

Hi Acoustic,

I don't really know the north-west of Dublin but that sounds like an interesting cycle and should be within my capabilities - as long as ye're cycling too fast. My evenings are full this week but I'd be interested in meeting up sometime to do that route. (I've done the Howth Hill run a couple of times so looking for more north-side variety.)

Bloch

I'll deffo try both these routes.

Like Ant, my evenings this week are full, but I wouldn't mind doing it any time next week. PM a day or whatever.

as long as ye're cycling too fast.

says Ant. That's right, superman mode kicks in once you go beyond your physical limits. It's a curious phenomenon.

Acoustic

average around 25km an hour

we cycle tuesday and thursday and meet at cappagh hospital entrance at 7.30

mmclo

If you went that far you probably got unlucky with rush hour, a km or two more you're on the meath dublin border and there's plenty of rural roads, barnhill, barberstown, back of dunboyne, lieixlip, canal towpath etc.

Bloch

there's plenty of rural roads, barnhill, barberstown, back of dunboyne,

I reckon I need a good map ... a recent one that actually shows the M50.

Rather oddly, 3 of my aimless countryside escape attempts ended up at a vast IBM plant somewhere close to the middle of nowhere. It's like I kept getting drawn into it. A google search tells me it's in Mulhuddart.

Didn't take any risks today: did 3 laps of the Phoenix park

Ant

Bloch wrote: »

says Ant. That's right, superman mode kicks in once you go beyond your physical limits. It's a curious phenomenon.

Heh. I'm sure you knew what I really meant. Though I have found that cycling with better cyclists does really improve your cycling.

Acoustic wrote: »

average around 25km an hour

we cycle tuesday and thursday and meet at cappagh hospital entrance at 7.30

Sounds great. I was able to average 26km/h on my spin out to Celbridge this evening (thanks for the cleats, Greyspoke).

I should be able to make Tuesday or Thursday next week. Will send a PM when I have a better idea.

mmclo

Bloch wrote: »

I reckon I need a good map ... a recent one that actually shows the M50.

Rather oddly, 3 of my aimless countryside escape attempts ended up at a vast IBM plant somewhere close to the middle of nowhere. It's like I kept getting drawn into it. A google search tells me it's in Mulhuddart.

Didn't take any risks today: did 3 laps of the Phoenix park

Google maps should do it, they even have terrain and sattelite view. Routes can be posted up too but I haven't mastered that but i'll try

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=115969576466369387981.00046ebcc7096d2ed162b

Not sure that works but exit at Whites Gate (near Farmleigh) up a smallish hill, striaght on and stay left at the very awkward rural junction, after that plenty of options and your just above the liffey valley, although that road Lutterelstown is quite busy at times

Ant

mmclo wrote: »

Google maps should do it, they even have terrain and sattelite view. Routes can be posted up too but I haven't mastered that but i'll try

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=115969576466369387981.00046ebcc7096d2ed162b

That link doesn't work. You can get the URL for your Google map by clicking the right-most link (helpfully titled "Link") just above the map itself.

mmclo

Hope this works, it's just a way of getting out to Meath Dublin border for those not familair with area

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Whites+Gate,+Phoenix+Park,+Dublin&daddr=Jarretstown,+Co.+Meath,+Republic+of+Ireland&hl=en&geocode=CdPn7hdhBGSRFbhNLgMdFhmf_yGJCsl9g4QiOg%3B&mra=pe&mrcr=0&sll=53.491593,-6.467069&sspn=0.370933,0.866547&ie=UTF8&z=12

ROK ON

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Whites+Gate,+Phoenix+Park,+Dublin&daddr=Luttrellstown+Rd+to:Jarretstown,+Co.+Meath,+Republic+of+Ireland+to:Cappaghcreen+to:Kellystown,+County+Kildare,+Republic+of+Ireland+to:Kilmacredock+to:Griffinrath&geocode=FbhNLgMdFhmf_yGJCsl9g4QiOg%3BFRNfLgMdeFSe_w%3B%3B%3BFb-NLgMdb3ec_ynZcDzS43FnSDFSX7e6p8cAJg%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=pe&mrcr=2,3&via=1&sll=53.372883,-6.50116&sspn=0.033797,0.130634&ie=UTF8&ll=53.35301,-6.621323&spn=0.067625,0.261269&z=12

I just altered the above map a little bit.

Plenty of minor roads, some of them lead t very nice countryside.
You can effectively cycle from Phoenix PArk to Sally gap rarely using a main road if you go thru some of the Kildare back roads.
Very very few cars. Just experiment a little with the map and the routes.
What you want (in general) is to stay on the roads marked in light grey on the map.

Enjoy.

mmclo

ROK ON wrote: »

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Whites+Gate,+Phoenix+Park,+Dublin&daddr=Luttrellstown+Rd+to:Jarretstown,+Co.+Meath,+Republic+of+Ireland+to:Cappaghcreen+to:Kellystown,+County+Kildare,+Republic+of+Ireland+to:Kilmacredock+to:Griffinrath&geocode=FbhNLgMdFhmf_yGJCsl9g4QiOg%3BFRNfLgMdeFSe_w%3B%3B%3BFb-NLgMdb3ec_ynZcDzS43FnSDFSX7e6p8cAJg%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=pe&mrcr=2,3&via=1&sll=53.372883,-6.50116&sspn=0.033797,0.130634&ie=UTF8&ll=53.35301,-6.621323&spn=0.067625,0.261269&z=12

I just altered the above map a little bit.

Plenty of minor roads, some of them lead t very nice countryside.
You can effectively cycle from Phoenix PArk to Sally gap rarely using a main road if you go thru some of the Kildare back roads.
Very very few cars. Just experiment a little with the map and the routes.
What you want (in general) is to stay on the roads marked in light grey on the map.

Enjoy.

could also come back on the canal towpaths (but not the dangerous bit at Carpenterstown!)