Ireland day 1097. Sunday 29 September 2024- Tolka Estuary Greenway

Ireland day 1097. Sunday 29 September 2024- Tolka Estuary Greenway
Today’s summary Took the train to Clontarf Rd and walked the new Tolka Estuary Greenway out to Dublin Port and back. Interesting but I don’t think I’d do it again. Val working at the museum. Pre-prepared aubergine bake and fresh greens from Lotts grocery in Clontarf for dinner.
Today’s weather Stormy overcast and wet. Gale force easterly wind. Appx 12c
Today’s overview location
(The green mark shows the location of my route)
Close-up location
(The orange line shows where I walked)
(Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected):
Tolka Estuary Greenway
Commentary

(Summary blog only.   Last full blog was Day 0368).

Whenever there’s anything new on offer in the walking department, I always feel compelled to check it out. Especially so in Ireland, where new footpaths aren’t exactly two a penny. So when a new Greenway was opened in the River Tolka Estuary area last week, I felt I needed to pay it a visit as soon as I could.

Today turned out to be the perfect opportunity to do just that. There wasn’t a regular Club walk, and Val was at work putting in a shift at the museum. So, once she had headed off and I’d finished a couple of hours’ paperwork (again!), I took myself down to Malahide station to catch the next train to Clontarf Road.

The new Greenway goes round the north side of Dublin Port and it’s relatively easy to get to it from Clontarf Road DART station. The timing of the trains worked in my favour, so I was off on my way along the new Greenway only an hour after leaving the flat.

It wasn’t a great day weather-wise. In fact it was quite unpleasant with cold rain and a gale force wind. So glad it wasn’t like this in Djouce yesterday! Anyway, despite the adverse elements, there were still quite a few people out and about, having a look at this new facility.

My impression was that it was quite good. Clearly a lot had been spent on engineering and constructing it, and there were lots of interesting information boards to look at along the route. But the main problem with it is that it doesn’t really go anywhere. It ends abruptly right in the middle of the port and your only real option is to turn on your heels and return the way you have come. In its defence, eventually the greenway is supposed to be extended to go right round the port, but my guess is that this will be a long time away.

I also felt that the designers should have segregated pedestrian and bicycle traffic better. At the moment, there is no separation between walkers and cyclists so it’s a bit of a free for all, which makes it a rather hazardous experience for both.

Anyway, I was pleased to have seen it, especially while it was new and before it starts to succumb to the inevitable processes of urban decay. I’m not sure I’d rush back, though.

Once back at Clontarf Rod, I pressed on to Lott’s grocery to get a coffee and some ready-made tray bakes for dinner tonight. A DART arrived shortly afterwards, and I was back in the flat in time to get the kettle on ready for Val’s return from work.

Val has just gone out for a short run before it gets fully dark and the aubergine parmigiana and vegetables are in the oven. So looking forward to a tasty and relaxing evening, with perhaps a beer to top it off.

Oh – and by the way. As of today we have lived in Ireland for three years. I can hardly believe it. What an amazing experience it’s been – and continues to be. Here’s to the future!

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)

Curious solid metal bell, about 50cm in height, perched atop one of the walls alongside the greenway.   I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it is doubtless highly significant Approaching the end of the greenway, with a magnificent view of the ferry terminals
At the far end of the greenway, in Dublin Port.   It rather ends in the middle of nowhere, but there are plans to extend it right round the perimeter of the port, at some point Information about the Dublin Bay Lighthouses (which strangely aren’t managed by Irish Lights) overlooking the stormy sea
Looking back to the East Point bridge, at the start of the greenway East Point entrance to the greenway.   There were quite a few people out and about exploring it today – doubtless there would have been more if the weather had been better.
Tells you all you need to know!
Interactive map

(Elevations corrected at  GPS Visualizer: Assign DEM elevation data to coordinates )

Total distance: 8237 m
Max elevation: 10 m
Min elevation: 0 m
Total climbing: 127 m
Total descent: -128 m
Total time: 01:47:33
Download file: Tolka-estuary-greenway-compressed-corrected.gpx

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