7 Carleton/Kavanagh trail
Length:
57.2km
Time to Complete:
3h 21mins
Terrain:
Some Hills
Difficulty:
Moderate
Directions
- Cycling towards Glaslough take the 2nd right turn for St Mary’s RC church Glennan.
- From here cycle back the way you came passing DrumlinTrails bike hire and proceed towards Emyvale. Cross over the N2 road at Emyvale alongside the Mountain River. Follow this road with the river on your left until you come to the T-junction. Take right here on the L1160 road and continue to the next T-junction and turn right again. Continue to the 2nd crossroads at Dundian and turn left on the L1135 road for Bragan. Proceed along this road for about 5 and a half kilometres until you come to a Y-junction which has an outhouse close to the roadside. Turn right here, the outhouse will be on your left and continue along this route crossing through the Altadaven road onto the Dunroe road for about 8.45 kilometres. You will pass the Aghadarragh Road on your right before you reach your next turn to the right which will bring you onto the Springtown Road where William Carleton’s cottage is situated.
- Continuing along this road you will pass the Forth chapel which was a mass site in Carleton’s early childhood.
- Turn right again onto the Dunroe road which will bring you into Augher. Go through the roundabout and continue onto the Knockmany road. Go straight ahead here for about 2 miles and opposite the Ballymagowan road to your left is the entrance to Knockmany Forest and Chambered tomb.
- Return along the Knockmany road in the direction of Augher and take the right turn on the Corrick Road for Corrick House where you may have refreshments.
- Return to the Corrick road and turn left. Turn left again on the Ballymagowan road and this will take you into Clogher.
- Head out of Clogher taking the Old Monaghan road towards Bragan. Before reaching the summit of this road turn left onto the Altadaven road.
- Continue past Lough More to your right and take the 2nd turn to your right. Continue onwards and after you emerge from a Y-junction take the next turn to your right. Keep on this road until you arrive onto the N2 Derry/Dublin road. Cross the road and turn right in the direction of Emyvale. Take the first left turn. Continue past the church on your right and take the next turn to your right about a half a mile further on. Continue on this road until you come to a T-junction. Turn right here and after reaching the next Y-junction bear left in the direction of Glaslough. Proceed straight forward and you are less than 2 miles from Drumlin Trails which will be on your left.
Points of Interest
- Near St Mary’s church Glennan was a house owned by a family called Treanor. It was situated near the Grotto. It was at this house that the William Carleton the 19th Century novelist studied the Classics under the guidance of the Revd. Fr John Keenan who was then Curate in the parish.
- One of the houses which William Carleton grew up in near Augher and Clogher, Co Tyrone.
- The Forth Chapel (St Macartan’s RC Church), which in Carleton’s youth was just a mass-site is amply described in his autobiography.
- Knockmany hill is best remembered by the writer and poet Rose Kavanagh in verse. At the summit of Knockmany is a chambered cairn known as Queen Aine’s burial chamber. Even John Montague mentions Knockmany in verse. John too was reared in the nearby parish of Errigle Ciaran.
- Corrick House where you may dine in comfort is the venue for the William Carleton Summer School held annually here.
- Clogher the original ecclesiastical see of the diocese of Clogher founded by St Macartan. St Macartan’s Church of Ireland contains a stone which is considered to be the “Clogh Oir” or golden stone from which the town of Clogher derives its name. Rose Kavanagh grew up here and a roadway called Rosie’s lane is dedicated to her.
- Here on your left you will find St Patrick’s chair and well.
- Back to base at Drumlin Trails Bike Hire.
Gallery
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