First section of a long-distance challenge walk which can be a walk in its own right with a bus option to return to start.
DISTANCE
5.2 miles / 8.3 km
SURFACES
Mainly pavement and road walking, good compacted paths through the Country Park Section with some steps. Killynether Wood long option includes rough, rocky and potentially slippy paths.
HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS
400 feet climb (excluding extensions)
HAZARDS
Some walking on low traffic roads without pavements.
Killynether Wood option rough and potentially slippy.
Linear mainly coastal walk with option to use train to return to starting point.
DISTANCE
5 miles / 8 km
SURFACES
Mostly on on hard surfaced made paths. Short sections on rougher and steeper earth paths at Grey Point and Stricklands Glen
HEIGHT GAIN / LOSS
130 feet climb
HAZARDS
Several road crossing with moderate traffic
In severe weather the path is exposed, particularly on the beach sections at spring tide..
This is the final section of the Columban Way from Carlow to Bangor and in some ways, it is the easiest. At only 5 miles long and with the sea on the left to guide you and a broad asphalt path to follow, a description almost seems redundant. However, it is also one of the most beautiful sections of the walk and it deserves to be taken slowly and enjoyed with full attention. The route described below also augments the council’s waymarked route to add extra interest and to reach back into the historical landscape to find current features which would have been largely familiar to Columbanus and the monks of Bangor.
