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There are a lot of great walks in and around Enniscrone but I am only going to tell you about the most common ones,
Walk 1 (approx 2 miles)
I am telling you about this walk first as it is the most common with locals as well as visitors. It used to be much nicer a few years ago before it got built up.
Starting outside the church (across from Mace) Start walking down towards the beach, the Route follows onto Cliff Road passing the light house apartments all the way to the Pier keeping the sea on the left hand side The Route proceeds on to the Carrowhubbock Road (you will see caithir mhor est. in front of you) and turns left. Having walked about 800 meters the Route takes the only turn to the right just past a white Cottage and just before a housing estate and turns away from the sea. A small Ring fort can be seen to the right. This minor road takes the walker to the Main Sligo Road,
at the crossroads. The Route turns right; the ruins of ODowds Castle can be seen to the right (late 14th Century). After about 400 meters the Castle field comes into view on the right hand side, also the ruins of Valentines Abbey (18th Century). After another 800 meters the walk is back at the starting point.
Walk 2 (approx 3.7 miles)
As for Walk 1 until you reach the small white cottage, but instead of turning right off the Carrowhubbock South Road, proceed straight on until the rout comes to the end of the road. A large Ring fort (Cahermore) comes into view. The Route leaves the road and climbs the fort. This fort is connected by underground chambers (Souterrains). These passages are now blocked up for safety reasons.
The walk continues along the Rocky Shore until the Route meets the Lacken Road (McCann’s) approx. 700 meters From the Carrowhubbock North Road. The Route turns right away from the Sea Shore and continues straight up the Lacken Road until you come to a T-junction. The Route follows to the right of this junction. The walk passes Lynnotts
Pub and heads back to Enniscrone. Great care is advised for approx 800 meters, as this is a busy narrow road, if walking in a group please walk in single file. At the cross roads, the Route is the same as Walk 1.
Walk 3 (approx 3.0 miles) Valley of Diamonds
Starting outside the church (across from Mace) Start walking down towards the Cliff Road and then to the left on to the beach. After 600 meters the route crosses over the
Bellawaddy River by footbridge and on to what is known locally as the second beach. After 1.5 Km the route comes to the highest hill in the sand dunes known as Cnoc Na Gcorp (the hill of the bodies). There is a local myth, it was formed from the piled up bodies of slain Vikings in 891. The top of the hill overlooks the Valley of Diamonds so called because of its colourful shells that have been sand blasted by the wind. The walker returns to the Square following the same route.
These are just some of the great walks you can try more are available from Moy Valley Tourism & the tourist information office in Enniscrone. |
