County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

County Kildare Walking Routes Project
Comments
1. The route passes through two landscape character areas defined in the County
Development Plans as the Southern Lowlands and the River Barrow Valley. The route
starts in County Laois and the Castlecomer Plateau breaks the flat terrain to the west.
The land use on either side of the route is dominantly tillage for barley, wheat and
oats.
2. Along both banks of the canal and river there is a wide band of vegetation consisting of
reeds and wild flowers; short grass on the towpath, longer grasses and flowers on
either side of it; a species rich hedgerow on the boundary and a variety of habitats on
the non towpath side – woodland scrub and grass land. The range of habitats supports
a wide diversity of wildflowers, trees, shrubs, insects, mammals, fish and birds.
3. Athy has frequent bus and rail connections. This is a linear route. Vicarstown is not
well served by public transport. The route is quite isolated and monotonous but acts as
a link between urban Athy and the picturesque country settlement at Vicarstown. The
route is linear and requires a drop off at one end and a walk to pick up your car at the
other end.
4. Along the route is an aqueduct, a single arch rubble stone hump back bridge at Bert, a
detached three bay single storey thatched cottage and former mill owners house. At
Bert there is an impressive seven bayed Georgian mansion, now a luxury hotel. Closer
to Athy are the 1840s workhouse and adjoining cemetery. Athy is a heritage town with
a canal harbour and associated warehousing and former canal hotel. Almost all of the
sites are located on the actual route and are accessible to the public.
5. The route is under the control of Waterways Ireland who are responsible for the
management, maintenance, development and restoration of the Grand Canal
principally for recreational purposes. Waterways Ireland employs local people as lock
keepers and provides training in health and safety. Waterways Ireland has an ongoing
Marketing and Promotional Strategy that includes promoting recreational walking.
6. The entire Grand Canal Route is designated as a proposed Natural Heritage Area in
the Draft County Development Plan for Kildare. There are no Special Areas of
Conservation adjacent to the route.
7. The underfoot conditions are firm ranging from metalled roadway, hard gravel surfaced
towpath to narrow grassy track along pleasant embankment. There are sections along
surfaced public road without footpaths. The route consists of about 2.5 km road, 0.5
km track, 8 km grassy track. The road section is not busy with local traffic only.
Walking time is about 3.5 hours.
8. The route is straight and signage is adequate for requirements. There are information
boards at Athy canal harbour.
9. Several Festivals occur throughout the year in Athy including the Sir Ernest Shackleton
International Autumn School, the Kildare County Show in July, the Athy Water Festival,
Athy Medieval Exhibition and the Athy Bluegrass Music Festival.
10. There are disabled angling stands near Cardington Lock just outside Athy and much of
the route is passable by wheelchair along towpath.
11. On street in Vicarstown and in the carpark at the 27 th Lock in Athy canal harbour.
12. The route is under the control of Waterways Ireland and is supervised by NWWAC.
There is adequate signage to identify hazards along the route. Waterways Ireland
have an environmental plan for the waterways and contract the Central Fisheries
Board to monitor environmental aspect of the Barrow Navigation and Grand Canal.
Waterways Ireland operates a health and safety policy.
13. There are no identifiable loop walks along the route.
14. There is no identifiable private sector involvement with the route.