CLONASLEE WALKING ROUTES - PAGE 2

KNOCKANASTUMBA WALK

The Route:
· Starting at the Heritage Centre leave the village by the Mountmellick road,you will pass Sliabh Bloom Park on the right and cross the Gorragh River;
· Turn right after the Old Technical School onto the Mountain or Cut Road. This walk is signposted. You will pass the Community Centre on the left;

· Continue on this road as it steadily climbs uphill,after a long winding turn you will see an open Stone Quarry on the left. This is the townland of “Ross” and you will notice the fields giving way to open moorland on your left and coniferous forestry on your right;
· Further on there is a signposted “River Walk”,[ you could take this detour,down through the woods . It is a cul-de-sac but a very pretty one.] As you slowly climb uphill on the Cut Road you will catch glimpses of the valley on your right. This is the valley of the Gorragh River,the “deep glen” of Glendineoregan.This road is a very popular drive on weekends so do be carefull;
· 5 km out from where you began is the sign for the “Sliabh Bloom Way”.Take this forest track here on your left as it climbs uphill,then downhill. You will cross the Glenlahan river,it’s just a stream here;
Continue on the forest road as it rounds the mountain called “Knockanastumba” [the hill of the stumps!]You are in a conifer forest,its quiet,the wind sighs in the top branches above you,a stream trickles down through broken sandstone,you have left civilization behind,enjoy it while it lasts;
· At a cossroads take the track to the left as it takes you downhill and out of the forestry and into wild open moorland with tremendous views. You are looking into the wide,wide glen of “Glenlahan”;
· The Knockanastumba Walk is 15.5 km long / 4 hours.













WALK 4 - SWEENEY'S WALK



































WALK 5 - RICKET'S ROCKS