Royal Canal Greenway

The path has a mix of surfaces—about half bound (asphalt) and half unbound (compacted gravel). Asphalt is more common in town areas and around bridges and access points. 

Following the edge of the 225-year-old Royal Canal, the trail showcases old stone bridges and aqueducts. Keep in mind there are soft edges with reeds, some areas dropping into the canal, and occasional steep embankments.

The best and easiest way to view a general map of the Royal Canal Greenway is by downloading the Royal Canal Greenway Guide. Here, you will find details on various trail heads and notable points of interest along the path.

Waterways Ireland aims to ensure safe and enjoyable experiences for all trail visitors. However, growing trail popularity has led to tensions, such as speeding cyclists and uncontrolled dogs. We offer guidance through our Greenway Code of Conduct and utilise signage and social media to promote safe and courteous behaviour.

Remember: Keep left, pass right, ring bells when passing, keep dogs on short leads, clean up after pets, and avoid littering: #LeaveNoTrace.

Start your trip at any of the 14 access points along the Royal Canal Greenway, conveniently dividing the 130km trail. Five designated Trailheads - Maynooth, Enfield, Mullingar, Cloondara, and Longford town - offer a full range of services. While you can begin at any access point, services may be more limited. 

The trail is easy and flat, perfect for walkers, runners, and cyclists of all ages. The challenge lies in the distance, with access points approximately every 10 km, letting you choose how challenging you want your journey to be.

You can use mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrids, electric bikes, kids' bikes, and trailers for young children on the trail. Motorbikes, quad bikes, dirt bikes, and other large motorised vehicles are not allowed on the trail.

You don't have to bring your bike or gear, as bike rental services are readily available in the area. Each trailhead along the Royal Canal Greenway offers bike rental options.

Bins are not provided along the trail. Please take your rubbish with you and dispose of it properly. If you're walking your dog, please clean up after them too. The Royal Canal towpath has been around for 225 years, with diverse birdlife and plants. Keep it clean and remember to #LeaveNoTrace. 

There are wonderful places to visit along or close to the Greenway, from quirky eateries and stunning visitor attractions to bike hire providers. Please plan ahead and contact businesses directly for further information prior to planning your trip and to avoid disappointment.

For further information on the visitor services in each county, tourism websites are linked below;

Kildare
Meath
Westmeath
Longford

Public toilets are situated at Waterways Ireland service blocks in Cloondara, Ballynacarrigy, Abbeyshrule, Enfield, and Mullingar.

Longford Town has public toilets operated by the local county council. Moreover, you can typically find toilets in local eateries in towns and villages along the trail. Please consider supporting these local businesses if you use their bathroom facilities.

While the Royal Canal towpath begins in Dublin, the cycling-friendly Greenway section starts in Maynooth. Currently, it's not possible to cycle the entire route from Dublin to Maynooth. Plans are in progress to upgrade the towpath to Greenway status from Maynooth eastward into Dublin.

For visitors using mobility aids, here are some considerations:

The trail surface is a mix of bound (asphalt) and unbound (compacted gravel) surfaces, with asphalt more prevalent in town areas and around bridges and access points (roughly a 50:50 split along the route).

Gates are strategically placed to prevent motorised vehicle access. All access gates from Maynooth to Cloondara have 1.05m staggered openings to accommodate wheelchair access.

The terrain is mostly flat, allowing unrestricted movement, but due to canal infrastructure, occasional inclines may be encountered, particularly around humpbacked bridges like Spin or Allen Bridge, which could pose slight challenges for wheelchair users.

Consider using public transport to and from trailheads for a convenient travel option. Most bike hire companies offer flexible pick-up and drop-off points. 

The Dublin to Sligo railway route by Iarnród Éireann provides public transport from trailheads at Maynooth, Kilcock, Enfield, Mullingar, and Longford. Note that space for bikes on trains is limited and may require advance booking. Check Bicycle Information for Rail Travel at irishrail.ie.

Bus Eireann provides routes to access points and trailheads across Ireland. Check their website for details. If starting from Dublin, bus routes connect various city areas with Maynooth, your starting point on the Royal Canal Greenway. Check Dublin Bus for bus route times and prices.

You can park your car at trailheads and access points along the trail. Please ensure that your car is parked safely off the road and is not blocking access or causing obstruction to any roadway.

If a car park is full, find an alternative secure location to park, avoiding any blockage for others.

No, the Greenway trail cannot accommodate equestrian users due to its limited width. To ensure the safety of all Greenway users, including pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, and dog walkers, horses are not allowed on the Royal Canal Greenway.

Dogs are welcome on the Greenway, but they must be on a short lead at all times for everyone's safety, including your furry friends. Off-leash dogs or those on long leads can be hazards, particularly for cyclists. Considering the diverse users with varying comfort levels around animals, please be considerate and keep control of your pet. Also, remember to clean up after them.

Absolutely! Anglers are more than welcome on the Greenway. The Royal Canal offers a haven for fishing enthusiasts. However, given the high number of Greenway visitors, it's important for anglers to be cautious about placing their equipment in spots that won't pose hazards to other trail users.

Approval from Waterways Ireland is required for any organised event on the Royal Canal Greenway.

We encourage those planning an event to submit an approval application at least 12 weeks in advance. This ensures proper safety planning, avoids conflicts with scheduled maintenance or development work, and provides ample time for successful event promotion.

You can fill in this form to submit an event request.
 

For visitors using mobility aids, here are some considerations:

The trail surface is a mix of bound (asphalt) and unbound (compacted gravel) surfaces, with asphalt more prevalent in town areas and around bridges and access points (roughly a 50:50 split along the route).

Gates are strategically placed to prevent motorised vehicle access. All access gates from Maynooth to Cloondara have 1.05m staggered openings to accommodate wheelchair access.

The terrain is mostly flat, allowing unrestricted movement, but due to canal infrastructure, occasional inclines may be encountered, particularly around humpbacked bridges like Spin or Allen Bridge, which could pose slight challenges for wheelchair users.