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9 781899 642052
ISBN 1-899642-05-6
The Slieve Blooms Directions to Slieve Bloom Trailheads
Leave No Trace on your Way The Slieve Bloom Way and Offaly Way have been developed with the agreement and kind cooperation of local landowners - public and private. Help preserve goodwill by adhering to the following guidelines;
The Slieve Bloom Way and Offaly Way are two of a national network of more than 30 approved waymarked Ways in Ireland. Located in Counties Laois and Offaly in the centre of Ireland, the Ways follow a mix of forest tracks, river banks, old roadways, grassy trails, sandy tracks and minor roads.
There are a few rough and rugged sections - but they rarely rise to high altitude and do not demand great stamina.
The Ways are signposted, and stiles and bridges have been erected where necessary to ensure ease of access - making them suitable for people of 'medium' levels of fitness or higher.
Using this Mapguide This mapguide has been developed as a guide for walkers of the Slieve Bloom Way or Offaly Way. Every effort has been made to ensure that the line of travel is accurately represented at time of printing - but this may change on the ground on occasion. The mapguide should be used, therefore, in conjunction with waymarking along the routes. As the areas adjacent to the Ways may not be entirely accurate this mapguide should not be used as a general map - see instead Sheets 48 and 54 from the Ordnance Survey of Ireland Discovery Series.
Clothing and Equipment The recommended minimum gear is:- sturdy walking boots- waterproof jacket- water/liquid and snack- mobile phone- this mapguide or Ordnance Survey Sheets 48/54.Additional useful items include a warm hat and gloves, a whistle, waterproof over-trousers, a torch, a first aid kit - and a rucksack to carry them!
Safety TipsEnsure you have the fitness, clothing and equipment needed for the route you choose.
Check the weather forecast and be prepared for changing weather conditions. Contact WeatherDial on 1550 123 851 or www.meteireann.ie
Leave details of your plans with somebody and contact that person when you return.
Allow plenty of time for your walk - and plan to finish your walk well before dark. As a rough guide, allow one hour for every 3km. If parking your car unattended, do not leave items on view or anything too valuable in the car.
If in a group, stay together and watch out for each other. Take regular breaks and be guided by the pace of the slowest walker.
Be aware of traffic when walking on roads.
Know where you are at all times. Pay attention to the waymarking, stay on the official Way, and use this mapguide or another map to keep track of your location.
In the event of a serious accident or genuine emergency contact Mountain Rescue Service at 999 or 112.
Situated close to the geographical centre of Ireland, the Slieve Bloom Region is made up of forests, blanket bog of a type which is unique to Ireland, interspersed with hidden valleys of great character, and interest to lovers of archaeology and nature. It is an extremely peaceful area which permits the opportunity to be close to nature. The wild and mysterious Slieve Bloom Mountains form a link between the counties of Laois and Offaly and boast hidden valleys and rocks ranging in age from 300 to 450 million years. Much of the higher reaches of the mountains have been designated as an Environmentally Protected area for special preservation, as an amenity for generations to come. Modest in height, the highest point in the Slieve Blooms is Arderin (translated as Height of Ireland) at 527m.
The Slieve Bloom Way is a circular route of some 75km which takes the walker through the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The walker is taken on a pleasurable trip past many remarkable glens, rock outcrops, heathery hills, wondrous waterfalls and lofty summits which have a strange brooding personality of their own. By contrast, the Way also visits the quaint rural villages of Clonaslee, Cadamstown and Kinnitty.
The Ways follow a mix of forest tracks, riverbanks, old roadways, grassy trails, sandy tracks and minor roads. There are a few rough and rugged sections - but they rarely rise to high altitude and do not demand great stamina.
The Way is moderate to hard in difficulty and suitable for people of medium levels of fitness or higher.
The Slieve Bloom Way is best accessed at one of six key trailheads which provide car parking and are reasonably close to services such as shops, restaurants and accommodation. They are located at;
Trailhead 1 - Glenbarrow CarparkTrailhead 2 - Brittas Woods Entrance at Clonaslee VillageTrailhead 3 - Cadamstown Village CarparkTrailhead 4 - Kinnitty Forest Entrance near Kinnitty VillageTrailhead 5 - Monicknew Forest Carpark
The Way can be walked in its entirety by experienced walkers over three days, but can be broken into a series of shorter trailhead-to-trailhead treks - each approximately 4-5hrs long. A number of shorter loop walks (ranging from 1hr to 4hrs) start and finish at each trailhead and are more suitable for the occasional walker.
The route is waymarked using a mix of 1m high black posts and brown signpost fingers bearing YELLOW ARROWS and TREKKING MAN. [Note: On occasion you may encounter directional arrows of other colours - these are for shorter looped walks which start and return to one of the Trailheads
Trailhead 1 GlenbarrowStart from Rosenallis village on the R422 between the towns of Mountmellick and Birr. At the sharp bend opposite the Church take the minor road signposted Glenbarrow. After 2.5Km turn right at a 3-way junction, and after a further 2km turn left at a crossroads signposted Festival Fields and Glenbarrow. [The trailhead is signposted from Rosenallis. Total Distance 5Km]
Trailhead 2 Brittas Woods Entrance, ClonasleeClonaslee village is located on the R422 between the towns of Mountmellick and Birr. Start at the bridge over the River Clodiagh in the village, and take the road signposted Brittas Lake and Glenkeen. The forestry entrance is on your left after 200m. [The trailhead is signposted from Clonaslee. Total Distance 0.2Km]
Trailhead 3 Cadamstown Village Carpark The trailhead is located at the carpark in Cadamstown village on the R421 between the towns of Mountmellick and Birr.
Trailhead 4 Kinnitty Forest EntranceKinnitty village is located on the R421 between the towns of Mountmellick and Birr. Take the R421 following the signposts for Cadamstown but after only 200m veer right onto the R440 signposted Mountrath. [The trailhead is signposted from Kinnitty. Total Distance 2.8Km]
Trailhead 5 Monicknew Forest Entrance Start from Clonaslee village on the R422 between the towns of Mountmellick and Birr. From the River Clodiagh bridge in the village take the R422 following the signposts for Mountmellick. After 0.6Km turn right onto a roadway signposted Mountain Drive. Ascend for 8.4Km to The Cut - the highest point in your drive clearly identified by a high peat bank on each side. Descend for 3.6Km to reach the Picnic Area at Monicknew Forest Entrance. [The trailhead is signposted from Clonaslee. Total Distance 12.0Km]
Walk a while, stay a while Siúl tamall, fan tamall
Mapguide forSlieve Bloom Way& Offaly Way
OSI permit Laois CC MA9802. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained on this mapguide is accurate, no responsibility will be accepted by the promoters for any errors or inaccuracies contained therein.
Waymarking posts will confirm and guide you on your journey along the route.
1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Be considerate of others
3. Respect farm animals and wildlife
4. Travel and camp on durable ground
5. Leave what you find
6. Dispose of waste properly
7. Minimise the effects of fire
N 367 081
N 317 106
N 227 085
N 211 046
N 306 023
Walking the Slieve Bloom Way
The Slieve Bloom Way
Slieve Bloom Way Slí Sliabh Bladhma
(Adapted from Leave No Trace Ireland Principles of Outdoor Ethics)
www.irishtrails.ie and www.slievebloom.ie
In Summary
Distance/Duration 75km / 3 days
Degree of Difficulty Easy to moderate. No substantial climbing, but some soft underfoot conditions. Minimum Gear Requirements Sturdy walking boots, waterporoofs. Rucksack, fluid, snacks, mobile phone. Trailheads Glenbarrow, Clonaslee, Cadamstown, Kinnitty, Glenafelly and Monicknew Forest.
For more information see
The
Offa
ly W
ay is
bes
t ac
cess
ed a
t on
e of
fiv
e ke
y tr
ailh
eads
whi
ch p
rovi
de c
ar
park
ing
and
are
reas
onab
ly c
lose
to
serv
ices
suc
h as
sho
ps,
rest
aura
nts
and
acco
mm
odat
ion.
The
y ar
e lo
cate
d at
;
Trai
lhea
d 1
Cada
mst
own
Villa
ge C
arpa
rkTh
e tr
ailh
ead
is lo
cate
d at
the
car
park
in
Cada
mst
own
villa
ge o
n th
e R4
21 b
etw
een
the
tow
ns o
f M
ount
mel
lick
and
Birr.
Trai
lhea
d 2
Kilc
orm
ac R
iver
side
Par
kSt
art
in t
he t
own
of K
ilcor
mac
- lo
cate
d on
the
N5
2 be
twee
n Tu
llam
ore
and
Birr.
Fro
m t
he t
own
cent
re f
ollo
w t
he N
52 in
the
dire
ctio
n of
Tu
llam
ore.
As
you
exit
the
tow
n tu
rn le
ft a
fter
cr
ossi
ng t
he S
ilver
Riv
er b
ridge
. Th
e tr
ailh
ead
is
on y
our
left
aft
er 5
0m.
Trai
lhea
d 3
Loug
h Bo
ora
Park
land
sSt
art
in t
he t
own
of K
ilcor
mac
- lo
cate
d on
the
N5
2 be
twee
n Tu
llam
ore
and
Birr.
Fro
m t
he t
own
cent
re f
ollo
w t
he N
52 in
the
dire
ctio
n of
Tu
llam
ore.
As
you
exit
the
tow
n tu
rn le
ft a
fter
cr
ossi
ng t
he S
ilver
Riv
er b
ridge
. Tr
avel
200
m t
o a
T-ju
ncti
on,
whe
re y
ou t
urn
right
fol
low
ing
the
sign
post
for
Boo
ra.
Cont
inue
for
4.5
km t
o en
ter
Boor
a Pa
rkla
nds
- th
e tr
ailh
ead
is lo
cate
d at
a
car
park
opp
osit
e a
woo
den
bird
hide
. [T
he
trai
lhea
d is
sig
npos
ted
from
the
Silv
er R
iver
in
Kilc
orm
ac.
Tota
l Dis
tanc
e 4.
5km
]
Trai
lhea
d 4
Turr
aun
Wet
land
sSt
art
in t
he t
own
of T
ulla
mor
e an
d fo
llow
the
N5
2 in
the
dire
ctio
n of
Bir
r. At
Blu
e Ba
ll tu
rn
right
on
the
R537
sig
npos
ted
Clog
han.
In
the
villa
ge o
f Le
abeg
tur
n rig
ht f
ollo
win
g th
e si
gn
for
the
Offa
ly W
ay.
The
trai
lhea
d is
ap
prox
imat
ely
4km
fro
m h
ere.
Trai
lhea
d 5
Lem
anag
han
The
trai
lhea
d is
loca
ted
on t
he R
436
betw
een
the
tow
ns o
f Cl
ara
and
Ferb
ane.
The
Way
can
be
wal
ked
in it
s en
tire
ty b
y ex
perie
nced
wal
kers
in a
10h
r da
y,
but
is b
est
brok
en in
to t
wo
shor
ter
trek
s -
Cada
mst
own
to K
ilcor
mac
(16
km,
4hrs
), a
nd K
ilcor
mac
to
Lem
anag
han
(22k
m, 6h
rs).
A nu
mbe
r of
sho
rter
loop
ed w
alks
(ra
ngin
g fr
om 1
hr t
o 4h
rs)
star
t an
d fi
nish
at
som
e of
the
tra
ilhea
ds a
nd a
re m
ore
suit
able
for
the
occ
asio
nal w
alke
r.
The
rout
e is
way
mar
ked
usin
g a
mix
of
1m h
igh
blac
k po
sts
and
brow
n si
gnpo
st f
inge
rs b
eari
ng Y
ELLO
W A
RROW
S an
d TR
EKKI
NG M
AN.
[Not
e: O
n oc
casi
on y
ou m
ay e
ncou
nter
dire
ctio
nal a
rrow
s of
oth
er c
olou
rs -
the
se a
re
for
the
loop
ed w
alks
.]
Wal
king
the
Off
aly
Way
Dire
ctio
ns t
o Of
faly
Way
Tra
ilhea
ds
Trai
lhea
d 1
- Ca
dam
stow
n Vi
llage
Trai
lhea
d 2
- Ki
lcor
mac
Trai
lhea
d 3
- Lo
ugh
Boor
a Di
scov
ery
Park
Trai
lhea
d 4
- Tu
rrau
n W
etla
nds
Trai
lhea
d 5
- Le
man
agha
n
Orig
inal
ly k
now
n as
Kin
g’s
Coun
ty,
Offa
ly w
as e
stab
lishe
d in
15
57 w
ith
the
land
s of
the
O’C
onno
r Fa
ly,
the
prin
cipa
l na
tive
fam
ily.
It f
orm
ed p
art
of t
he a
ncie
nt k
ingd
om o
f Le
inst
er.
A va
riety
of
land
add
itio
ns a
nd b
ound
ary
adju
stm
ents
too
k pl
ace
over
the
cen
turie
s an
d th
e na
me
was
cha
nged
fro
m K
ing’
s Co
unty
to
coun
ty O
ffal
y in
192
0 as
an
act
of
loca
l def
ianc
e of
Bri
tish
gov
ernm
ent
in I
rela
nd.
Ther
e is
cle
ar e
vide
nce
of e
arly
inha
bita
tion
fro
m a
n en
cam
pmen
t fo
r hu
nter
s so
me
6800
-600
0BC
unco
vere
d in
ar
chae
olog
ical
exc
avat
ions
at
Boor
a (t
hrou
gh w
hich
the
Of
faly
Way
pas
ses)
. Th
e hu
ntin
g si
te la
y on
the
pre
-bog
su
rfac
e on
the
sho
re o
f a
lake
muc
h la
rger
tha
n th
e m
oder
n
Loug
h Bo
ora.
Evi
denc
e of
set
tlem
ent
in t
he B
ronz
e ag
e w
as
also
fou
nd n
ear
Kilc
orm
ac a
s w
as t
he im
pres
sive
gol
d co
llect
ion,
the
Der
rinb
oy h
oard
and
the
fam
ous
Dow
ris
hoar
d of
the
late
r Br
onze
age
900
-600
BC.
Evid
ence
of
mor
e re
cent
his
tory
is t
o be
fou
nd in
num
erou
s po
ints
of
inte
rest
in
the
tow
ns a
nd c
ount
rysi
de in
clud
ing
cast
les,
rat
hs (
hill
fort
ress
es),
anc
ient
chu
rche
s, a
bbey
s an
d m
onas
terie
s.
Clon
mac
nois
e is
one
of
the
mos
t im
port
ant
early
mon
asti
c si
tes
in t
he c
ount
ry.
Coun
ty O
ffal
y
The
Offa
ly W
ay is
a li
near
rou
te o
f so
me
38km
s lin
king
the
Slie
ve B
loom
Way
(at
Ca
dam
stow
n) t
o th
e Sl
i Mor
(at
Lem
anag
han)
- a
nd c
ross
ing
en-r
oute
the
Gra
nd
Cana
l Way
. Th
e ro
ute
incl
udes
sec
tion
s of
riv
erba
nk,
stre
tche
s of
bog
land
, gr
een
mas
s pa
ths
and
quie
t co
untr
y ro
adw
ays.
Alt
houg
h th
e hi
ghes
t po
int
is o
nly
120m
, m
uch
of t
he W
ay c
omm
ands
wid
e vi
ews
over
a c
ompa
rati
vely
fla
t la
ndsc
ape.
The
W
ay f
ollo
ws
a m
ix o
f fo
rest
tra
cks,
riv
erba
nks,
bog
roa
dway
s an
d m
inor
roa
ds.
As
the
rout
e is
mai
nly
flat,
it is
eas
y to
mod
erat
e in
dif
ficul
ty a
nd s
uita
ble
for
peop
le
of a
vera
ge le
vels
of
fitn
ess
or h
ighe
r.
Cada
mst
own
Villa
ge w
hich
mar
ks t
he ju
ncti
on w
ith
the
Slie
ve B
loom
Way
is t
he b
est
star
ting
poi
nt.
From
the
vill
age,
the
rou
te t
rave
ls n
orth
war
d al
ong
the
Silv
er R
iver
an
d qu
iet
coun
try
road
s to
Bal
lybo
y Vi
llage
, w
here
it r
ejoi
ns t
he S
ilver
Riv
er in
to
the
tow
n of
Kilc
orm
ac.
The
Way
the
n en
ters
the
aw
ard
win
ning
Lou
gh B
oora
Di
scov
ery
Park
. W
ith
acce
ss f
or a
ll ag
es a
nd a
bilit
ies,
thi
s am
enit
y ca
n be
exp
lore
d fo
r it
s ou
tdoo
r ac
tivi
ties
, na
ture
and
bio
dive
rsit
y, s
culp
ture
s an
d hi
stor
ical
M
esol
ithi
c Si
te.
The
Way
tra
vers
es T
urra
un N
atur
e Re
serv
e w
here
mor
e th
an 8
0 sp
ecie
s of
bird
s an
d 15
0 sp
ecie
s of
pla
nts
have
bee
n re
cord
ed.
Afte
r cr
ossi
ng t
he
Gran
d Ca
nal a
t De
rry
Brid
ge,
the
fina
l sec
tion
tak
es t
he w
alke
r to
Lem
anag
han
- th
e si
te o
f a
mon
aste
ry f
ound
ed b
y St
Man
chan
in 6
65AD
.
The
Offa
ly W
ay
Old
mill
, Ca
dam
stow
n
Scul
ptur
e pa
rk,
Loug
h Bo
ora
In S
umm
ary
Dist
ance
/Dur
atio
n38
km /
2da
ys
Degr
ee o
f Di
ffic
ulty
Mos
tly
easy
. Ge
nera
lly f
lat
terr
ain,
but
som
e so
ft u
nder
foot
cond
itio
ns.
Min
imum
Gea
r Re
quir
emen
tsSt
urdy
wal
king
boo
ts a
ndw
ater
proo
fs.
Ruck
sack
, flu
id,
snac
ks a
nd m
obile
pho
ne.
Trai
lhea
dsCa
dam
stow
n, K
ilcor
mac
, Lo
ugh
Boor
a an
d Le
man
agha
n
Addi
tion
al L
ocal
Inf
orm
atio
nw
ww.
visi
toff
aly.
iew
ww.
kilc
orm
ac.c
om
The
Offa
ly W
ay
Slí U
íbh
Fhai
lí N 2
27 0
85
N 1
85 1
41
N 1
82 1
89
N 1
71 2
27
N 1
70 2
70
Loug
h B
oora
Dis
cove
ry P
ark