Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Seefin




It's a fairly tough trek up Seefin to the c5000 year old tomb (especially in the mist, mud, ice and snow!!) but you will be well rewarded with stunning views and the passage grave at the summit. It is less than 2 km to the top but be prepared to take your time.

Directions :From the N81 turn onto the R759 (Signposted Manor Kilbride) Follow the signs for Kippure Holiday Village. You will turn left (Still following R759) at Manor Kilbride, then pass a very picturesque bridge and church. Keep going until you come to the holiday village, there is a left turn directly opposite the gates which you want to take. This road leads up past Kilbride army camp. Drive up this road which is lined by large pines, and you will see a lay-by with space for about 3 cars beside a stile. (There is a large white house across the road from the lay-by) You will know you have over shot it if you come to the army camp warning signs. Do a U-turn and go back. After parking up don't go into the field with the stile, head back up the road (towards the army camp) for about 50 metres and start your ascent when you come to the trees in the photo below (it will be quite obvious as it is a well worn path). It will look like the path ends and goes right or left buy keep going straight up.





















































Thursday, 25 February 2016

The Devil's Glen



The Devil's Glen is an interestingly different kind of woodland walk. There are sculptures here and there through the woods but most of them are very weather worn. There are also plenty of engraved stones to find which makes it a great walk for encouraging reluctant kids to keep moving. More info on them on here on the Coilte website
The high point of the walk is the waterfall created where the Vartry river enters the glen, there is a cliff walk around one side of the valley. We managed to stretch the walk out to 8.5km by going off the main trail through the pine forest.

Location : Follow the R763 from Ashford, access on a sharp right bend

Map : Here

Parking : We made the mistake of thinking the few parking spots just at the entrance was the carpark, follow the road in and there's a much bigger one!

Difficulty : Easy, some hills

Trail markers : Yes

Points to note : Woodland Sculpture