Royal Canal Way
The Royal Canal Way is a 11Km commuter cycle route from Dublin City travelling west on the side of the canal that does not yet connect with the start of the Royal Canal Greenway proper at Leixlip.
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The Royal Canal meets the River Liffey at Spencer Dock which is a short distance from Dublin city centre. The maps below show the exact starting point at the nearby Samuel Beckett Bridge.
There is a cycle path, travelling east-west, from the Samuel Beckett bridge to Castleknock train station, a distance of just under 11Kms. This commuter route is used extensively by cyclists from the west of the city to cycle into the heart of Dublin city.
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We have not included this route on the Royal Canal Greenway on this website as there is no through cycle route from Castleknock train station to connect with the Royal Canal Greenway proper starting at Leixlip Confey train station. The section shown in Blue is the route we discuss here, namely The Royal Canal Way.
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The section shown in Green is the start of the Royal Canal Greenway which extends all the way to Longford. The section, shown in Red on the map below is not open for cyclists. It is a distance of just over 8Kms. In this section the water level in the canal is lower than the banks, resulting in a sheer drop down from the banks to the canal making it dangerous for cyclists.
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There are plans in place to construct the missing link for cyclists, the 8Kms stretching from Castleknock train station to Leixlip Confey, see the Irish Times report of Jan. 2026.​
The Blue section on the right shows the cycle route through Dublin City. The Red section is not open to cyclists and the Green section is the first stage of the Royal Canal Greenway
Samuel Beckett Bridge
Commuter Route from Dublin City
The end of the cycle path at Castleknock
Entering Castleknock Station
The route of the Royal Canal Way starts at the Samuel Beckett Bridge with Spencer Dock just ahead. Spencer Dock is the final dock before the canal reaches the River Liffey. Pass the Convention Centre on the right with the cycle path also on your right. The cycle path is on the right hand side of the road on Guild Street.
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Cycle over the Luas (tram) lines passing the Luke Kelly monument on the right. Cross over Sheriff Street continuing a few hunderd metres on the path, cycle under the railway bridge and continue on the overpass to the North Strand Road. Cross. Cross the road staying on the left/ southern bank of the canal. Cycle on Charleville Mall passing Katie Harrington's school on your left. Cross under or over the Clarke's bridge on the Ballybough Road. The Croke Park stadium, headquarters of the GAA comes into view.
Cycle past the stadium and over the Bloody Sunday bridge on Jones Road with the entrance to Croke Park on your right hand side. Continue with the canal on your right over Binns Bridge at Drumcondra Road Lower.
At Binns Bridge we cross to the other side of the canal, with the canal now on our left we pass Lock 2 and the monument to Brendan Behan. Pass Lock 3 and Lock 4. Mountjoy Jail is now visible on your left on the other side of the canal. Cross over Cross Guns Bridge at the Phibsborough Road and Lock 5 and continue past Lock 6. Cycle under the railway bridge an pass Lock 7. Pass Broombridge rail station on the opposite side cycling under the bridge at Broombridge Road.
Cycle under the green steel bridge at Ratoath Road and pass Lock 8 with Pelletstown train station on the opposite side of the canal. Continue 1 Km passing Lock 9 to Ashtown where there are a number of cafes available at the side of the cycle path.
Cross the suspension cycle bridge to the other side of the canal and then cross over Ashtown Road with the level crossing to your left. Now with the canal on our right, pass Lock 10 on your right. Cycle 2 Kms passing Lock 11. We pass under major road junctions that link to the M50 motorway and we cross over the M50 via the M50 aquaduct. We now cross the Old Navan Road staying on the same side of the canal. We pass Lock 12 and the Twelfth Lock hotel on our left. With canal boats on either side of the canal we cycle under the Granard Bridge and Castleknock station is just ahead.