Laois Walks 13.Indd

FREE Trail Walking Workshops 12th Annual

Booking essential as places are limited. ( Ann 087 7749281 Saturday - 06 July Laois Walks Level 1 Beginners - trails in your area, walking gear, etc. Community Centre, Kiln Lane, Mountrath 12.00 noon WALKERS PLEASE NOTE: Followed by Walk at Monicknew REGISTRATION: takes place prior to each walk: Ð2 Grade B - 8 Km - 2½ hours per walk or Ð20 Festival Ticket. Festival Meet: Cattle Mart, Mountrath 2.15 pm • Wear Comfortable walking boots/shoes. Saturday - 27 July • Bring raingear. st st Level 2 Intermediate - basic compass and map reading skills • We walk as a group, please stay with Walk Leaders. 1 - 31 July 2013 Rosenallis Community Centre 12.00 noon COUNTRYSIDE CODE: Followed by Walk on the Ridge of Capard Grade B - 10 Km - 2 hours • Leave No Trace. Meet: Ridge of Capard Car Park 2.00 pm • No Dogs allowed. • On country roads walk in single fi le on the right Slieve Bloom Eco Walking Weekend hand side. 12-14 July 2013 • Respect private property, farmland, wildlife and - see www.slievebloom.ie for full details the rural environment.

GRADES OF WALKS: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: A = Strenuous On Laois Walks Festival, please contact :- B = Diffi cult Laois Partnership ( 057-866 1900 C = Moderate. [email protected] www. laoispartnership.ie Grade C walks are suitable for families Laois Tourism www.laoistourism.ie (many of the Grade C walks are suitable for young families and buggies - please check with Laois Partnership On the range of walks in Laois:- featuring:- ( 057-866 1900) www.laois.ie/walking On things to see and do, or places to stay in Laois:- • Bog www.laoistourism.ie • Road SPECIAL THANKS TO: Members of Laois Walks Committee, Community • Canal Groups, the Local Development Associations, Coillte, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Landowners • Mountain • Woodland www.fb.com/LaoisWalksFestival 22 Walks 19

Comhshaol, Pobal agus Rialtas Áitiúil Environment, Community and Local Government Locations

LLaoisaois WalksWalks 13.indd13.indd 1 222/11/20122/11/2012 10:08:5710:08:57 Walking Festival Thu, 11 July Grade A • 10 km • 2½ hours Sun, 21 July Grade B • 8 km • 2 hours 2013 Fossey Mountain, Timahoe -7.201663, 52.960424 Rossmore, Killeshin -7.007669, 52.821611 This demanding walk goes up Fossey Mountain and back into This walk is a must for the wonderful views of the Barrow Valley, Th is is the Year of the Gathering and Laois Walks the historic village of Timahoe. Dublin and Wicklow Mountains. Committee is delighted to invite you to our month long Meet: The Village Green, Timahoe 7.00pm Meet: Oisín Park, Killeshin 2.30pm festival. To help our visitors fi nd the start of each walk, we Fri, 12 July Grade C • 5 km • 1½ hours Mon, 22 July Grade B • 10 km • 2½ hours have included GPS references (Longitude and Latitude). Grantstown Lake, Ballacolla -7.492563, 52.868325 Ricket’s Rocks, Clonaslee -7.521367, 53.147808 Welcome, Céad Míle Fáilte, Bienvenu, Willkommen FAMILY WALK - a gentle stroll along quiet country paths A mix of minor roads, sandy roadways and forestry tracks up Meet: Grantstown Lake Car Park 7.30pm into the Slieve Blooms passing Rickets Rocks waterfall. to County Laois. Meet: The Heritage Centre, Clonaslee 7.00pm

Mon, 01 July Grade A • 10 km • 2½ hours Sat, 13 July Grade B • 8 km • 2 hours Wed, 24 July Grade B • 8 km • 2 hours

Spink, Abbeyleix -7.232781, 52.900641 Oakvale Woods, Stradbally -7.126965, 53.002951 Cullenagh, Ballyroan -7.303871, 52.947560 Traversing the hills of the 16th century Cooper estate with views of Explore the forest on the ‘Cobbler ’s Walk’, passing a mass rock, Walk to the second highest point in Co.Laois. 6 counties: Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford, Kildare & Tipp. lime kilns and the gate of the Cobbler’s Castle folly.. Meet: Ballyroan Community Hall 7.30pm Meet: Knock Church, Spink 7.00pm Meet: Oakvale Woods, Stradbally 2.30pm

Wed, 03 July Grade B • 9 km • 2 hours Sun, 14 July Grade B • 12 km • 2½ hours Fri, 26 July Grade C • 5 km • 1½ hours

Capponellan Woods, Durrow -7.424182, 52.835629 Gattabawn -7.470903, 52.766788 Ballinakill -7.308043, 52.874108 Woodland walk through part of the Castle Durrow estate once Stroll along this recently developed Fáilte Ireland loop which This walk starts from the historic village square and skirts the owned by Lord Ashbrooke. uses old farm lanes, open countryside and forest paths. Masslough, passing the Heywood estate. Meet: Capponellan Woods Car Park 7.30pm Meet: Mackey’s Pub, Gattabawn 2.30pm Meet: The Square, Ballinakill 7.30pm

Fri, 05 July Grade C • 5 km • 1½ hours Tue, 16 July Grade B • 12 km • 2½ hours Sat, 27 July Grade A • 12 km • 2½ hours

The Derries, Ballybrittas -7.126610, 53.105455 Grand Canal, Fisherstown -7.076334, 53.098031 Ridge of Capard -7.455487, 53.107935 FAMILY WALK through woodland by the lake following Walk along the Grand Canal down the Barrow Valley passing Enjoy a walk through Ireland’s largest state-owned nature gentle forest tracks starting opposite Derries Church. moored boats and grain stores to the village of Vicarstown. reserve as you watch for the Hen Harrier, a rare bird of prey Meet: Forestry entrance at Derries church 7.30pm Meet: Fisherstown Car Park 7.00pm Meet: Ridge of Capard Car Park 2.00pm

Sat, 06 July Grade A • 7 km • 2½ hours Wed, 17 July Grade C • 7 km • 2 hours Sun, 28 July Grade A • 12 km • 3 hours

Monicknew -7.480063, 53.004478 Ballacolla -7.445725, 52.882202 Cullahill Mountain -7.475413, 52.817241 Experience the natural beauty of the Slieve Blooms as you ramble This walk includes some quiet road and laneways with nice Stunning panoramic views across several counties, taking you along its woodland paths countryside views. along old country lanes, forest track and open countryside. Meet: Cattle Mart, Mountrath 2.15pm Meet: Hayes’s Shop, Ballacolla 7.30pm Meet: Cullahill Community Centre 2.30pm

Sun, 07 July Grade A • 14 km • 3 hours Fri, 19 July Grade C • 5 km • 1½ hours Mon, 29 July Grade B • 8 km • 2 hours

Portarlington Bog Walk -7.201116, 53.160058 Stradbally Lake -7.148600, 53.015762 Emo Court Demesne -7.207786, 53.096344 The Derryounce Walkway, situated on the Edenderry Road, is FAMILY WALK along by Stradbally Lake, out the Charter A circuit of Emo Court Demesne (second largest walled park in a community owned walkway built around a 40 acre bog-lake. Road with great views of Oakvale and Ballyprior Hill. Europe) passing forest plantations, fi elds and Emo Court itself. Meet: The Hawthorn Inn, Portarlington 2.30pm Meet: Market House, Stradbally 7.30pm Meet: Emo Court Gates, Emo Village 7.00pm

Tue, 09 July Grade B • 8 km • 2 hours Sat, 20 July Grade B • 10 km • 2 hours Wed, 31 July Grade A • 16 km • 3½ hours

Wolfhill -7.129168, 52.903524 Abbeyleix Bog Walk -7.351782, 52.906205 Leafy Loops, Durrow -7.395370, 52.845052 The “hill of the howling wolves” on the Slieve Margy Ridge This Failte Ireland approved loop features old bog tracks and The Leafy Loop brings you through woodland, farmland and offers spectacular views of Slieve Margy and The Swan area. peaceful wooded lanes. riverbanks with a delightfully rich abundance of fl ora and fauna. Meet: Wolfhill Church Car Park 7.00pm Meet: Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix Cullahill Mountain 2.30pm Meet: Castle Arms Hotel 7.00pm

LLaoisaois WalksWalks 13.indd13.indd 2 222/11/20122/11/2012 10:09:1710:09:17