A-B. Exiting Ionaid Naoimh Padraic, turn right and follow the green (and purple) arrows along the road. The purple arrows are for the longer Lúb Loch na Caillí. After 50m turn right and join a stony road - this was the old railway line. This ends near a bridge where the loop turns right, travels another 150m to reach the N56. Cross with care and join a bog road by the side of houses. Continue to follow the green and purple arrows for 500m to a junction with another stony road where Lúb Loch na Caillí turns left. You continue straight ahead.
B-C. After another 500m you reach a crossroads where the purple loop rejoins from the left (having travelled 4km along bog roads!). Continue straight at the crossroads and continue to follow the green and purple arrows along the Old Bog Road for 1.5km to join the N56 once again. Cross with care and turn left. After 100m turn right onto a minor roadway and walk for 1km to a 3-way junction near a bridge on your left. Continue straight on here.
C-A. After 200m the loop leaves the surfaced roadway and turns right onto the bank of an estuary. Follow the arrows as the loop sweeps right and after 100m cross a small streamat An Clochain Bhig - an ancient crossing after which this loop is named. Immediately after the ‘clochain’ the loop joins a green laneway but there is a short spur to the left here called Lala Harden’s Walk. [This out-and-back trek along the estuary is well worth the extra 20mins it takes.]. The laneway takes you uphill to reach the R257 - cross with care and turn right. It’s only 300m back to the trailhead.
Trail details
- Type:
- Walking Trail
- Location:
- Crolly Loops
- Grade:
- Moderate
- Format:
- Loop
- Length:
- 6.30km
- Ascent:
- 250m
- Dogs allowed:
- Yes