Arthur’s Way is a heritage trail across northeast CountyKildare that follows in the footsteps of Arthur Guinness.In just 16 km, it links many of the historic sites associatedwith Ireland’s most famous brewers – the Guinness family.Visitors are invited to explore Celbridge - where Arthurspent his childhood, Leixlip - the site of his first breweryand Oughterard graveyard - Arthur’s final resting place nearhis ancestral home.

The trail rises gently from the confluence of the Liffeyand Rye rivers at Leixlip to the Palladian CastletownHouse estate and onto Celbridge. It then departs theLiffey Valley to join the Grand Canal at Hazelhatch. Thegrassy towpaths guide visitors past beautiful flora andfauna and the enchanting Lyons Estate. At Ardclough, theroute finally turns for Oughterard which offersspectacular views over Kildare, Dublin and the Provinceof Leinster.

HERITAGETRAIL

LENGTH: 16km approx.

TIME: 3 – 3.5 hours walking; 1 – 1.5 hours cycling

GRADE: Easy. Generally flat with good surfaces. Inclines at Old Hill,Leixlip and Ardclough. Mix of footpaths, tracks, roads andcanal towpath. Suitable for family groups. Normaloutdoor footwear can be worn.

Arthur’s Way is a waymarked linear route which can be enjoyed ineither direction.

RECOMMENDED ROUTEPOINTS OF INTEREST & DISTANCES

STAGE 1: Arthur Guinness Square,Leixlip towards...

STAGE 2: Celbridge Main Streettowards...

STAGE 3: Hazelhatch Bridgetowards...

STAGE 4: Lyons Estatetowards Oughterard

This is a County Kildare Fáilte projectsupported by Kildare County Council

Keep an eye out for the Arthur’sWay information boards,fingerposts and marker poststo help keep you on track

The Wonderful Barn

WWW.ARTHURSWAY.IE

Log on to the website to get more informationon the route, including MAPS and LEAFLETS,and an AUDIO GUIDE.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTTo and from LEIXLIP:Dublin Bus - all 66 routesIrish Rail - Maynooth Suburban Line

To and from CELBRIDGE:Dublin Bus - all 67 routesIrish Rail - Portlaoise Line

www.irishrail.ie

www.transportforireland.ie

www.dublinbus.ie

HERITAGE TRAIL

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ARTHUR’S WAY, LEIXLIP- FROM LEIXLIP TO CELBRIDGE

ARTHUR’S WAY, CELBRIDGE- FROM CELBRIDGE TO HAZELHATCH

ARTHUR’S WAY, HAZELHATCH- FROM HAZELHATCH TO LYONS ESTATE

ARTHUR’S WAY, OUGHTERARD- OUGHTERARD CEMETERY

There is a rich history in Celbridge dating back5,000 years, with many sites of interest. St. Patrickis linked with the town, and in the 12th and 13th

centuries, the Normans developed Celbridge withthe construction of castles, mills, houses andmonastic sites. And of course, here Arthur spent

his youth with his family, and would have learnedhis trade by his father’s side.

This stretch of Arthur’s Way introduces you to the GrandCanal. This feat of 18th Century Victorian engineeringallowed the Guinness brewery in Dublin to expand itsoperations. These days, what was once a businessenterprise is now a valuable amenity for walkers,cyclists, anglers, boating enthusiasts and nature lovers.Here you will discover some of the secrets of Guinnessbrewing, learn the importance of the canal and the MilltownFeeder, and enjoy some wonderful wildlife.

Oughterard (in Irish Uachtar Árd) means high place. It is anapt description. The relatively easy climb to the cemetery isdeceptive; when you reach the open ground in the graveyard,you are rewarded with remarkable views of the plain ofKildare and a broad sweep of Leinster to the west, and theDublin and Wicklow Mountains stretching away to the

south. Here you will find the final resting place of Arthurand some of his family. Whilst many journeys end here,

yours can continue back into Ardclough and beyondand discover other delights of Kildare. Visithttp://kildare.ie/tourism/ for more information.

As you leave behind Hazelhatch and head south-west, youwill get glimpses of Lyons Hill amongst the foothills of theDublin Mountains further south. The trail leads you past thespectacular Village at Lyons estate where weary travellers canrefresh themselves with fine lunches at the Canal Café onFridays and weekends with food inspired by ClodaghMcKenna. The area is steeped in history and colourful

characters, and thecanal banks willdelight with wildflowers, insects andbirds.

ARTHUR’S WAY, LYONS ESTATE- FROM LYONS ESTATE TO OUGHTERARD

The Arthur’s Way trailhead can be found in the centre ofLeixlip town. Your journey begins where Arthur once stoodand surveyed a landscape that has not changed too much, ifyou cast a careful eye on the surrounding landscape. Acrossthe river is the imposing Leixlip Castle. Beside ArthurGuinness Square is St. Mary’s Church; resting place ofArchbishop Price whose seed capital allowed Arthur and hisbrother Richard to start their brewing enterprise

Castletown House, Celbridge

Enjoy the delights of Arthur’s Way on foot, or by bike!

The Village at Lyons

Arthur Guinness statue, Celbridge

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