CLONASLEE WALKING ROUTES - PAGE 1.

May 2007.
CLONASLEE WALKS AND THE NEW SLIEVE BLOOM WAY

8 years ago the Slieve Bloom Way was established as a circular, long distance walking route of the Slieve Blooms. covering 69 km.
In 2007 The Laois-Offaly Walking Partnership have re-routed the Slieve Bloom Way to allow walkers to visit the villages of Clonaslee,Cadamstown and Kinnitty.[ adding an extra 15 km ].
6 new Trailheads have been established to allow walkers take shorter treks [4-5 hrs] and a number of shorter Looped Walks are also available at each Trailhead. [all walks are now waymarked with black posts and brown signposts bearing yellow arrows and the trekking man symbol]
The trailheads are at Glenbarrow, Clonaslee, Cadamstown, Kinnitty, Glenafelly and Monicknew.

The Clonaslee Trailhead is located a short distance up Brittas road from the village.
A new Information Display Board is in place identifying the new Slieve Bloom Way and the Looped walks.
Clonaslee has 2 looped walks – the Rickets rocks looped walk and the much longer Glendinoregan looped walk.
Clonaslee also has 6 waymarked walks [ marked with colours ] identified on the map board at the heritage centre.

In the Clonaslee region the Slieve Bloom Way has been re-routed as follows. Previously the Way winded along the higher slopes of Knockanastumpa and Knockachorra. Now it follows the valley of the Clodiagh river down the east bank to Clonaslee, then back up-river along the west bank to Barradoos and the higher slopes

Previously the Way winded along the forestry roads of Knockanastumba, from Glenbarrow onto the Cut Road, and then proceeded south towards the Cut,turning right and down into Glendinoregan. Then along the brow of knockachorra into scaroon and glenkeen, never leaving the forestry and on into spink and glenletter.

Now,you turn right at the Cut road and walk downhill to the Glendinoregan Forest Entrance, and walk up-river to the wood bridge [ this is same route as previous St Stephens Day walks ] then its down-river to the road above Jimmy Rosneys old house.
Follow road down to a lane on right that will take you to rickets rocks, then a left onto road that will bring you out onto the Mountain road at Larry Heaneys.from here it’s a right turn to the wood gate. Enter the woods continue north to the wood bridge. This is the closest point to clonaslee village. Turning left its back up the other side of the river clodiagh and you will leave the forestry and access the road just above Cusacks. Turn left again and continue through glenkeen and onto the old barradoos road. This will bring you to the waterfall and back into forestry. From here it’s a forest road walk to the giants grave and you descend towards cadamstown.




Clonaslee is blessed with its location on the lower slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains making it ideal walking country.
There are 5 signposted Walking Routes

WALK 1 - "DUN NA RI"










The Route:
· Starting at the Heritage Centre walk through the village over the Clodiagh River Bridge;
· Turn left here at the Gate Lodge to Brittas House. On your left is the Riverside Park with its meandering little lane and picnic tables under the Birch and Beech trees;
· Continue past the entrance to Brittas woods, you will pass maybe 8 houses in total and then rounding a bend you should be able to see the ruined turret of Brittas House against a backdrop of some giant broadleaf trees. “Brittas Castle” as it is known locally was built in 1869 in the Victorian neo-Gothic look that was all the rage at the time. The house burned down in 1942 and is only a ruin now;
· Enter the forestry at the sign for “Brittas Lake”. You are now in a Coilte Woodland, on the right are Ash trees. This part of the walk is a nature lover’s paradise. In Spring , both sides of this forest road are dense with wildflowers. In August you can eat handfuls of blackberries and wild raspberries, while later the ferns turn a splendid gold colour;
You will come to a signpost for the lake and you should make the detour. The “lake” is actually a man-made fish pond, (complete with man-made island to picnic on) and was created during the 19th century, in those golden years of Victorian landlordism. Today it has been renovated, cleaned-up, re-planted and re-stocked with fish and wild duck – It is peaceful, yet wild, and is at it’s most beautiful in the autumn months. Do go take a look – stroll along the leafy walk around the water. Throw bread to the ducks, but don’t leave any unsightly litter behind. Respect your environment;
· Continue on the forest road downhill through Pines, Firs, Spruces and Oaks. Follow the signposts;

· Take the road left down onto the Birr road and at the forest exit, turn right to get back to the village along a newly paved walkway;
· The Dun na Ri walk is 5 km long / 1.5 hours.






WALK 2 - BRITTAS AND GLENKEEN










The Route:
· Take the same route as the “Dun na Ri Walk” until you get to the forestry entrance for Brittas Lake. Then stay on the road and continue past the boundary walls of Brittas House. On your left you will notice the great trees, giant Chestnut and Beech,Oak and Redwood.
· The road climbs slowly and you will pass 4 houses on the left before you come to some great viewing points. Here, you can look down into the valley of the Clodiagh River. This is Glenkeen “the beautiful glen”. Knockacharra is the mountain that rises up from the valley.
· Follow the road as it turns to the left and you will descend down to the river. This stretch of the walk is “magical” as you pass little hillocks covered in ferns with little grassy slopes (usually with a few sheep grazing). There is a lovely stone house at the bridge but remember it is a private residence.
· Once you cross the Clodiagh, the road climbs back up onto the Glenkeen Road.

· Turn left and continue along a rather straight stretch, with hedgerows that are full of berries in August. You will come to another junction and you make another left. Soon you will pass the stone boundary wall of Brittas.
· At the entrance to the forestry, turn left into the woods. Here, are many Beech Trees that create a beautiful green canopy every Spring.
· Continue along this woodland path as it climbs uphill, where you can look down into the deep woodland glen at the Clodiagh River.
· Then it is downhill to a wooden bridge, cross the river and make a right.
· Follow the river on your right down onto the road. Make the right here and continue to the village.
· The Brittas/Glenkeen Walk is 7.5 km long,about 2 hours.