If you don’t want to walk everywhere one of the nicest ways to get around is by bicycle. You can hire a bike very easily from Dave who brings his bikes in the back of a white van and parks right across the canal from the train station. Dave has some great ideas for long and short rides. Frankly, Dave is cool.
Booking and prices
Prices depend on which bike you hire and how long you hire it for. Book a bike via royalcanalbikehire.ie.
TOUR IDEA 1
Carton House Estate
You can ride all around Carton House estate grounds which is mostly a golf course. The views are absolutely breath-taking. You will cruise down tree-lined avenues, pass over little rivers, ancient follies, hill tops and forests. The whole tour takes about 1hr at an elegant pace. From Maynooth, cycle to the Boathouse which marks the entrance to the grounds and from there simply explore all the pathways! Google map directions from Maynooth to The Boathouse: google.com/maps/dir/Maynooth+The+Boathouse
The Boathouse at Carton House Estate
TOUR IDEA 2
Canal ride with lunch in Kilcock
A 30min leisurely ride along the canal gets you to a little village called Kilcock. Start at the Maynooth Harbour where the train station is and where you will collect your bike from Dave. The ride along the canal is straight and flat and you will find many a fellow biker shouting ‘passing on your right!’ as you fly along. We asked the locals in Kilcock about where to eat. They recommended the Rye River Café for lunch. We agree. The food is great. The coffee is excellent. The price is fair. You might want to book a table… It’s popular with the locals.
Royal Canal at Mullen Bridge on the way to Kilcock
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Posted by Rita. Updated 11 July 2022.
