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Accommodation
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You will stay in an en-suite room
in Towerhill
B&B, where you will be provided
with a cooked breakfast, packed
lunch and two course evening meal. |
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Day
1
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Arrive in town of Boyle (just
off N4). If you arrive by Train
(Dublin / Sligo Train) you will
be picked up at Boyle Railway
station and driven to your B&B,
where your maps & starter
pack await you.
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Day
2
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After a hearty breakfast, start
your walk from Crossna Church
on the Historical Trail, crossing
Boyle River journeying along via
bog roads to mature forests surrounding
Lough Key. Lough Key has many
wooded islands and an extensive
amenity area 'Lough Key Forest
Park' in the old Rockingham Demesne.
Exit the park through impressive
gatehouses and the way enters
Boyle at the impressive ruins
of 12thCentury Cistercian Boyle
Abbey. The way leaves Boyle steeply
uphill, climbing steadily over
the Curlew Mountains via the ancient
Red Earl's Road.
Distance: 23 km (14 miles) Ascent:
250m Approx walking Time: approx
7 hours
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Day
3
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Start your walk from Ballinafad,
the way follows narrow boreens
up onto the Bricklieve Mountains.
A steep narrow ravine edged by
cliffs is crossed followed by
a steep climb to reach bog cuttings.
A bog road is then followed gently
downhill - Carrowkeel Passage
Tomb Cemetery lies up on your
right and will invite a detour.
Otherwise descend to a road junction
and turn right to pass the 'donkey
sanctuary', followed by a steep
descent to Castlebaldwin. Continuing
on the route from Castlebaldwin
passing through fields at the
north end of Lough Arrow, the
route climbs up past Cromleach
Lodge Hotel - keep right up driveway
and up through forest to reach
fields above. The way continues
across a road and onto open hillside
and on up to Highwood Church.
Distance: 19 km (11 miles) Ascent:
220m Approx walking Time: approx
7 hours
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Day
4
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Depart
with fond memories and an urge
to return.
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Price
2011
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€220 per person sharing
All prices are in EURO, and based
on per person sharing. Per person
sharing means two people in one
room. Single Room supplement is
applied when people require a
room for themselves as part of
a booking of two or more.
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Additional
Information
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Duration: 3 days (3 nights)
Tour Dates 2012: ANY DATE (February
- November)
Level: Easy to moderate
Equipment: You are provided with
route map & notes, but correct
rain proof gear and walking boots
are essential to bring with you.
Accommodation: Selected Bed &
Breakfast for duration of walking
holiday
Meals: 3 Irish Breakfasts, 2 pack-lunches
& 3 evening meals
Transfers: Drop off at start of
walk and pick-up on finish of
walk
Miscellaneous: Detailed route
notes and maps.
Meeting Point: Boyle Railway Station
(Ireland West Knock Airport additional
small cost)
Departure Point: Boyle Railway
Station/Bus Stop or Ireland West
Knock Airport.
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Overview
of Historical Trail
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The Miners Way and Historical Trail
leads through various towns and
villages in the Northeast of the
region and traverses the Curlew,
Bricklieve and Arigna Mountains.
The two routes total over 118 kms
in length. The walk across the mountains
is rewarded with the wildness and
beauty of the open air and Lough
Key features sheltered woodlands
and wildflowers amongst its 350
hectares.
The Bricklieve Mountains & Carrowkeel
with its Megalithic tombs have rough
terrain and breathtaking scenery.
The Carrowkeel/Keshcorran Megalith
complex is located west of Lough
Arrow just outside the little town
of Castlebaldwin and is the sight
of the largest concentration of
passage tombs in Ireland. These
passage tombs (fourteen in all)
are sunken burial chambers made
of large limestone slabs, topped
with huge piles (cairns) of rocks.
These tombs are most usually located
high upon hills and mountains and
dot the landscape around Sligo County,
forming a larger network of ancient
sites whose mysterious origin is
still largely debated. The Carrowkeel
complex, believed to have been constructed
between 3000 and 2000 BC, remained
in use until 1500 BC.
You will be brought to the different
starting points for your walks,
from here you will follow the Way
Marked route using map supplied
and walk description.
Boyle town is on a very convenient
rail network (main Dublin to Sligo
route www.cie.ie ) and road link
(N4) from the east coast and 30
mins drive from Knock Airport www.irelandwestairport.com
making it an ideal and accessible
destination for visitors. |
