County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

County Kildare Walking Routes Project
EVALUATION WALKING ROUTE 3: Barrow Way 1 (Lowtown to Monasterevin)
This canal route consists of 5kms road and 19.5km
grassy path along the canal bank through three
landscape character areas with flat terrain and low
lying vegetation allowing long distance and extensive
visibility. The route can be enjoyed by people of all
ages and fitness. The towpaths are self guiding and do
not demand the knowledge of navigation techniques or
physical fitness levels required for long distance
walking in remote and mountainous regions. There is a
significant range of natural and built heritage along the
route. In fact the route is proposed as a Natural Heritage Area in the County Development
Plan. Although public transport and local services are restricted the management and
access comes under the control of Waterways Ireland. The walk is already well promoted
by regional and national tourism agencies and several well established community groups
operate in the area. Two successful visitor attractions occur close to the route and other
activities such as fishing and cycling are well promoted along the route which improves the
potential for promoting tourist packages.
Route 3 scored 177 out of a potential total of 250 (71%). See detailed scoring in
Appendix 2.
EVALUATION WALKING ROUTE 4: Barrow Way 2 (Vicarstown to Athy)
This canal 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. 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. The route can be enjoyed by people of all ages and
fitness. Although most of the route lacks significant natural and built heritage the town of
Athy at one end of the route is a heritage town. Public transport to Athy is excellent with
regular bus and rail services. Local services and accommodation in Athy are also very
good. Management and access to the route comes under the control of Waterways
Ireland. The walk is already well promoted by regional and national tourism agencies.
There are successful visitor attractions close to the route in Athy and other activities such
as fishing and cycling are well promoted along the route which improves the potential for
promoting tourist packages.
Route 4 scored 174 out of a potential total of 250 (69%). See detailed scoring in
Appendix 2
EVALUATION WALKING ROUTE 7: Grand Canal Way 1 (Sallins to Hazelhatch)
This canal route consists of 10.5km of towpath tracks, including c. 2.5km of local vehicular
access. Walking time is about 3 hours. The route passes through the Northern Lowlands,
along the Grand Canal ‘landscape within a landscape’. This comprises flat pasture &
tillage, with stud farms, in very pleasant and quiet rural area. The prominent ridgeline of
Lyons Hill between Kill and Newcastle lies c. 2km to the southeast, with the hills of the
Eastern Uplands visible in the southeastern distance. The canal landscape, with well
developed hedgerows, encloses a haven of solitude despite being so close to the Greater
Dublin metropolis.
CSA Project 3419 5