A lovely walk through the heart of the North Kildare countryside, very flat, and suitable for most people. The trip involves going by bus to Kilcock, walking to Maynooth along the canal, and returning from there by bus or rail.
BASIC INFO
This walk is about 7km long, and takes between one and a half to two hours, depending on your pace and whether or not you stop along the way.
Very flat and suitable for most people, though small children should be supervised along the unguarded canal bank.
Comfortable shoes reccomended.
GETTING THERE
Kilcock is easily reached by bus, with regular services by Bus Eireann route 115 from the stops beside Connolly Station, and by some extended trips of Dublin Bus route 66 (the ones with the “K” next to the departure time).
The Bus Eireann services take around 50 minutes, and the Dublin Bus ones around 65 minutes, but if at all possible, the Dublin Bus service (departs Pearse St opposite Garda Station, also Westmorland Street) is reccomended, both because of the view from the double-deckers, and because this way a one day Rambler ticket will do you for both the outbound and the return trips.
Make sure you plan this so that you set off at least 3 hours before sunset, to allow two hours for the walk.
This walk is best done in the direction Kilcock to Maynooth for two reasons: for the majority of the day the sun will be behind you rather than in your eyes, and in order to finish up in the location which has more regular and frequent transport - i.e. you can plan your outward trip on the infrequent service, and know that there will be a bus or train within a reasonable time at the other end.
STARTING POINT
As the bus approaches Kilcock, the canal will suddenly be seen directly beside the road on the lefthand side.
Approach to Kilcock - Click on any picture to see fullsize
You will get off the bus in the village of Kilcock, the stop is just before the bridge, with the canal on your left, and some shops on the other side of the road. These will offer your last chance to buy water etc before the long walk to Maynooth.
THE WALK
To begin the walk, turn and head back the way the bus came - the canal will now be on your right, and the road on your left. The walk will take you along by the road for slightly less than one km.
The grassy bank is protected from the road by posts, but smaller children should be supervised to prevent them from going onto the road at this point, and from going too close to the canal bank for the whole walk.
After a short while, the road veers away from the canal, and there is a signpost for the Royal Canal Walk.
From here on, the walk is through much more tranquil countryside, though the road will be heard in the distance sometimes. At this point, the walk is along a wide and grassy bank, which is kept trimmed by the local authority.
After another km or so, the first of a number of locks is reached.
A long section through the countryside follows this, broken only by passing under a bridge carrying a small road overhead. This is the longest, and most quiet part of the walk.
On your left are fields behind a tall hedge, while on the other side of the canal the Dublin to Mullingar railway is shielded behind overgrowth and trees, though the trains can be seen and heard occasionally.
A little beyond the halfway point another lock and a substantial road bridge is approached, with some pretty cottages on the left. A small arched opening and some steps allows you to continue by passing under the road.
From this point onwards, a gravel and cinder path runs along the canal bank.
After another km or so along this, you will begin to notice signs of habitation behind the hedges, but it is another while yet before the outskirts of Maynooth are marked by the tall walls and treelined grounds of St. Patricks College on the lefthand side.
Once St. Patricks is passed, the town starts to appear on both sides of the canal. Coming into Maynooth we pass under a substantial modern road bridge - built recently - and find ourselves on the final km of the walk with houses on the left, and approaching Maynooth Station on the other side.
When the station is reached, a footbridge over the canal allows you to access it directly, if you would rather return to Dublin by rail.
Just beyond the railway footbridge, the canal widens out into a basin or pool, where in former times barges could be turned or stabled. Ahead can be seen the road bridge that is our ultimate destination, but we have to follow the curve of the basin in a semi-circle in order to reach it.
Passing around the basin, the road bridge directly ahead has a ramp leading up to it.
GETTING HOME
Turn left along the road which leads into the centre of Maynooth, and around 2 minutes later a pull-in will be reached where buses 66 and 67A stop, both heading to Dublin, the latter via Celbridge.
For timetables consult www.dublinbus.ie
