Royal Canal Way – Ashtown to Maynooth

This stage of the Royal Canal Way escapes the city westward from Ashtown, passing through the dramatic rock-walled 'Deep Sinking' cutting near Castleknock — where the towpath narrows high above the water — and on through Leixlip and past Carton Estate's walls to Maynooth.

The route is flat and easy to follow throughout, with rail stations at regular intervals making any-length versions possible. History is constant company: the canal, the railway and the Rye Water aqueduct all tell the story of Ireland's transport past.