Ramble Royal Canal

Meeting Point: Skerries Train Station

Time:  Meet at 09:10 a.m. departing on 09:22 a.m. train

Walk Starting point:  Convention Centre  Walk Starting Time: 10.15 a.m.

Route: Royal Canal Way from the Convention Centre on the Liffey as far as Leixlip.

Distance: 19 km

Duration: 4 hrs 30 – 5 hrs

Leader: John Coleman (Mob: 087 – 686 5243;  Email:  colemanjo@eircom.net)

This is an EASY RAMBLE

1) Please ensure that, at the very least, you have good walking shoes (no trainers), and depending on the weather forecast – multiple layers including a warm jacket/fleece, hat and gloves, a waterproof jacket and trousers, a flask with a hot drink, sandwiches/snacks, a litre of water and a small rucksack. If you are unsure about your gear check with the leader a few days beforehand as anyone turning up with inadequate gear will not be permitted to walk.

2) It is highly recommended that you do not wear any clothing made from DENIM/CORDUROY/COTTON on the walk.

3) The club is a supporter of the ‘Leave No Trace’ campaign so please ensure that you leave no litter (of any sort) on the walk route.

4) NEVER go ahead of the Leader without being sure of the way!

Leader’s Note:

The Royal Canal Way is a most interesting and pleasant walk. Starting at the Convention Centre (where the canal meets the River Liffey) we follow the Royal Canal Way past Croke Park, lovely double-chamber lock systems and the spectacular Navan Road Interchange (where the N3 roundabout, the railway line and the Royal Canal cross over the M50) as far as Leixlip where we will catch the train back to Dublin Connolly. We will stretch ourselves on this one to do one of our longest rambles to date. However there is an ‘out’ at Clonsilla – 13 km (our usual distance) for those who might find that long enough, taking the train then back to Connolly from there. 

We will meet at Skerries Train Station at 09.10 a.m. to catch the 09.22 a.m. train to Connolly arriving at 10.01. A short 15 min walk from there to the Convention Centre. We will have a coffee stop at Ashtown (7.5km distance). Bring a sandwich for a pit stop along the way. Plenty of trains from Leixlip (Confey) back to Dublin Connolly, then onwards to Skerries.

Return trains from Leixlip (Confey): 

15.15 arr. Connolly 15.49 Pl.4     16.28 Pl. 7   arr. Skrs.  17.00

15.52                       16.25 Pl. 1    17.00 Pl. 6                    17.33

16.35                       16.58 Pl. 7    17.12 Pl. 3                    17.43

17.23                       17.54 Pl. 6    18.07 Pl. 6                    18.44   

Please text or email leader John Coleman by Tuesday 15th June if you would like to go on the walk and indicating whether meeting up in Skerries or at the Convention Centre. 

Walk is limited to Skerries Walking Club members only (max. 15).  Also please provide mob. phone number for contact. Before the walk you will be asked to confirm a) you have not been outside the country in the last 14 days, b) you have no symptoms of Covid-19 – cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of smell/taste, c) you have not been in contact with any confirmed case of Covid-19  or have been told to self-isolate in the last 14 days.

For ease of communication and updates a WhatsApp group will be set up for this walk. If you do not wish to be included in this WhatsApp group please let the leader know when you get in touch to book your place.