A-B. Starting from the car park, enter the woods through the swing gate and veer right onto a woodland trail - following the green (and blue and purple) arrows. Follow this trail for approx 300m to reach a junction of tracks where all three loops turn left.
B-C. Follow the trail downhill to reach a 3-way junction where you turn left - note that the longer blue and purple loops continue straight here.
C-D. Continue to follow the green arrows for 400m along a level but windy woodland trail. The trail then turns left and ascends to reach the stone boundary wall where it rejoins the blue and purple loop and turns left.
D-A. It’s only 400m back to the tralhead.
The three walks start from here
Fox Covert Loop.
Glenbawn Loop
Dun Ui Faolain Loop.
Today, Glenbawn Wood is owned by Coillte Teoranta, the Irish forestry board. In former times, however, the wood formed part of the Bagwell Estate, laid out by Fanny Bagwell and Sir Joseph Paxton in the 19th century. In previous times, it was the site for the fort of the Faolains chiefs of the Deise (the longest of the theree loops here is called the Dun Ui Faolain). The woods teem with wildlife and diverse plant species and are a haven of solitude in today’s frantic world. The loop walks have been developed as part of a regeneration of the wood by a local community group called the Two Bridges Partnership. This loop is the shortest of three loops they have constructed for your enjoyment.
