Commuting to Clondalkin

ciara1052

Hi,

I'm starting a new job in the new year out in clondalkin and I was wondering if anyone had an advice on the best way to go about getting there? I am looking for new accommodation and hope to be starting out from around the terenure/rathfarnham area.

I have previously commuted around 11km a day and this is going to be a bit of a jump for me going up to around 30km I'd say.

I know you can follow the canal out from town (and join onto it somewhere around Drimnagh/Ballyfermot according to Google maps)...is it a good idea to do that? It goes by bluebell (which I've heard isnt great) and the clondalkin industrial estate.

Thanks for any help

niallo32

ciara1052 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm starting a new job in the new year out in clondalkin and I was wondering if anyone had an advice on the best way to go about getting there? I am looking for new accommodation and hope to be starting out from around the terenure/rathfarnham area.

I have previously commuted around 11km a day and this is going to be a bit of a jump for me going up to around 30km I'd say.

I know you can follow the canal out from town (and join onto it somewhere around Drimnagh/Ballyfermot according to Google maps)...is it a good idea to do that? It goes by bluebell (which I've heard isnt great) and the clondalkin industrial estate.

Thanks for any help

Whereabouts in Clondalkin are you going to be working? Village/Grangecastle etc..

py

So you've a couple of route options available to you depending on what your opinion is to riding on busy/main roads as I've done them all on the route you're talking about. Going to assume Rathfarnham village is your starting point Clondalkin Village is your end point... you can adjust as required.

Route 1: https://goo.gl/maps/pBapgEmtHKJ2 Short enough but brings you across Walkinstown Roundabout. I'm also not a fan of Terenure Road West as it can be quite narrow as you turn on to it from Terenure side.

Route 2: https://goo.gl/maps/6ER5v9KW8Xu Almost the same as above but removes Terenure Road West and brings you up Butterfield Avenue and across Templeogue Bridge... still got Walkinstown Roundabout in it though.

Route 3: https://goo.gl/maps/tRWyf8ooPg72 Straight up Butterfield Avenue continuing up Firhouse Road, turning on to Old Bawn Road and on passed Tallaght IT before going on to Belgard Road.

Route 4: https://goo.gl/maps/w4HDtLhpeL12 As above but turn off Old Bawn Road and head towards the R136. Great big roads with cycle/bus lanes and the extra few Km could be worth it.

If it were me and I'd the time I'd do Route 4 at least to/from and probably 2/3 the other time. I'd avoid Route based on what I said above. You could if you wanted head down to the canal and out that way but I found the kissing gates just slow down progress and as mentioned on here recently, there's a few undesirables hanging about the odd time along there.

ciara1052

niallo32 wrote: »

Whereabouts in Clondalkin are you going to be working? Village/Grangecastle etc..

Thanks for the reply, it's out near the golf club in grange castle. I'm not completely familiar with the area at the minute but I was told its very near that.

ciara1052

py wrote: »

So you've a couple of route options available to you depending on what your opinion is to riding on busy/main roads as I've done them all on the route you're talking about. Going to assume Rathfarnham village is your starting point Clondalkin Village is your end point... you can adjust as required.

Route 1: https://goo.gl/maps/pBapgEmtHKJ2 Short enough but brings you across Walkinstown Roundabout. I'm also not a fan of Terenure Road West as it can be quite narrow as you turn on to it from Terenure side.

Route 2: https://goo.gl/maps/6ER5v9KW8Xu Almost the same as above but removes Terenure Road West and brings you up Butterfield Avenue and across Templeogue Bridge... still got Walkinstown Roundabout in it though.

Route 3: https://goo.gl/maps/tRWyf8ooPg72 Straight up Butterfield Avenue continuing up Firhouse Road, turning on to Old Bawn Road and on passed Tallaght IT before going on to Belgard Road.

Route 4: https://goo.gl/maps/w4HDtLhpeL12 As above but turn off Old Bawn Road and head towards the R136. Great big roads with cycle/bus lanes and the extra few Km could be worth it.

If it were me and I'd the time I'd do Route 4 at least to/from and probably 2/3 the other time. I'd avoid Route based on what I said above. You could if you wanted head down to the canal and out that way but I found the kissing gates just slow down progress and as mentioned on here recently, there's a few undesirables hanging about the odd time along there.

Thank you so much for all that information! It's very helpful!

So far I went out around the area once by the canal and it seemed very isolated at parts (and the gates were a pain). I came back towards that walkinstown roundabout and I was a bit hesitant navigating it (I suppose it's something you'd have to get used to). I'll give route 4 a spin over the weekend!

Thanks again

py

Confidence and experience is what you'll need to deal with Walksintown roundabout, it can be quite busy during rush hour.

niallo32

ciara1052 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, it's out near the golf club in grange castle. I'm not completely familiar with the area at the minute but I was told its very near that.

I would go with route 4 above at least until you become more familiar with the area and the weather improves.

Unknown Soldier

py wrote: »

Confidence and experience is what you'll need to deal with Walksintown roundabout, it can be quite busy during rush hour.

I would have taken the walko roundie many, many times over the years. Still didn't stop a driver T boning me. Confidence and experience count for feck all tbh.

I tend to not bother with it anymore and go to the long mile road via the Submarine pub/Crumlin, and on the way home cut across the Kestrel Pub car park and use the pedestrian lights/footpath back onto St Peters road. Much less stressful and way safer.