Ard na Mona Woods Walk (Purple) Lough Eske Walk (Blue) Distance/Time: 2km - 45 minutes / Terrain: Forest path / Grade: Easy to moderate Distance/Time: 14km - 4 hours / Terrain: Country roads / Grade: Easy to moderate Follow this truly enchanting trail through mature oak woods carpeted by Enjoy picturesque views from every aspect of Lough Eske on this half-day walk spongy mosses, that leads past a secret bay on Lough Eske’s shore. along country roads (take a drink and snacks with you). Start/Finish Point: Ardnamona Forest Reserve Carpark Start/Finish Point: Harvey’s Point Hotel Points of Interest: Ardnamona West Gatehouse, Ardnamona hydro-electric Points of Interest: Clady River, Ardnamona West Gatehouse, Ellen’s Falls, turbine house, The Fairy Glen Ardnamona North Gatehouse, Tawnawilly Scenic Viewpoint, Lough Eske Bridge, Major General White’s Grave, Lough Eske Castle 13 5 14

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10 The Loop Walk (Red) Famine Pot Walk (Green) Distance/Time: 6km - 2 hours / Terrain: Country roads / Grade: Easy to moderate Distance/Time: 1.5km - 30 minutes / Terrain: Forest path / Grade: Easy Enjoy sweeping views of lovely Lough Eske, visit one of ’s largest Famine Take a leisurley stroll through this forest plantation with a refreshing diversity of Pots, and be sure to work up a hearty appetite! tree species including Ash, Birch, Alder, Holly, Hazel and Sitka Spruce. Start/Finish Point: Harvey’s Point Hotel Start/Finish Point: Famine Pot Carpark Points of Interest: The Famine Pot, View of O’Donnell’s Isle, Stand of Giant Points of Interest: The Famine Pot, Sculptured waterfall, Forest Hut, Tallest tree in Redwoods, The Friars’ Well, Ellen’s Falls, Ardnamona West Gatehouse, Clady River, County (Sitka Spruce), The Old Sawmill Moylederg Island 1 The Lake of Fish 6 Lough Eske Church 10 General White’s Grave 15 Castle O’Donnell 21 Lough Eske Castle The name of the lake comes from the Irish Built in 1846 in the Gothic revival style, One of the most colourful past owners of Next to the main avenue leading to Restored and reopened in 2007 as So- Loch Iasc (The Lake of Fish). Along with its construction was initially funded Lough Eske Castle was General George Lough Eske Castle are the ruined re- lis Lough Eske Castle & Spa Hotel. This Atlantic salmon, sea trout and brown by Thomas Brooke, then owner of White. He developed a great love for the mains of a medieval tower house also historic house can date its origins back trout, a peculiar fish called char have Lough Eske Castle. It is a small but area and before his death in 1906, he connected to the O’Donnells. It was to 1621, following the Plantation of Ul- made Lough Eske their home. They live distinctive locat- requested to be buried close to the lake from this castle in 1607 that the historic ster. It was rebuilt in 1751 as a country in its murky depths, grow to a maximum ed on a hill overlooking Lough Eske. shore. His wish was honoured and a tall ‘’ began. This departure manor house, and again in 1861, when length of 9 inches, and are traditionally Celtic Cross was erected over his grave of chiefs and their families sig- the battlement-style tower elevated it caught with nets in the late autumn time. 7 Lough Eske Famine Pot on the grounds of Lough Eske Demesne. nalled the end of Gaelic rule in Ireland. to castle status. Associated families in- One of the largest iron cauldrons of its clude the Brookes, Whites and Swans. 2 The Old Sawmill kind in Ireland. It is a poignant reminder 11 O’Donnell’s Isle 16 The Islands of Lough Eske Now a private residence, this old Sawmill of the terrible famine of the 1840’s when This island on Lough Eske served as a There are six islands in Lough Eske; 22 Giant Redwoods dates back to the early 19th century, and over a million Irish people died of star- late 16th century castle stronghold of O’Donnell’s Isle, Moylederg Is- A stand of Giant redwoods measur- was powered by a large wooden mill vation. The pot was brought to Don- the famous O’Donnell clan. They were land, Round Island, Roshin Island, ing over 90 feet in height can be seen wheel. In 1911 the large wooden mill egal by the Quakers (Society of Friends), the ruling Gaelic lords of Donegal until Grainne’s Island and Pigeons Island. a short distance up the road from the wheel was replaced by a turbine which who carried out a lot of humanitarian the early 17th century. O’Donnell’s Isle Famine Pot. They were imported as increased the mill’s hydro-power capac- work in Ireland. The huge cauldron was also served as an armoury and a prison. 17 Lough Eske Old Post Office seedlings from the U.S. and planted over ity and was also used to generate elec- restored and housed in its current lo- Red Hugh O’Donnell was to be- A green post box is the only remain- 150 years ago. Despite their impressive tricity for Lough Eske Castle. A series of cation in 1998 by a local committee to come their most famous chieftain. ing sign that Lough Eske Post Of- height they are still considered tod- three dams and mill ponds, upstream, commemorate the 150th anniversary fice was located in the house behind dlers in their native California! This spe- supplied water to the mill. The nation- of An Górta Mór (The Great Hunger). 12 The Friars’ Well & Franciscan Friary it. It finally closed its doors in 1954. cies include the tallest living trees on al electricity supply grid wasn’t con- Walkers are welcome to quench their earth reaching up to 379 feet in height. Lough Eske Cromlech nected to Lough Eske Castle until 2007. 8 thirst at this roadside spring well. Lo- Casán na mBráthar Located directly across the road from 18 Ellen’s Falls cal tradition links it to a nearby 16th Casán na mBráthar is Irish for ‘The Friar’s 23 the two-storey ‘Old Lough Eske School- This picturesque series of gentle wa- Mr. Swan’s House century Franciscan Friary of which no Path’, which led over the Blustack Moun- 3 house’, is a megalithic tomb, now terfalls, situated just north of Cla- This fine two-storey farmhouse, near- trace now remains. In 1671, St. Oliver tains, from the hills north of Lough Eske, much overgrown. Due to its position dy Bridge, were named after local by the redwoods, became Mr. Swan’s Plunkett wrote that he visited the fri- in the direction of Glenties. Small cairns and shape, it is possibly a Portal tomb woman, Ellen Ward. The Clady River home when he sold Lough Eske Cas- ary and mentions the presence of 18 of quartzite stones and rocks marked dating from 4’900 to 6’200 years ago. then flows through part of Ardna- tle in 1972 after 25 years in residence. friars in the community. Local tradition the path at intervals of a quarter mile. This suggests there were people set- mona Wood and into Lough Eske. Look to the field opposite the house has maintained that at least part of the tled and farming in the area back then. The Féar Gorta and you will notice there are no tel- Annals of the Four Masters (Ancient An- 19 The Féar Gorta or the ‘Hungry Grass’ 24 Plane Crash in the Bluestacks ephone poles or lines above ground. nals of Ireland), were written at Lough 9 The Fairy Glen is a traditional belief in the Bluestacks On the night of the 31st January, 1944, Mr. Swan had the workers bury the lines Eske Friary during the early 1630s. The Fairy Glen forms part of Ardnamona region dating back to famine times. an RAF Sunderland flying boat was re- underground so as not to spoil his view! Wood Nature Reserve and is therefore in Lough Eske Sheep farmers always carried a re- turning from its German U-Boat patrols also a protected reservation for the ‘wee 13 in the North Atlantic, when it lost its Ardnamona Wood Nature Reserve One of the last Irish speaking commu- serve slice of wholemeal bread or bar- 4 folk’! It is roofed by tall oak trees and way in bad weather and crashed in the This is one of the finest remaining ex- nities in south Donegal was located ley sweets in their coat pocket when carpeted by mosses with small rocky high Bluestacks. There were 12 crew amples of a mature oak wood in County along the northern shore of Lough Eske out walking the mountains. If they outcrops and waterfalls, fringed by gi- on board and 5 miraculously escaped Donegal. The nature reserve is home and survived here to the mid-20th cen- stood upon the Féar Gorta, the en- ant ferns. This enchanting place may the crash and burning wreckage alive. to animals such as native red deer, red tury. This beautiful, poetic language ergy was drained from their body and well have inspired Donegal’s unofficial squirrels, pine martens and badgers. still survives in local place names such only a piece of wholesome bread or poet laureate, William Allingham, to pen 25 Ardnamona House Killarney ferns are also found here as as Clashalairbin - Clais na Lárach Báine an energy sweet could revive them. his famous Victorian poem ‘The Fairies’. Build in the 1790’s by Thomas Brooke well as very rare plants such as Whorled (The Gully of the White Mare). 20 Moylederg Island (Younge), of Lough Eske Castle, for caraway and Six-stamened Waterworth. The Shores of Sweet Lough Eske 14 Lough Belshade This natural island is situated at the his mother-in-law as a dower house. 5 Doonan Waterfall I see old Ard na Móna, just as I saw it then, Local folk tradition has it that the fri- north end of Lough Eske. Moylederg The gardens at Ardnamona contain a This mountain waterfall is formed A painters brush could not describe nor yet ars’ treasures, such as a golden chalice, was partially excavated in 1946 and rich variety of exotic species, many of as the Corraber River plunges from a poet’s pen, are lying hidden on an island in Lough the discovery of flint work and shards which were planted in the 1880’s by a height of more than 80 feet into a It was there upon some well known height, Belshade, high in the Bluestack Moun- of ancient pottery suggests this island Sir Arthur Wallace. He brought seeds narrow wooded ravine, and is best For hours at length I’d bask; tains. Loch Bhéal Seód means ‘Lake of has been occupied from the Neolithic back to Ardnamona from the Impe- seen and heard from the north side To feast my eyes on its green woods. the Jewels’ in Irish. A huge phantom into the late medieval period. The is- rial Gardens in Peking and the Palace of Lough Eske, following heavy rains. Reflected in Lough Eske black cat is said to guard the island’s land was also used into the 19th cen- Gardens in Katmanadu. The house by Mary Anne Martin buried treasure, so you’ve been warned! tury for making illicit spirits (poteen). and grounds are currently private.