What are the main stops in Walking with a toddler: pace, snacks and keeping it fun?

This Dublin guide covers 3 key stops in order: Portobello to Charlemont Lock, National Botanic Gardens, Iveagh Gardens Maze. Short flat stretch with canal locks, ducks and benches every hundred metres.

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Use the "Directions in Joyride AI Maps" button on this guide to load all 3 stops onto the interactive map with live weather, custom start points and turn-by-turn navigation.

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Dublin, Grand CanalFoto: Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Toddlers are brilliant walking companions, as long as you forget about getting anywhere fast. They stop for every puddle, stick and dog, and they want to walk right up until the moment they don't. Planning a walk around a toddler's pace and attention span is the key to enjoying it, for them and for you.

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Stopp 1 · Grand Canal · Duck & lock watch

Portobello to Charlemont Lock

Short flat stretch with canal locks, ducks and benches every hundred metres.

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Expect toddler pace

A toddler walking on their own might cover a kilometre in half an hour, with stops. Plan the route around that, and bring a buggy, a carrier or a scooter for the rest. Think of the walk as time spent outdoors rather than a distance to cover, and you'll both enjoy it more.

Plan around naps and meals

Timing makes or breaks a toddler walk. Setting off soon after a nap and a snack is ideal. If a nap is due, plan a buggy section for that part of the route, ideally somewhere quiet such as a park or a canal path. Avoid walks that run into lunchtime without a food stop.

Practical tip: pack more snacks than you think you need, and keep one special snack back for the moment energy runs out.

Turn the walk into a game

Spotting games: five dogs, three red doors, a bus, a bird on the water.
Collecting: leaves, conkers or stones to look at (and leave behind at the end).
Follow the leader: let them choose which way to go at a safe junction.
Counting: steps, bridges, benches or boats.

Iveagh Gardens, DublinFoto: William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Choose routes with things to look at

Water, animals and moving things hold a toddler's attention far longer than scenery. Canals with locks and boats, ponds with ducks, harbours and railway bridges all make great stops. A canal towpath such as Dublin's Grand Canal combines water, birds and benches in one flat route, though it's shared with cyclists, so hold hands on the narrow parts.

Stay safe near roads and water

Agree simple rules before you set off: stop at every kerb, hold hands near roads and stay close by water. Toddlers move fast and don't understand edges, so keep them within arm's reach near canals, rivers, harbours and the sea. Water Safety Ireland has advice on keeping young children safe near water.

Woodland Area Phoenix Park DublinFoto: James Emmans, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Know when to stop

Tired toddlers fall more, wander more and melt down more. If yours starts to drag, sit down for a snack, switch to the buggy or head back. Ending while it's still fun makes the next walk an easy sell.

What to bring

Snacks, water and a cup they can manage.
Wipes, nappies or spare clothes.
A waterproof layer and a hat.
A buggy, carrier or scooter for when little legs give up.

Dublin, Grand Canal, Suir Road Locks (upper chamber)Foto: Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Referenz & Tools:

Dublin through the year

Dublin averages 14 rainy days in Oct and highs of about 14°C. The driest month is usually Apr.

Days with 1 mm of rain or moreAverage high (°C)

Show the numbers

Month	Rainy days	Rain	Average high	Sunshine	Sunset
Jan	13	63 mm	8°C	4.1 h/day	16:34
Feb	13	66 mm	9°C	5.4 h/day	17:33
Mar	15	80 mm	10°C	7.1 h/day	18:27
Apr	12	63 mm	12°C	9.2 h/day	20:23
May	13	65 mm	15°C	11 h/day	21:16
Jun	13	72 mm	18°C	11.4 h/day	21:54
Jul	15	79 mm	19°C	10.1 h/day	21:47
Aug	13	82 mm	19°C	9.7 h/day	20:56
Sep	13	83 mm	17°C	8.2 h/day	19:44
Oct	14	88 mm	14°C	6.2 h/day	18:32
Nov	13	87 mm	11°C	4.5 h/day	16:31
Dec	15	95 mm	10°C	3.3 h/day	16:07

Averages for 2015–2024 from Open-Meteo historical weather (CC BY 4.0); sun times calculated for the 15th of each month, local time.

Diesen Guide mitnehmen · Story-Karte (3) Walking with a toddler: pace, snacks and keeping it fun

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Walking with a toddler: pace, snacks and keeping it fun

Entdecken Sie die Orte in dieser Geschichte

Portobello to Charlemont Lock

Expect toddler pace

Plan around naps and meals

Turn the walk into a game

Choose routes with things to look at

Stay safe near roads and water

Know when to stop

What to bring

Dublin through the year

Planen Sie Ihre Route

Letzte Touren

Ihre Routen

Meine Routen

Gespeicherte Routen

Letzte Touren

Gespeicherte Guides & fertige Routen

Gelaufene & abgeschlossene Routen

Walking with a toddler: pace, snacks and keeping it fun

Entdecken Sie die Orte in dieser Geschichte

Portobello to Charlemont Lock

Expect toddler pace

Plan around naps and meals

Turn the walk into a game

Choose routes with things to look at

Stay safe near roads and water

Know when to stop

What to bring

Dublin through the year

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