Táin March 2013 Route and Events along the way!
Táin March Walking Route 2013
DAY 1 – Friday, 7th June (22.6 km – 6 hours)
10.00am – 12.15pm
A. Ardee to Tallanstown:
Distance: 8.6 km Walking Time: 1h 45m Total Time: 2h 15m
Rating: easy, via main road with hard shoulder, by-roads
Route: Begin at Cúchulainn/Ferdia sculpture at Ardee Bridge (1.1 - Áth Fer Diad). Proceed along the main street and pause at the sculpture at north end of the town (1.2 – Helmet sculpture). Negotiate roundabouts and proceed along hard shoulder of Derry Road (N2) to Harristown. Then on by-roads via Charlestown (1.3 – Father Gogarty & the Táin) and Arthurstown to Tallanstown (1.4 site of ancient ford on the Glyde).
12.45 – 2.15pm
B. Tallanstown to Louth Village:
Distance: 5.8 km Walking Time: 1h 10m Total Time: 1h 30m
Rating: easy, via by-roads
Route: Tallanstown along the banks of the R. Glyde (1.5 - Delt) to Philipstown (1.5 – River-fords) via by-roads, then along by-roads via Sheepwalk to Louth Village (1.6 - Lugmad).
2.45 – 4.15pm
C. Louth Village to Stephenstown Bridge
Distance: 5.7 km Walking Time: 1h 10m Total Time: 1h 30m
Rating: fair, by-roads
Route: eastwards from Louth Village along straight by-roads via Ardpatrick to Allardstown, then via short stretch (0.5km) of R215 to Stephenstown Bridge on the River Fane (1.7 - Áth Féan). Meeting Point with Partway Walkers at car-park at Stephenstown Bridge.
4.30 – 5.00pm
D. Stephenstown Bridge to Pond
Distance: 2.5 km Walking Time: 0h 30m Total Time: 0h 45m
Rating: fair, by-roads
Route: Continue on R215 for a short stretch to Martin’s Cross at Newtownbabe. Turn west on to by-road to Knockbridge and on to Stephenstown Pond (1.8 - Conaille Muirthemne).
Finish of the first day’s walking.
Táin March 2013
DAY 2 – Saturday, 9th June (24.5 km – 6.5 hours)
10.00am – 1.00pm
E. Stephenstown Pond to Dun Delga
Distance: 11.0 km Walking Time: 2h 20m Total Time: 3h 0m
Rating: fair, by-roads
Route: westwards from Stephenstown Pond towards Knockbridge for 0.5km then turn north on to Rahiddy road to join R171. Make short 0.5km diversion to visit Cloghfarmore (2.1 – Cúchulainn’s Standing Stone). Then eastwards for a short stretch (1km) of R171 towards Dundalk, before turning northwards again on to the by-road through Dunbin and Carnroe. Cross Carrick Rd (R178) and roll on to Kilkerley (Kilcurly on map). Turn left (east) at Kilcurly village and proceed via by-road past Donaghmore and Acarreagh to join Blayney Rd (N53) at Ault Bridge. Walk along a short stretch (0.5km) of N53 eastwards to Castletown Cross. Turn right (south) on to Mount Avenue and proceed to Cuchulainn’s Castle (2.2 - Delga).
1.30pm – 2.30pm
F. Cuchulainn’s Castle to Dundalk
Distance: 3.5 km Walking Time: 0h 40m Total Time: 1h 0m
Rating: easy, main-roads
Route: Meeting Point at Cuchulainn’s Castle with Partway Walkers. From Cuchulainn’s Castle continue southwards along Mount Avenue to join Carrick Rd (R178). Proceed along same eastwards towards town centre, down Anne St South and Park St to Market Sq. (2.3 Speech re the Táin). Short Break (45 minutes), then Wholeway Walkers will proceed on to Ballymascanlan.
3.15 – 5.00pm
G. Dundalk to Ballymacscanlan
Distance: 6.4 km Walking Time: 1h 20m Total Time: 1h 45m
Rating: easy, main-roads
Route: From Market Square, Dundalk, proceed down Clanbrassil St, Church St, Bridge St and cross the Castletown River (2.4 River Níth) at The Big Bridge. Proceed out the old Newry Rd (R132) to Dowdallshill and from hence along the hard shoulder of the N52 for a short stretch to the Ballymacscanlon Roundabout. Take the exit to Carlingford (R173) and follow hard shoulder to Ballymascanlan Cottages. Pause at the old road bridge over the Ballymascanlan alias Flurry River (2.5 - Glas Gatlaig).
5.15 – 6.00pm
H. Ballymacscanlan to Ballymakellett Bridge
Distance: 3.5 km Walking Time: 0h 45m Total Time: 0h 45m
Rating: easy, main-roads
Take the Deerpark Rd from Ballymascanlan and head northwards to join R174 at Ravensdale. Turn right (south) and proceed to The Lumpers Public House at Ballymakellett Bridge (2.6 Trumpet Hill/Tippings Wood = Ochaine).
Finish of the second day’s walking.
Táin March 2013
DAY 3 – Sunday, 9th June (15.2 km – 5.15 hours)
10.00am – 12.00pm
I. Ballymakellett Bridge to Aghameen Cross:
Distance: 5.5km Walking Time: 1h 30m Total Time: 2h 0m
Rating: hard, mountain track, by-roads
Route: From Lumpers Public House take the waymarked Táin Trail up the steeply-sloping by-road and trackway up the western slopes of Slievestucan via viewpoint of Táin route (3.1) to reach the ridge summit just north of the Round Mountain. Then turn south-east and follow ridge summit for a short distance (1km) - viewpoint of Táin route (3.2) – before descending down east flack of Round Mountain into Glenmore. Join the Windy Gap - Piedmont road and walk along it for 0.25km to Aghameen Cross. No pause here - continue to stage J), below.
12.00 – 1.00pm
J. Aghameen Cross to Glenmore:
Distance: 3.7 km Walking Time: 0h 45m Total Time: 1h 0m
Rating: fair, by-roads
Route: Keep left at Aghmeen Cross and follow Piedmont road downslope for 2km to Ballygoly. Turn left down by-road and cross Big River (3.3 - Glais Crond) at the northern boundary of Benagh townland. Continue across valley floor of Glenmore and join the Bush – Windy Gap road at foot of the Golyn. Meeting Point here with Partway Walkers.
1.30pm – 3.45pm
K. Glenmore to Carlingford:
Distance: 6.0 km Walking Time: 1h 45m Total Time: 2h 15m
Rating: hard, mountain track, steep by-roads
Route: from rendezvous point on the Bush – Windy Gap road in Glenmore, start up the southern flank of Slieve Foye on the Golyn track (part of Táin Way). Attain the ridge at the saddle-point between Slieve Foye and Barnavave. From here divert south for 1km to view Barnavave (3.4 - Bearnas Bó Cúailgne). Return to the saddle point and follow Golyn down to Carlingford village (3.5 – Conclusion from Bk. of Leinster).
Finish of The Táin March 2013.
