Walking

There are a number of mapped walking routes for the Kiltimagh area all varying in distance and difficulty. The walker will experience varying landscapes which will include mountain, woodland, bog tracks etc. These walks which cater for walkers of all levels of experience include a selection of walks available around Kiltimagh to help walkers become familiar with the area and also the Sliabh Cairn walk which will take you into attractive hilltop settings, with marvellous views over the landscape.

There are walks every Tuesday evening from the Market Square or the GAA Pitch.

Kiltimagh Walks

There are a total of five walks in the Kiltimagh area, all varying in distance and difficulty.  The user will experience varying landscapes which will include mountain, woodland, bog tracks etc.  Details and information relating to each of the walks are listed hereunder.

Kiltimagh Walks Maps

Walk 01  Sliabh Cairn Peak (Yellow Walk) More Information

Walk 02 Spankers Hill (Red Walk) More Information

Walk 03 Glore River Valley (Green Walk) More Information

Walk 04 Ballyglass (Pink Walk) More Information

Walk 05 Slieve Cairn Foothills (Blue Walk) More Information

 

Walk 01  Sliabh Cairn Peak (Yellow Walk)

Distance: 16 km

Walking Time: Allow a minimum of 4.5 to 5 hours at a leisurely pace. Plenty of time to stop and enjoy the scenery.

Essential:        Comfortable walking shoes, rainwear, a packed lunch & fluids

Remember:      Always walk on the right hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.

Terrain: Farmland, bogland & reclaimed bogs, this walkclimbs Slieve Cairn (850ft250m) West of the town.  The ascent is via the Southern peak, transvering the ridge, and descending from the northern peak, through more reclaimed lands to regain the start.

Contact:  Naturally West Holidays, Enterprise House, Kiltimagh. Tel: 353-94-9381494

Starting Point / Trailhead

The Walk Description

Pollagh River

The pollagh is part of the Moy river catchment.  About 5km north of this point the pollagh joins with the Glore River to become the Gweestion.  This in turn decants into the River Moy north of Bohola.  The Moy is one of Ireland’s and Europe’s finest sport fishing rivers.

Picnic Area 1

Relax and rest your feet before the first ascent up the hill!  Enjoy the beautiful scenery as the town and countryside begin to unfold behind you.

Picnic Area 2

Catch your breath before once again ascending to the peak.  As you cascend you can see Ballinamore House.  Originally home of the Ormsby Family, who were one of the landlords in the area during English Rule.  The Estate now a nursing home probably began between 150 and 200 years ago.  As you reach the summit of Sliabh Cairn you will notice it is covered with mountain blanket bog on the deeper peat, and heaths on shallow peat and soils.

Wind Turbines

The wind turbines are a new addition to the peak, helping to create clean and eco friendly electricity to the national grid.

Descent

As you make your way back down from the peak be careful as it is quite steep.

 

Walk 02 Spankers Hill (Red Walk)

Distance: 16 km

Walking Time: Allow a minimum of 4.5 to 5 hours at a leisurely pace.

Essential:        Comfortable walking shoes, rainwear, a packed lunch & fluids

Terrain: This is a moderate walk with several hills, two of which are quite steep as you ascend the Slieve Cairn ridge

Remember:      Always walk on the right hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.

Contact:  Naturally West Holidays, Enterprise House, Kiltimagh

   Tel: 353-94-9381494

Starting Point / Trailhead

Walk Description

Picnic Area

Have a quick stop before crossing over the Pollagh River and hitting the hills!  After the river, walk a while until you reach a crossroads then take a left turn.  This is a very scenic walk along the quiet roads of the surrounding Kiltimagh countryside.

Spankers Hill

Up until now you have ascended a steep hill as far as the renovated school house, now get ready for Spankers Hill, it is from this steep hill that the walk derives its name.  Spanker Kilgallon was the name of a man from this area.  The nickname “Spanker” was probably a family title, passes on from grandfather to father to son.  The last holder of the name Spanker Kilgallon was cruelly murdered within living memory.  From here you can look back over the route you have taken.

Wind Turbines

The wind turbines are a new addition to the peak, helping to create clean and eco friendly electricity to the national grid.

Descent

As you make your way back down from the peak be careful as it is quite steep.  You return to the crosswords and walk straight through and retrace steps back to the

 

Walk 03 Glore River Valley (Green Walk)

Distance: 14 km

Walking Time: Allow a minimum of 3.5 to hours for this walk.

Essential:        Comfortable walking shoes, rainwear, a packed lunch & fluids

Terrain: This is a mostly flat walk with only minor inclines.

Remember:      Always walk on the right hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.

Contact:  Naturally West Holidays, Enterprise House, Kiltimagh

   Tel: 353-94-9381494

Starting Point / Trailhead & Directions

The Market Square, head down Aiden Street and turn right towards Swinford, and immediately after the railway bridge 9Bumper Bridge) at Carrick Shrine turn right off the main road and you will quickly leave the town behind

Walk Description

Great Southern & Western Railway

You soon cross the disused railway line.  For many decades the train was our only link with the outside world, with everything from cattle, newspapers, even film reels for the local cinema, arriving by train.  Close to this spot one of the worst accidents on Irish Railways occurred just outside Kiltimagh Station on the Swinford side, in December 1916.  6 railway staff were killed and ten injured, some very seriously, when two trains collided in bad weather.

Ancient Habitations

This walk brings you within viewing distances of at least 12 ringforts.  These are prehistoric defensive enclosers, usually circular, that date from Celtic times, 2500 years ago.

Glore River

As you desend down towards a bridge you will be crossing the Glore River for the first out of five times on this walk.  Take care on turning left onto the main Swinford road, at stop sign, this can be a busy road.  Take the next right turn off the main road to Glore Mill Park and Arts Centre.

Glore Mill Art Centre

The 1913 Glore Mill is newly renovated and is open for visitors by appointment.

The High Fort at Killedan

The largest of a group of 4 ringforts is visible on the high ground to the SW of the road.  This is called The High Fort, or Lios Ard.

Killedan House & Raftery

Just SE of Lios Ard you can see a small woodlands. This is part of the Killeadan estate.  Raftery, the poet, was born in the vicinity of the house.

Killedan Graveyard

This was the old graveyard for the parish of Killedan, which includes the town on Kiltimagh.  Killedan is the anglised form of Cill Liadan, the churchof Liadan .  Fully renovated in recent years, it is thought to date from the 12th Century.  This conflicts with some local feelings that the Franciscan lay brothers used the already existing church.  In the grounds are two cells.  One with its corbelled roof extant.

Wetlands

After making your way back through Treenkeel you once again arrive onto the Swinford road, taking care as you walk towards the WetlandsPark .  This is a beautiful tranquil area to sit and relax.

 

Walk 04 Ballyglass (Pink Walk)

Distance: 5.5 km

Walking Time: Allow a minimum of 1.5 to hours for this short walk.

Essential:        Comfortable walking shoes, rainwear, a packed lunch & fluids

Terrain: Country Lanes and Bog Track

Remember:      Always walk on the right hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.

Contact:  Naturally West Holidays, Enterprise House, Kiltimagh

   Tel: 353-94-9381494

Starting Point / Trailhead & Directions

Walk Description

Kilkinure Cemetry

Here all the deceased of the Parish of Kiltimagh are laid to rest.  In this graveyard are the remains of another old church.  Opposite Cemetry, turn left up the

Lowland Blanket Bog

Ireland holds most of the remaining bogs in Europe and they are attracting much conservation attention.  This interesting habitat has developed due to the growth of the colourful bog moss (Sphagnum)

Turn left onto the main road and take first right onto another bog road.  Here you cross the old railway track this will lead you onto the main Kilcon road.  Turn left and you are on your way home.

Sculpture Park

The old railway station boasts a wonderful Sculpture Park , the results of a sculpture symposium held during the summer of 1993 whereby sculptors of national renown, as sisted by local students, completed the transformation of this delightful area.

Museum

A few years ago the derelict buildings of the former railway station were transformed and now host our town museum depicting life in this area over the years.

School of Music

The Stations Masters House was transformed to host the arts and has recently taken over to house the School of Music , offering high quality affordable music instruction and performance opportunities to students of all ages.

 

Walk 05 Slieve Cairn Foothills (Blue Walk)

Distance: 8.5 km

Walking Time: Allow a minimum of 2.5 to hours for this short walk.

Essential:        Comfortable walking shoes, rainwear, a packed lunch & fluids

Terrain: This is a relatively short to medium walk with a gentle ascend into the foothills under Slieve Cairn.

Remember:      Always walk on the right hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.

Contact:  Naturally West Holidays, Enterprise House, Kiltimagh

   Tel: 353-94-9381494

Starting Point / Trailhead & Directions

Points of Interest

Quick Stops (Picnic Area)

Have a quick stop before crossing over the Pollagh river and hitting the hills!

After the river, walk a while until you reach a crossroads just go straight through and began your ascent

Above the Plain

The view from this elevation is very beautiful.  The rounded hillocks and knolls that dot the landscape are a result of the melting of the glaciers at the end of the last ice age, 10,000 years ago.  This is a very scenic walk stretching across the foothills of Slieve Cairn and returning back past Pollagh River .

Pollagh River

The Pollagh  is part of the Moy river catchment.  About 5km north of this point the Pollagh joins the Glore River to become the Gweestion.  This in turn descants into the river Moy north of Bohola.  The Moy is one of Ireland’s (and Europe’s) finest sport fishing rivers.