The Tinahely Loop is a new 25km walking trail which has been added to Tinahely’s series of looped walks. This trail takes in elements of the Railway Walk, the Wicklow Way, and Muskeagh Hill. A mixed surface, gradient walk, it is suitable for the experience walker.
A-B The looped way is marked with a red arrow, and starts and finishes at the Railway Walk Car Park at Kilcommon Bridge. Walkers can also begin their walk in the Tinahely village itself, making their way the short distance to the Railway Walk. From the Railway Walk car park, walkers follow the Railway Walk extension to the Togher Bridge, proceeding for approximately 1km until they reach the red arrow marker, and then turning left to walk through the Coilte Nursery and on to Garyhoe Lane. To reach Garyhoe Lane, walkers will find themselves using the secondary road for a short distance.
B-C From Garyhoe, walkers make their first major ascent to join part of the Ballycumber Looped Walk and the Wicklow Way before making their way to the town land of Bridgeland. Walkers will encounter their second major ascent from the Wicklow Way here to Muskeagh Hill.
C-D Following the Wicklow Way to Curravanish Ford, walkers join the R747, which is a very busy road. 400 metres approx along this road, turn right onto Cuckoo Lane. Walkers are still following the Wicklow Way, which is indicated by a yellow man trailhead marker, and travel 500/600 metres of tarmaced laneway.
D-E Staying with the Wicklow Way, the trail next ascends left on Farnese Hill along a country track for 2kms approx where the Wicklow Way meets a forest access loop at a 3-way junction. There is a trailhead board here describing the route options labelled A, B, & C. Turning left onto Muskeagh Hill follow the forest loop around the bottom of the hill. A very sharp ascent is encountered here before turning left once more onto the Farneese side of Muskeagh Hill. There is then a right turn onto a steep ascent then turning left toward Bridgeland approaching a green style, then right onto the summit of Muskeagh Hill where there is a satellite array and a wooden style.
E-F Descending the hill sharply along a grass track to a farm gate and then another style where there is a left turn along a stone surfaced forest access route which is followed through a forest plantation to a style into Hadden’s Hill, and from this point descends to another style. Turning left onto a grass covered lane to a kissing gate which intersects the R749, which walkers should note is a very busy road.
F-A Turning left, walkers follow the open road for 100 metres to a footpath which leads into Tinahely village. To return to the Railway Walk car park, walkers leave the village turning right at the bridge at bottom of the town, following the footpath out of the town for 1km, then turning right at t-junction and continuing on the footpath for approximately 300 metres to the car park.
