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Grand & Royal Canal Triangle - "Green & Silver route"

Straatvark · 2011-08-02 22:38:17

Over the past weekend 3 of us (2 male, 1 female) attempted to cycle the towpath of the "Green & Silver route" as mentioned here: http://dublin.iwai.ie/greenandsilver.html Not knowing what to really expect we set off with the agreement that on day 1 we will just go as far as we can and then be more informed to adjust the…

02-08-2011 11:38pm

#1

Straatvark

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 185 ✭✭

Join Date: March 2009

Posts: 175

Over the past weekend 3 of us (2 male, 1 female) attempted to cycle the towpath of the "Green & Silver route" as mentioned here: http://dublin.iwai.ie/greenandsilver.html

Not knowing what to really expect we set off with the agreement that on day 1 we will just go as far as we can and then be more informed to adjust the route to our fitness and surface conditions for the next two days.

Just some info sharing on our experience, should someone prepare for something similar:
2 MTB's, 1 "commuter" bike. MTB highly highly recommended!
Panniers & racks on all 3 bikes.

Day 1: Dublin to Mullingar. +-80km in 8 hours that include several rest stops. Actual cycling probably only 6.5 hours. Pubs/food available probably every 10-15km. We stopped at 12th lock, Kilcock, Molerick. Arrived 17h00 into a Joe Dolan festival. Found accommodation in Annebrook House Hotel which allowed us to take the bikes up to our "apartment". Worst bit is 10km after Kilcock - long grass and bumpy. About 20-30 locked gates where you need to lift you bike and luggage over - travel light...

Day2: Enough of the grand canal - overland shortcut to Ferbane. A million 5-10m climbs in the rain. Not bad, but make your panniers as light as possible. At Grand canal just after Ferbane, had the option to turn right for 10km (+10 back) to Shannon harbour. One guy did, the other two turned left with the agreement to meet up in Tullamore. Took 6 hours/80km (+1.5h for the 20km to Shannon harbour) including stops. We used Clara & were self sufficient for other food stops this day.

Day 3: 100km Tullamore to Dublin. No food stops next to canal for first 50km. One nice maintained/gardened lock with a water tap at about 35km. Had the best chicken breast sandwich ever in Robertstown at 50km!!! Towpath in ok (for MTB) condition. 5km of bumpy hell between Hazelhatch & Adamstown, after that one ride on a cycling superhighway - just look out for the kids in Clondalkin who throw a kids bike into the 1ste rider of out group. It took 8.5 hours that include food stops. Stayed in a BnB for the night.

The Wicklow mountains on the way back is a welcome sight at the end of the canal on the last day:

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