Bus service links city to mountains

A new bus service linking Dublin city with the nearby mountains and forest recreation areas will begin from this weekend.

The service, which is a pilot project operated by the Dublin Mountains Partnership, will run five times a day at weekends and bank holidays between the city and Dublin mountains, bringing families and visitors to the heart of the local amenity.

Dubbed the Dublin Mountaineer, the bus route begins at Sandyford Luas station and will service Enniskerry Road, Ballyedmonduff, Glencullen, the Wicklow Way, Tibradden, Cruagh/Killakee, Hell Fire and Marlay Park. It begins on July 25th and will operate until the end of September.

“This service will provide walkers, recreation users and visitors to Dublin an alternative to the private car for accessing the wonderful resource of the Dublin Mountains,” said Karen Woods of the Dublin Mountains Partnership.

The rambler bus will cost €5 for a daily hop on, hop off pass, and a family rambler ticket for two adults and two children will cost €12. Tickets can be bought on board.

Operated by an Enniskerry-based coach company, the Dublin Mountaineer was officially launched today by Tony Killeen, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

“This new bus route will provide an effective way for people to get out and enjoy the great resource which is at the doorstep of the capital city and I am delighted to formally launch this service,” he said.

The new service comes only weeks after the first section of a 38km walking trail across the Dublin mountains was opened.

The route, which opened in June, links Tibradden, Kilmashogue and Cruagh forests. It is part of a long-distance trail that is intended to stretch from Shankill in the east to Tallaght in the west of the county.

Volunteers began constructing a new section of the Dublin Mountains Way linking Cruagh and Massy's woods on July 11th. The next Mountain Meitheal workday on the project takes place on Sunday.