A selection of 10 looped walks in the South East Ranging from easy, level strolls to more challenging mountain trails. Go to www.discoverireland.ie/walking (www.discoverireland.com from outside Ireland) for over 100 walks, including downloadable maps, useful links and details of walking events in Ireland. Ballinacourty Loop 62 Devil’s Bit Loop 62 Greenane Loop 63 Glenpatrick Bridge Loop 63 Askamore Loop 64 Slieveboy Loop 64 Windfarm Loop 65 Clogrennan Loop 65 Fraughan Loop 65 Pheasant Loop 66 61
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Transcript
A selection of 10 looped walks in the South East
Ranging from easy, level strolls to more challenging mountain trails.
Go to www.discoverireland.ie/walking(www.discoverireland.com from outside Ireland) for over 100 walks, including downloadable maps, useful links and details of walking events in Ireland.
Ballinacourty Loop 62
Devil’s Bit Loop 62
Greenane Loop 63
Glenpatrick Bridge Loop 63
Askamore Loop 64
Slieveboy Loop 64
Windfarm Loop 65
Clogrennan Loop 65
Fraughan Loop 65
Pheasant Loop 66
61
tipperarY
Ballinacourty LoopDirections
Starting from Tipperary Town take the R664 following the signs for Glen
of Aherlow. After approximately 6km you reach a substantial car park at
a viewing point near the well known statue of Christ the King. The
trailhead is located at a double mapboard in the green area below the
car park. Note: The trailhead is signposted from Tipperary.
This loop is one of a series developed at two trailheads in the glen
(Christ the King Statue and Lisvarrinane).
A-B. From the mapboard in the green area at Christ the King statue
follow downhill to enter the Nature Park. This loop is marked with purple
arrows – but overlaps with two other loops (green and light blue arrows)
and the long-distance Ballyhoura Way which is marked with the familiar
yellow walking man and arrows. Descend wooden steps and over a
footbridge and shortly afterwards you reach a Y-junction. Veer left here
and follow the woodland trail for approximately 1km to reach a wooden
stile. Exiting the stile the green loop turns right – you turn left.
B-C. You are now on a more substantial forestry track. Descend for
300m to reach a four-track junction where you turn right and follow a
forestry track for 800m to exit at a surfaced road just uphill from the
Aherlow House Hotel. Here you leave the light blue loop and turn
downhill following the yellow Ballyhoura Way.
C-D. Pass the hotel and follow the tarred surface downhill to reach a
sharp left bend where
you turn right and enter
forestry again.
D-E. Continue to follow
the Ballyhoura Way
along forestry tracks
for a flat section before
turning right and
ascending through
Ballynacourty Woods.
After 1.5km you reach
a T-junction where the
Ballyhoura Way turns
left and you overlap
with other loops that
start and finish in the
village of Lisvarrinane.
You turn right here to
begin the homeward
journey.
E-F. For over 2km the loop traverses the southern shoulder of
Slievenamuck Mountain and rejoins the light blue loop above the
Aherlow House Hotel before joining a tarred roadway. Here you veer left.
F-A. Follow the tarred roadway for a short distance before turning right
into forestry again. Following woodland trails, you pick up the green loop
at a small stile, and after 1km reach a 3-way junction where you rejoin
the outward route. Veer left and retrace your steps for 300m to regain
the trailhead.
Ascent : 240m
Distance : 10km
Estimated Time : 2hrs 30mins - 3hrs
Grade : Moderate
Minimum Gear : Walking boots, raingear, snack and fluid
Services : Lisvarrinane (5km) Tipperary (6km)
Terrain : Forestry tracks and woodlands trails
Theme : Nature
Trailhead : Christ the King Statue, Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary
OS Sheet 66, R886 308
Devil’s Bit LoopDirections
The town of Templemore is situated on the N62 which joins Athlone with
Thurles and the N8. From the town follow the R501 in the direction of
Borrisoleigh and Nenagh for almost 3km. Watch for a signpost for Devil’s
Bit which directs you onto a minor road on your right. Continue to follow
the signposts for Devil’s Bit to reach a substantial car park which is the
official trailhead.
A-B. Starting from the
car park follow the
purple arrow through
the kissing gate and
onto a sandy laneway.
Continue uphill to
reach forestry where
you turn left at a
kissing gate and,
almost immediately,
turn right into forestry.
Follow the ‘green track’
uphill to reach the
Rock Tower (on your
left) and join a forestry
road. This is the point
from where the loop
‘proper’ begins - you
will return to here later.
Loop 37c
Ballinacourty Loop
Trailhead 37
Loop 37c
Ballinacourty Loop
Trailhead 37
62
Ahead of you is a Mass Rock and shrine, and uphill the white cross that
marks the summit of Little Rock. You will get to it later - for now, turn left.
B-C. Continue to follow the purple arrows along the forestry road, and
enjoy the views south to the Galtee Mountains. As it ascends gently it
sweeps right to give you fine views northward into Counties Laois and
Galway. Pass two green tracks and a forestry road (all on your left)
before reaching a 3-way junction where you turn right.
C-B. This section of tree-shaded forestry road takes you uphill before
turning left and, after 400m joining a narrow track which swings around
Little Rock. There is a short spur up to the cross - the views from it are
well worth the trip up. The narrow track joins a ‘green’ roadway near a
shrine and Mass rock. Turn right and downhill - and after 60m you rejoin
the forestry road at Rock Tower where you started the loop. This time -
go straight across.
B-A. Continue to follow the purple arrows downhill through forestry, turn left
at the exit and, almost immediately, turn right onto the sandy farm laneway
which takes you back to the trailhead.
Ascent : 430m / 200m
Distance : 5km / 1hr30mins – 2hrs
Grade : Moderate
Minimum Gear : Hiking boots, raingear, fluid and mobile phone
Services : Templemore (4km)
Terrain : Sandy laneways, forestry tracks and hillside paths
Trailhead : Devil’s Bit car park, Templemore, Co Tipperary
WaterfOrd
Greenane LoopDirections
From Dungarvan, take the R672 in the direction of Clonmel. After approx
4km the R672 briefly joins the N25 at a service station. After 200m watch
for the junction as the R672 veers right. Take this turn and follow the
road for 2km to next junction where you turn right onto Kilbrien road.
Travel a further 2km to reach the substantial car park on your left. The
trailhead is located on the other side of the road – and can be reached
by crossing the wooden bridge
A-B. Starting from the mapboard at the trailhead, follow the purple (and
green) arrow as the loop starts away from the wooden bridge over
Colligan River. The green arrows are for the shorter Inchadrisla Loop.
Travel along the left bank of the river for 500m before swinging left and
uphill through Inchadrisla Wood. Stay on the forestry roadway for almost
2km as it climbs gradually to reach a 3-way junction where both loops
swing left.
B-C. The loop levels
off as it follows the
forestry road for 2km to
descend and reach a
3-way junction at the
picnic area from close
to where you started.
The shorter Greenane
Loop turns left here -
but you swing right and
begin the second
section of the loop.
C-D. The loop now
travels along the right
bank of the Colligan
River for more than
1km to exit at a
surfaced road where it
turns left and crosses
Colligan Bridge. After
only 50m reach a T-junction where you turn right.
D-A. After only 200m on the road watch a marker which directs you left
(be careful crossing the road) and through wooden rails to re-enter
forestry. The loop now ascends a woodland track for 400m to rejoin a
forestry roadway. Enjoy the last 1km of the loop as it sweeps around
Greenane Hill before descending to the carpark.
Ascent : 100m / 140m
Distance : 8km / 2hrs - 2hr30mins
Grade : Moderate
Minimum Gear : Trekking shoes, raingear, fluid, snack, mobile phone
Services : Dungarvan (8km)
Terrain : Forestry roads and woodland tracks
Trailhead : Colligan Woods, Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Glenpatrick Bridge LoopDirections
From the village of Rathgormack on the R678, follow the R678 in the
direction of Clonmel. After a 5km straight stretch, the road swing left and
reaches a downhill roadway on your right. Turn right and travel for 500m
to reach a large car parking area on your right.
A-B. Starting from the car park area turn right on the surfaced road and
follow the green arrow for 100m to reach Glenpatrick Bridge over the
Glasha River. Immediately after the bridge, turn left into forestry - pass
through the barrier and veer left at the Y-junction. Continue along the
forestry road as it ascends alongside the river and after nearly 1km, veer
left at the next Y-junction. After 500m the forestry road approaches an
exit onto the R678 near Boola Bridge. Do not exit - instead swing sharp
right, staying on forestry road.
B-C. Continue to ascend - turning left at the next junction and, shortly
afterwards, left again. Now you are travelling parallel to (but well above)
the R678 - continue to do so for almost 1km to reach a marker post
which directs you left and onto a sandy track into forestry. This short
track exits onto the surfaced road - take care crossing it to join an old
Coach/Drover Road which starts your homeward journey.
C-D. Continue to follow the green arrows along the old road - with
wonderful views of the Comeragh Mountains opening in front of you.
After more than 1km the road begins the descent towards Glenpatrick.
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The last section of the
old road changes to a
tarred surface before you
join the R678. Turn left
here.
D-A. Follow the R678 for
200m to reach a laneway
on your right. Turn right
and enjoy this magical
tree-lined laneway as it
descends to reach a
surfaced road at the ruins
of a Slate Mine. Turn left
- the trailhead is only
50m away.
Ascent : 310m/160m
Distance : 8km
Estimated Time : 2hrs -
2hrs 30mins
Grade : Moderate
Minimum Gear : Trekking shoes, raingear, snack and fluid
Services : Rathgormack 6km, Clonmel 12km
Terrain : Forestry roads, green tracks and laneways.