County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

County Kildare Walking Routes Project
causeway dating from the Iron Age, a monastic enclosure and earthworks from the
early Christian times with the imprint of St. Patrick’s feet on a stone. There is a 1798
memorial to Captain John Doorley, United Irishman and leader of the attack on
Rathangan in 1798 and an eighteenth century walled estate farmyard which now
houses the Irish Peatland Conservation Councils Bog of Allen Nature Centre. In
Robertstown there is a detached seven bay three storey over basement former canal
hotel built in 1801, a single arch rubble stone aqueduct c 1780, free standing cast iron
gas lamp c. 1900, an attached three bay single storey thatched cottage c 1885, and a
section of the Grands Canal c 1785 with dressed stone retaining walls. All of the sites
are accessible from the route.
5. The route is along canal towpath managed by Waterways Ireland, public road, bog road
managed by Bord na Móna, paths managed by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. If
the walk is to be fully developed as a circular looped walk then negotiations with private
land owners to complete the loop along existing pathways across what appears to be
private land will be necessary. Local farmers are supportive of heritage development and
have a record of active participation in the development of walks bordering their land to
give access to monastic ruins and a local graveyard.
6. The Grand Canal is a designated Natural Heritage Area. There is no Special Areas of
Conservation adjacent to the route but the Irish Peat Conservation Council has recently
acquired remnant bog from Bord na Móna along the route and are developing it as a
conservation site of international importance.
7. The underfoot conditions are muddy and wet and partly overgrown over a short distance at
one short section of a proposed link walk to develop a this as a looped walk with reduced
section along tarred road. Most of the route is firm along gravel and single track grassy
towpath, quiet country road and hard packed farmyard access road.
8. There is limited signage at present. Additional arrow marks and information boards are
required before the walk can be promoted.
9. The route is 30 kms on canal towpaths and public road with the potential for several lopped
walks within it. Four kms (13%) is along busy country road.
10. The Lughnasa Festival in nearby (3 kms) Rathangan (arts & crafts, local history) is in
July. During Heritage Week in September a number of events occur in the area
including guided canal bank walks and workshops on bog conservation at Lullymore.
Throughout the year the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) organise a series
of events including guided bog tours, workshops and exhibitions at here centre in
Lullymore.
11. The entire route is 30kms on level towpath trails and tarred public roads. Most of the route
is wheelchair accessible with boardwalk section in the bog. No special equipment is
needed apart from stout walking shoes. The road sections are quiet with little traffic but
caution is still required especially with young children.
12. Ample car parking is available at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and Lullymore Heritage
and Discovery Park.
13. The route is under the control of a number of organisations including IPCC, Bord na Móna,
Waterways Ireland and Kildare County Council. A co-ordinated approach to health and
safety along the proposed route is required particularly in relation to uniform signage to
identify hazards along the route.
14. There are three optional detour walks of about 1 km each to visit Lullymore Heritage
Park (including a train trip out to a mineral island in the bog at Lullybeg), a monastic
settlement and the ancient Iron Age wooden causeway.
15. Sections of the route are developed, managed and maintained by different
organisations. A co-ordinated approach to between IPCC, Bord na Móna, Waterways
Ireland and Kildare County Council is required if the proposed walk is to reach its full