Grand Canal Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Dublin, Kildare and Offaly
Grand Canal Way is a 117.1 km easy waymarked linear route in Dublin, Kildare and Offaly, starting near Lucan.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 5 days |
Getting there
Starts at Lucan Road Bridge, near Lucan.
Finishes at Shannon Harbour.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.33094, -6.45527
- Irish Grid reference
- O 029 323
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 47, 48, 49, 50 and 53* (*ca 3.3km to River Shannon)
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
Public transport
At Start: Bus to Shopping Centre in Lucan (about 2km off Way) and also to Milltown (about 1.5 km off Way) - Check timetables at Dublin Bus/. At End: Limited bus service to Dublin (Monday to Friday only). Check timetables at Bus Eireann.
About the trail
The Grand Canal was designed to connect Dublin, Ireland's capital city westwards through the midlands with the River Shannon, and although construction work began in 1757, the waterway was not completed as far as the Shannon until 1804. It closed to commercial traffic in 1951, but in recent decades the canal has been restored for amenity use, and is well-frequented by pleasure craft of all kinds. The Grand Canal Way follows pleasant grassy towpaths, gravel and sometimes tarmac canal-side roads from Lucan Bridge near Adamstown in County Dublin 124km to Shannon Harbour on Ireland's longest river. The route is an informal linear park punctuated by the locks that characterise canal technology, carefully restored surviving lock-keepers cottages, and the towns and villages whose existence is owed to the trade and commerce the canal brought in the 18th and 19th centuries. Much of the landscape through which the route passes has been untouched by modern agriculture and remains a linear oasis for the flora and fauna that was originally common throughout our countryside. The many towns and villages along the way provide walkers with accommodation possibilities along the route, and as public transport options are good, these places can act as starting and finishing points for those who want to sample only sections of the route.
Before you go
31 kms or 26% of the Way follows local roads. There may be issues with waymarking at some points along the trail. ***Dogs under effective control allowed. Please clean up after your dog***
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Waterways Ireland Grand
Waterways Ireland, Floor 2 Block C, Ashtowngate, Dublin 15 Tel 01-8680148 Email: [email protected] Web: www.waterwaysireland.org
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Royal Canal Greenway - Drumcondra - Ashtown - Castleknock 8.0 km away · 8.9 km trail
- Saggart Hill Loop 8.8 km away · 3.4 km trail
- Slievethoul Lugg Walk 8.8 km away · 6.9 km trail
- Royal Canal Greenway Cycling Trail 10 km away · 121.4 km trail
- Royal Canal Greenway Walking Trail 10 km away · 121.4 km trail
- Massey's Estate - Nature trail 13 km away · 2.5 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Grand Canal Way?
117.1 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 5 days.
How hard is the Grand Canal Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Grand Canal Way start?
Starts at Lucan Road Bridge, near Lucan. The trailhead is at 53.33094, -6.45527 (Irish Grid O 029 323).
Can you bring a dog on the Grand Canal Way?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Can you get to the Grand Canal Way without a car?
At Start: Bus to Shopping Centre in Lucan (about 2km off Way) and also to Milltown (about 1.5 km off Way) - Check timetables at Dublin Bus/. At End: Limited bus service to Dublin (Monday to Friday only). Check timetables at Bus Eireann.
Who manages the Grand Canal Way?
Waterways Ireland Grand. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Dublin, Kildare and Offaly
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.