A-B. Starting from the car park, enter the woods through the swing gate and veer right onto a woodland trail - following the purple (and green and blue) arrows. Follow this trail for approx 300m to reach a junction of tracks where all three loops turn left. Follow the trail downhill now to reach a 3-way junction where the green loop turns left - continue straight here.
B-C. After 400m along a downhill track, you reach a 3-way junction where the shorter blue loop turns left - you veer right.
C-D. Continue to follow the purple arrows downhill to reach a forest roadway close to the bank of the Suir River. Turn left here.
D-A. Follow the riverbank roadway for over 1km picking up the blue loop as it comes in from your left. 200m later turn uphill and ascend to reach the stone boundary wall at a gated entrance. Do not exit here - follow the woodland trail along the inside of the boundary wall for approx 1km to regain the trailhead.
The three walks start from here
Fox Covert Loop.
Glenbawn Loop
Dun Ui Faolain Loop
Today, Glenbawn Wood is owned by Coillte Teoranta, the Irish forestry board. In former times, however, the wood formed part of the Bagwell Estate, laid out by Fanny Bagwell and Sir Joseph Paxton in the 19th century. In previous times, it was the site for the fort of the Faolains chiefs of the Deise (hence the name of this loop). The woods teem with wildlife and diverse plant species and are a haven of solitude in today’s frantic world. The loop walks have been developed as part of a regeneration of the wood by a local community group called the Two Bridges Partnership. This loop is the longest of three loops they have constructed for your enjoyment.
Trail details
- Format:
- Loop trail