A-B. Starting from the mapboard at the trailhead, exit the farmyard through the metal gate and join a walled roadway. Follow the purple arrows to the end of the roadway and enter open fields. [Note the other coloured arrows are for three linear (out and back) walks.] Continue to follow the purple arrows as the loop crosses open grounds and a number of water courses - and joins a roadway which ascends along the edge of forestry. At the top of a climb you pass a large pointed rock on your left - watch for a waymarker which directs you right. This is the point from where the loop ‘proper’ begins - you will be returning to this point later - for now turn right.
B-C. Ascend gently for 150m to reach an old roadway where you turn right. This roadway is known locally as the An Staighre (the stairs) and takes you uphill to reach the Gap. At a fence at the Gap a linear walk turns and returns to the trailhead - but you turn left.
C-D. Now the loop crosses open ground in the shadow of Carrignagower Mountain and after 1.5km reaches the Coum Iarthair Loughs - the Boolas. Enjoy the view of the lakes before turning left and following the purple arrows downhill alongside the Dubhglas (Douglas) stream. [Note that you are also following arrows for the return section of The Boolas Linear Walk). At the end of this section you reach a wire fence beside forestry and turn left.
D-A. Continue to follow the purple arrows alongside the forestry for almost 1km to regain the waymarker where you started the ascent to the Gap earlier - this time continue straight and enjoy the return to the trailhead.
Trail details
- Type:
- Walking Trail
- Location:
- Rathgormack Curraheen
- Grade:
- Strenuous
- Format:
- Loop
- Length:
- 6.60km
- Ascent:
- 440m
- Dogs allowed:
- No