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Errigal Glen and the Gortnamoyah Inauguration Stone
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| TYPE | Circular walk through deciduous glen and gorge, then road walking, with ancient church, souterrain and conifer plantation with Clan Inauguration Stone |
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| DISTANCE | 2.3 miles / 3.7 km |
| SURFACES | Undulating natural woodland paths, asphalt roads and forest tracks. Can be muddy in places. |
| HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS | 230 feet climb |
| HAZARDS |
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This short walk features a great diversity of attractions. The deciduous glen and gorge woodland is a beautiful mix of mature planted beech on the level ground and native species populating the steep sides. The glen is part of the grounds of the Grade II listed Ballintemple House (once described as a ‘Thatched Hunting Lodge’ when owned by the Bishop of Derry) which dates from the late 1700’s. An ancient graveyard and church ruin associated with St Adamnon (of Iona fame) is visited. Adjacent to this is a Souterrain and further along the route, in the section through Gortnamoyagh forest, you visit a low hill with a clan Inauguration Stone .
Continue readingWhy wild walking may grow your brain
The sea squirt starts life as a free swimming animal with a tail, an eye, a spine and a primitive brain. However, after a time it attaches itself permanently to a rock and undergoes ‘retrogressive metamorphosis’ losing its eye, spine and brain to become a water-pumping filter-feeding ‘blob’. Free movement requires brain power, static existence does not!
Continue readingEly and Carrickreagh Woods
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| TYPE | Lakeside and deciduous woodland walk with views over Lough Erne and Green Turlogh |
|---|---|
| DISTANCE | 6.1 miles / 9.8 km |
| SURFACES | Mostly well made woodland tracks with some less defined path walking |
| HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS | 530 feet climb |
| HAZARDS | Major road crossing, proximity to water and disused quarry |
Walking in lakeland sounds attractive, but is actually very difficult. Lower Lough Erne alone has well over 125 miles of shoreline – but only a minute fraction of this is available to walkers. Also the best ‘lakeland’ walking is often on hills with views over the water – think of the English Lake District. So a good lakeland walk needs actual lakeside paths and hills with lake views. Ely and Carrickreagh Woods have both! In addition, this walk passes through some glorious semi-mature beech and larch wood and visits a beautiful hidden valley with Turloughs (vanishing limestone based lakes!)
Continue readingBlackslee Waterfall and Glimpses of Erne
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| TYPE | Largely circular forest track walk through conifer plantations with some excellent views, vistas and a short path section to visit a waterfall. |
|---|---|
| DISTANCE | 3.9 miles / 6.2 km |
| SURFACES | Mainly well made forest tracks with short section on good quality path with some climb and steps |
| HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS | 820 feet climb |
| HAZARDS |
This is a fully waymarked walk which already has a description and map available on the Marble Arch Geopark website. Like many of the Geopark walks it is contained within conifer plantation and largely confined to forestry vehicle tracks. However, it features great panoramic views and framed glimpses of the loughs and hills of Fermanagh. There is also a short forest path section which leads through an intriguing rock valley to to Blackslee waterfall – an abrupt hidden drop almost totally shrouded by encroaching woodland.
Continue reading