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Accommodation
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You will stay in an en-suite room
in either
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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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
3
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This is the last section of the
Historical Trail and it rejoins
the Miners Way at Ballyfarnon
- 6km from Highwood, 100m ascent,
walking times of 1.5hrs. The walk
portrays the route the Miners
Way as it continues from Ballyfarnon
up and over Carran Hill and down
to Glen Church, with magnificent
views along the way to stop and
enjoy.
Distance: 14 km (9 miles)
Ascent: 420m Approx walking
Time: approx 5 hours
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Day
4
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Today you will walk on the Miners
Way from Corrie Mountain to Arigna,
passing through the main mining
areas of the region. There are
several large mines along the
pass down the mountain including
the original Spion Kop Mine. It
then passes through fields onto
Tents lane which leads down to
Lough Allen and the old power
station. An interconnecting series
of old lanes, roads and paths
leads back into the Arigna River
beside a school. There follows
a climb up Kilronan Mountain to
the Rover Pit - one of the last
mines to close. The Way runs south
along the rock to Derrinavoggy
pits and down the old road to
Arigna Village.
Distance: 13 km (8 miles)
Ascent: 260m Approx
walking Time: approx 5 hours
Depart with fond memories, new
friendships and an urge to return.
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Price
2011
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€250
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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Included
in Price
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Duration:
4 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, 3 pack-lunches
& 3 evening meals
Transfers: Drop off at start of
walk and pick-up on finish of
walk for 3 days
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. |
