Posts filed under 'Walking'
If you are a die hard walking enthusiast, you will surely be interested in knowing more about the Grand Canal Way. This is a pretty long walking route extending to an astounding distance of one hundred and fourteen kilometres. For the sake of convenience, this route can be divided into nine sections. Walkers will need about half a day per each section of this route. About ten hours of walking per day can have a very beneficial effect on the health of the walkers and is a great way for them to enhance their endurance and stamina. The Grand Canal Way walking trail starts from Lucan Road Bridge and culminates at Shannon Harbour. The first section of this walking trail takes walkers from Lucan Road Bridge to Sallins. This section is located in County Dublin in the province of Leinster. Walkers will have to cover a distance of about seventeen kilometres on this section of the walking route. This route is quite easy and involves minimal climbing so walkers will easily be able to cover this walking path in about five hours of relaxed walking. The flora of the surroundings on this route is quite extensive in variety. Expect to come across Canadian pondweed, meadowsweet, hawthorns, willows, beeches and many other trees of parkland variety. There is an interesting seventh century monastic grand round tower on the main street of Clondalkin that will be of particular value to history buffs. Beer lovers will want to pay their respects on the grave of Arthur Guinness who founded the Guinness’s brewery in 1759. He remains buried in Oughterard at the site of a ruined church and round tower.
February 20th, 2007
The third and final section of the Offaly Way introduces walkers to the sights and sounds of the route between Leabeg and Lemanaghan. Like the first two sections, this part of the walking trail is also located in County Offaly in the Leinster province of Ireland. This section is fairly easy to complete for most walkers so there should be nothing to worry about here. This route stretches to a distance of about twelve kilometres. There is very little or no climbing involved on this route so senior citizens will appreciate walking here. Walkers will need to set aside about four hours out of their busy schedules to finish walking on this path. The road on this walking trail is normally quiet. However, parts of this trail consist of narrow and winding road that might not allow enough space for walkers so care should be exercised on such parts of this trail. There’s a nice man-made artificial lake to be enjoyed on the peat land of the Turran Nature Reserve. Walkers will also be charmed by the beautiful scenery of the Lough Borra Parkland. There’s also a monastic site on this route that is worth visiting.
February 19th, 2007
The second section of the Offaly Way starts from Kilcormac and ends in Leabeg. Just like the first section, this section is also located in the eastern region of Ireland in County Offaly that is part of the province of Leinster. This is an easy route that measures about seven kilometres in distance. Climbing is minimal so walkers who hate too much physical exertion will appreciate walking on this trail. This route should easily be covered in about two and a half hours. Walkers will get to experience various types of landscapes on this route. Grasslands, forests, wetlands and lakes can all be found here. Bird watchers will take great pleasure in walking here as the bird life in this region is quite fascinating. Those who fancy archaeology will take much delight in visiting the Mesolithic site on Lough Boora that tells us how our ancestors might have lived almost seven thousand years ago. Loch an Dochais on this trail is a lake with angling facilities for disabled people. The meaning of its name is “Lake of Hopeâ€. This remarkable coarse fishing lake hosts the annual All Ireland Competition for disabled anglers. Bird watchers will derive immense joy from visiting the Boora Bird Hide.
February 16th, 2007
The Offaly Way is an enjoyable walking trail stretching over a distance of twenty nine kilometres. This trail connects the Slieve Bloom and the Grand Canal Ways together. For the convenience of the walkers, this route is divided into three sections. Each section can be completed about half a day which shouldn’t be much of a problem for walking enthusiasts. Starting in Cadamstown and ending in Lemanaghan, the first section of the Offaly Way is located in County Offaly in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. This route is pretty easy to cover even for amateur walkers. This route is about nine kilometres long and normally requires about three hours from start to finish. The path on this route involves minimal climbing so even old people can enjoy walking here. The road on this route is usually very quiet. However, traffic can be quite fast so caution is advised. Be careful of five electric fences on this route. Although they are clearly marked as dangerous, it is better to stay on the road on this route to avoid any unpleasant incidents. Walkers who like to explore tourist attractions can find an old mill and a riverside park on this walking trail.
February 15th, 2007
The seventh and final section of the Slieve Bloom Way is located between The Cut and Glenbarrow. This part of the walking trail is easy and won’t present many difficulties to the walkers. It is located in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster in County Laois. This part stretches to a distance of about nine kilometres. There is very little climbing involved on this route. Most walkers are normally going to take three hours to finish walking on this route. The road on this walking route can be quite busy with traffic so the walkers will need to be careful to avoid any unfortunate mishaps. The road from The Cut to Glenbarrow consists of forest and tar road that goes downhill so minimum effort will be required in walking on this part of the trail. One remarkable thing about The Cut road that walkers will find intriguing is the fact that it is hand cut. They can even find markings left by those who were involved in the cutting. Walkers can also visit the blanket bog in Glendine or enjoy the waterfall at Glenbarrow.
February 14th, 2007
The sixth part of the Slieve Bloom Way starts from Glenkeen and allows walkers to enjoy the sights and sounds of the surrounding area in a relaxed manner all the way to The Cut. County Laois is home to this part of the walking trail in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. This part of the walking trail is pretty easy to traverse and extends to a relatively short distance of about six and a half kilometres. This trail is 175 metres high at its highest point. Since the distance to be covered is relatively short, it will take most walkers only about two and half hours of steady paced walking to complete this walking route. Walkers will encounter forest road throughout this part of the walking trail. There are wet patches on the General’s Road so care should be exercised while walking there. The whole route is characterized by forested area all the way to the end of this section. Walkers will appreciate the panoramic views available over Glendine O Regan.
February 13th, 2007
The fifth section of the Slieve Bloom Way takes walkers on a splendid walking experience that starts at Coolcreen and ends at Glenkeen. This route is easy to traverse so walkers won’t face much difficulty here. This part of the walking trail is in County Laois in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. Walkers can enjoy a relaxing walk of almost ten kilometres on this trail. 150 metres is the highest point walkers will have to climb on this route. About three and a half hours will be required to complete this trail. A small part of this route includes walking by the riverside. The climbs on this route are not too steep. Walkers will marvel at the sheer beauty of the path through Coolcreen. Hazel woodland along the Silver River is particularly stunning. This part of the Slieve Bloom Way is probably the most pleasant on the entire walking trail. There are great views to be enjoyed from Spink Mountain. Giants Grave in Glenkeen is a popular tourist attraction that definitely warrants a visit.
February 12th, 2007
The fourth section of the Slieve Bloom Way consists of the walking trail starting at Forelacka and ending at Coolcreen. This trail is located in County Offaly in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. It is a relatively easy walking route that extends to a distance of about eight kilometres. The highest point on this trail is about 250 metres high. It’s a relatively short route so walkers should easily finish it in about three and a half hours. This path can sometimes be wet. Also, the first kilometre of the road can be quite busy with traffic so care should be exercised while walking here. Walkers will also come upon two small rivers that they will have to cross over small stones. Watch your step carefully and don’t walk too fast here. A firm foothold is necessary here or the chances of slipping might become too great. Walkers will enjoy walking in the forest area of Glenregan along the Camcor River. Some of the trees here were planted as far back as 1935. On their way to Coolcreen, walkers will greatly appreciate the splendid views in Glenletter.
February 9th, 2007
The third section of the Slieve Bloom Way will take walkers on a short and wonderful journey starting from Glendine Gap that will end at Forelacka. There is a road at this place that leads to Kinnitty. This section of the walking route is located in County Offaly in the eastern region of the province of Leinster. The route consists of a road that is often quiet with little traffic to disturb the serene atmosphere of the surroundings. However, the road is narrow so care will be required walking on this road. Parts of this walking path are quite rough and muddy so walking here will require some effort. It is for this reason that this section of the walking route is graded to be moderately difficult. This section of the route runs about eleven and a half kilometres in length. The highest point on this route is only seventy five metres high which means that climbing is minimal on this track. Most walkers will complete this route in about three and a half hours if they keep walking at a steady pace. The route is comprised of country roads with very nice views of the surroundings. At Glenafelly, walkers can expect to admire a stretch of beautiful woodland. The highest point of the Slieve Blooms is the Arderin and it is located towards the south of Glendine Gap. Fidlens Rock near Glenafelly Bridge is worth checking out. Archaeology buffs will be delighted to know that at Forelacka, they can visit an ancient grave mound dating from the Bronze Age.
February 8th, 2007
The second part of the Slieve Bloom Way starts at Monicknew and ends at Glendine Gap. This section is also located in County Laois in the eastern region of the province of Leinster. This walking route is moderately difficult to complete. Walkers can expect to traverse a distance of about thirteen and a half kilometres on this walking path. The highest point on this trail rises as much as four hundred metres. This route is a bit long and difficult so walkers will need to spend almost six hours walking in order to get to the end of this route. Most parts of this walking route are rough and wet so care is needed while walking here. Baunreagh House located on this route is worth visiting to get a sense of the heritage and culture of this area. A beautiful shimmering lake on open moorland to the west of the route near Gorteenameale invites walkers and tourists to enjoy the sight of its sparkling expanse.
February 7th, 2007
The Slieve Bloom Way is a circular walking trail that extends over a long distance of almost seventy seven kilometres. This walking path has been divided into seven sections for the convenience of the walkers. Each section takes about half a day to complete. Since this path is circular, the trail starts at Glenbarrow and ends back at the starting place. The first path of this walking trail begins at Glenbarrow and ends at Monicknew. This section of the walking path is located in County Laois in the eastern region of the province of Leinster. This walking route is moderately difficult so walkers, especially the beginners and amateurs, can expect to face some difficulties during their trek on this route. This part of the walking route stretches over a distance of about eleven kilometres. The highest point on this route is about 225 metres high. Walkers should be able to complete this route in about four and a half hours. Breathtaking views of the Dublin and Wicklow Mountains can be witnessed from the ridge of Capard and Stoney Man. The River Barrow arising in the Slieve Blooms happens to rank second on the basis of its length among rivers in Ireland. A magnificent high stone arch bridge awaits walkers over the Glen River at Monicknew.
February 6th, 2007
The eighth and final section of the South Leinster Way is comprised of the route starting from Piltown and ending at Carrick-on-Suir. The route is quite easy for walkers of all abilities and is located in the eastern region of the province of Leinster in County Kilkenny. This part of the walking route is considerably shorter at just about eight kilometres. There is very little climbing involved on this route. Due to all these reasons, this route can be covered in a pretty short period of time amounting to only about two and a half hours. The traffic on this road can be quite fast. Also the road might be too narrow for the walkers so care should be taken to avoid any unfortunate mishaps or incidents. The area surrounding this walking trail is composed mainly of farmland. Walkers have the choice of climbing the wooded hill of Curraghballintea on this route. Dowleys Castle along Tibbaraghney road is a great place to spend some time exploring. Tibberaghny Castle is a towerhouse that is also worth visiting on this walking path. There’s lots to see in the heritage town of Carrick-on-Suir, especially historic stuff since this town dates back to the 13th century.
February 2nd, 2007
The seventh section of the South Leinster Way stretches from Mullinavat to Piltown. This part of the walking route is located in the eastern region of Leinster in County Kilkenny. The route is pretty easy and shouldn’t present walkers with any difficulties. A distance of fourteen kilometres has to be covered by the walkers to reach the end of this section of the walking route. The highest point on this walking trail is about two hundred metres. Walking at an average pace, most walkers won’t take more than five hours to finish this route. The landscape surrounding this walking path consists of mostly farmland and coniferous plantations. There are elevated sections on this route that prove to be a great vantage point for exploring the beauty of County Waterford and County Tipperary from afar. The scenic views of the Suir Valley can be enjoyed from the southern parts of the Booley Hills. The Poulanassy Waterfall at Clonassy is worthy of a visit for its pristine splendour.
February 1st, 2007
The walk from Ballykenna to Mullinavat represents the sixth section of the South Leinster Way. This walking route is pretty easy and shouldn’t be too difficult to handle for most walkers. This walking path is located in County Kilkenny. Walkers will get to walk over a distance of fourteen kilometres on this walking trail. Two hundred and thirty metres is the height of the highest point on this trail. Average walkers should easily complete this route in about four and a half hours. The road is pretty much desolate and peaceful. However, care will be needed in crossing the road at Lukeswell and N9 near Mullinavat. Walkers will have to cross the river at Ballyconnaught and Lukeswell village. Coolnahan Hill and the Derrylacky area consist of coniferous forest. The views available here and at Tory Hill are quite splendid. Explorers will have a nice time checking out Crowbally Castle ruins located on this walking route.
January 31st, 2007
Starting from Inistioge and ending at Ballykenna, the fifth section of the South Leinster Way is an easy route that will not prove to be a problem for most walkers. Like the fourth section, this section is also located in County Kilkenny. The total distance walkers will have to cover on this walking trail amounts to about fourteen kilometres. The highest point on this route is about two hundred and fifty metres high so it shouldn’t be too difficult for most walkers. An average walker travelling at a normal pace can expect to complete this walking path in a little less than five hours. The Mount Aldo forest road on this track features some spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. One mile from Inistoige village, walkers can check out the ice house that is located parallel to the River Nore. The gardens located before Mount Alto Wood are worth visiting for their splendour and beauty. From Mount Alto, walkers can take in breathtaking views of the River Nore Valley and New Ross.
January 26th, 2007
The fourth part of the South Leinster Way is comprised of the route starting from Graiguenamanagh and ending at Inistioge. This walking route is relatively easy for walkers to traverse with very few stumbling blocks to hinder their progress. This part of the walking route is located in County Kilkenny. This walking trail is quite long at about sixteen kilometres. Three hundred and thirty metres is the maximum height that walkers can expect to climb here. Most walkers will be able to finish walking this route in about five and a half hours. R705 and R700 are the roads on this route that will require some care in order to be crossed due to the heavy flow of the traffic. Most of this walking route is comprised of forest road. The forest road on Brandon Hill will provide walkers with some delightful views of the surrounding countryside. Duiske Abbey in Graiguenamanagh will be of particular interest for those who enjoy exploring historical buildings. If you fancy seeing a cairn or heap of stones, just walk up to the top of the Brandon Hill and feast your eyes. In Kilcross, walkers will have a chance to view the ruins of a famine village. Inishtioga village features an eye catching square. There are also some old churches here that are worth visiting.
January 25th, 2007
The third part of the South Leinster Way takes walkers on a relaxing journey from Borris to Graiguenamanagh. This part of the walking route is easy on the walkers and won’t introduce them to any hardships they can’t handle. This route stretches over a distance of about twelve kilometres. There is minimal climbing involved on this walking path. Walking at a steady and average pace, walkers can hope to finish walking on this path in less than four and a half hours. There is a road between Borris and Ballytiglea Bridge that should be crossed with caution. Walkers will enjoy the grassy path on this walking trail and will appreciate the forestry of the Borris House Demesne. The river bed of River Barrow offers a pleasant walking experience with a soft surface and will prove to be a soothing influence on the walkers. Delightful views of Brandon Hill can be caught at various parts of this route. Those interested in exploring ruins and historical buildings will find much to their liking. The ruins of a town house from medieval times can be found near Ballykeenan Lock. A bridge with seven arches dating from the eighteenth century is located in Tinnahinch near this route.
January 24th, 2007
The second part of the South Leinster Way stretches from Nine Stones to Borris. This is an easy walking path that most walkers will have no trouble in completing. Just like the first path, this section of the walking route is also about eleven kilometres long. There is very little or no climbing involved on this section of the route. Three hours is the estimated time that average walkers will likely take to finish walking on this path. Walkers will get to admire the Nine Stones which is a pre-historic alignment of stones. Slievebawn is also located close to this trail. The meaning of Slievebawn is White Mountain. It becomes obvious why it is called by this name when you walk up this heap of stones or cairn. There are large pieces of quartz and other metal containing rocks at this site that can shine quite brightly in the sunlight. There is also a huge quartz outcrop here that is a beautiful sight to behold. The views at this place are also fantastic. The beautiful Valley of the River Barrow is a nice place to visit that offers peace and tranquillity amid some spectacular views. The Comeragh Mountains and Slievenamon can also be seen from here.
January 23rd, 2007
South Leinster Way is a walking trail that extends over a long distance of about hundred kilometres. This walking track is divided into eight sections. Each of these sections takes about half a day to complete. The first part of this trail starts from Kildavin and ends at Nine Stones. This walking path is quite easy for average walkers to complete. This section of the South Leinster Way is located in County Carlow. The walking distance is quite long at about eleven kilometres. The height walkers will have to climb on this route is a bit high at 480 metres but it’s not too steep so climbing will be easy. Most walkers will be able to complete this walking route in a little more than four hours. The N80 road on this walking path is often populated with fast moving traffic so care should be exercised in crossing it. The surrounding landscape of this area is quite marvellous. Walkers will be treated to breathtaking views of Blackstairs Mountains, Mount Leinster and the Greenoge Hill. The village of Kildavin is a beautiful place to explore on this trail. If you happen to visit Kelly’s Quarter here and the day is clear, you will be rewarded with exhilarating views of the Irish Sea.
January 22nd, 2007
The eleventh and final section of Wicklow Way will lead walkers on a marvellous trek from Raheenakit to Clonegal. This is a pretty easy route so walkers can look forward to a fun time on this walking path. This route stretches to a pretty long distance of about sixteen kilometres. The highest point that walkers might have to climb on this route is about three hundred metres high. Most walkers going at a normal pace should be able to complete this route in less than six hours. Shillelagh is a beautiful village found on this walking route. The stone houses and the courthouse of this village are truly a sight to behold. This village is situated close to the Shillelagh River below the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. Tomnafinnoge Oak Wood is also worth visiting for it is one of the largest oak forests in Ireland. The Irish weapon Shillelagh is also named after this village and consists of a blackthorn stick. These weapons are very popular with tourists and bought by them for keeping as souvenirs. The Coolattin Estate is also a wonderful place to explore here.
January 18th, 2007
The tenth section of the Wicklow Way will have walkers traversing a path stretching from Tinahely to Raheenakit. This route is pretty easy with the terrain being quite forgiving in terms of difficulty. This walking trail extends over a pretty long distance measuring about fourteen kilometres. The highest point you will have to climb here is about three hundred metres high. Most walkers will finish this route in about five hours if they keep walking at a steady pace. The market town of Tinahely is located in a very beautiful area which has to be seen to be believed. This place is relatively unknown to tourists which is unfortunate and a pity, because this town has that traditional Irish village feel to it, with the warmth, friendliness and hospitality of the locals making this a must visit place. The courthouse in Tinahely is located in the centre of the square and is a great place to get acquainted with the heritage and culture of this area. It features exhibitions, concerts and theatre. The annual Wicklow County Agricultural Show is also held in this town with plenty of interesting activities to keep tourists happy. Avid explorers can also enjoy the enchanting beauty of the Derry River valley and the Coolatin Woods on this pleasant walking route.
January 17th, 2007
The ninth section of the Wicklow Way is comprised of the route from Ballycumber to Tinahely. The route actually ends about two kilometres before Tinahely. The difficulty grading of this walking route is easy so walkers shouldn’t have any difficulty on this route. This route stretches to a distance of about seven kilometres. The highest point on this walking trail is no higher than 170 metres so there is very little climbing involved. Average walkers will easily complete this route in about three hours. This path might be a bit wet in some places. Also walkers will have to cross the River Ford on this path. The beauty of this place cannot be described with words only. Walkers will be delighted by the exquisite views of County Carlow available from Muskeagh Forest. Avid explorers and hikers will appreciate the fact that Croghan Mountain and Croghan Valley are located close to this route, providing them with a chance to explore them too.
January 16th, 2007
The eighth section of the Wicklow Way takes walkers on a spectacular short journey from Aughavannagh to Ballycumber. This is a relatively easy route to walk on and does not present any nearly insurmountable hurdles for the casual walkers. This walking route is pretty long and stretches to about thirteen kilometres. You can expect a little bit of climbing on this route. The most you will have to climb here is about two hundred and fifty metres. Walking at a normal pace, most walkers should be able to complete this route in less than five hours. This walking trail is pretty pleasant with little or no wet or muddy paths. The climbs are also not too steep so even first time walkers will enjoy this route. There are a lot of attractive summits to be found on this walking route where walkers will enjoy delightful and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The beautiful village of Aughrim is located on this route. This town features artistically designed granite buildings and has been voted as the cleanest town in County Wicklow since 1996. There is an attraction here called Angling For All where even disabled anglers can enjoy the sport of angling to their heart’s content. The nearby village of Macreddin is also worth visiting for its quality organic produce.
January 15th, 2007
The seventh section of Wicklow Way extends from Glenmalure to Aughavannagh. This walking trail is moderately difficult to complete for average walkers so expect some challenges ahead. The trail is also a bit long at about eleven kilometres. The height of the highest point you can expect to climb here is about three hundred and fifty metres. Most walkers will take around a little bit less than five hours to complete this walking route. There is steady climbing involved on some parts of the route and the path can also be wet and muddy at places so be careful, tread slowly through slippery terrain and most of all, wear quality hiking and trekking shoes with a good grip. Walkers can expect spectacular views of the Avonbeg River and the mountains surrounding this route. They will also come across the Iron Bridge passing over the Ow River. Glenmalure Waterfall will prove to be a sight of awe for many. Rathdrum is a town close to this walking path. This town is located high on the western side of the Avonmore Valley. So if you feel like enjoying some breathtaking views of this beautiful valley, the vantage point of Rathdrum is the best place to do so. Avondale House near this walking trail is a popular tourist attraction. Other places of interest that walkers might want to check out are Greenane Farm Museum & Maze and the Clara-Lara Fun Park.
January 12th, 2007
The sixth section of Wicklow Way takes walkers from Glendalough to Glenmalure. This trail is ranked to be easy as far as difficulty in traversing it is concerned. This track is a bit long at thirteen kilometres. The highest point on this track is about four hundred and twenty metres high. An average walker can be expected to complete this walking path in about five and a half hours. The path is muddy in some places. You will encounter hundred metres of very steep climb at one point during the walk. There is also a muddy descent through trees so be careful there to avoid slipping and getting hurt. Glenmalure is one of the most beautiful glens of Ireland. You will have a fascinating time walking through this enchanting place in the Wicklow Mountains. There are plenty of craggy mountains and massive broken rocks to be found here that enhance the rugged beauty of this place. This is indeed a place worthy of being called a walker’s paradise.
January 11th, 2007
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