Cullahill
An Chúlchoill : Hill Wood
Cullahill is located on the main N8 road between Durrow and Urlingford. Make a quick escape into the surrounding countryside using these short walks. The village derives its name from a ancient fore
st that clothed nearby Cullahill Mountain extending down to the castle and village.
An Chúlchoill : Hill Wood
Cullahill is located on the main N8 road between Durrow and Urlingford. Make a quick escape into the surrounding countryside using these short walks. The village derives its name from a ancient fore
st that clothed nearby Cullahill Mountain extending down to the castle and village.- All walks start from Cullahill village.
- Choose a walk to suit your capabilities.
- Guidance times are based on a steady pace with about half an hour for stops.
- Dress appropriately - wear or carry warm and waterproof clothes.
- Please observe the country code: close all gates and take litter home.
Cullahill River Walk
Binnianea
The Heathy Way
Cullahill River Walk 5kms./ 1½ hours
Road & River Walk
A quiet ramble along the banks of the River Goul to visit Aghmacart Priory. Return is via quiet roads. The river bank can be rough underfoot so wear stout footwear.
A. Follow a narrow road for a short distance, forking right down a lane. When the lane ends, follow the waymarked route across a field to reach another lane. Continue following the waymarks to reach the River Goul just above a small weir.
B. The route trends away from the bank for a short distance passing a small pump house. Regain the river and follow the bank pleasantly to eventually reach a footbridge in sight of the ruins of a castle.
C. Cross the footbridge and continue to reach the road near Aghmacart bridge. You can detour from here to view the priory, otherwise turn left along the road to reach a crossroads. Turn left to return to Cullahill. Aughnacart Priory. The priory is built on the site of a monastery founded in the 6th century by St.Tighernach. The priory was built is the 12th century
although it is now in ruins.
Binnianea 14 kms./ 3½
Road & Forest Walk
A hilly walk that will take you far from the busy roads via quiet lanes and back roads.
A. Turn right in the village towards Cullahill castle. Keep right at the castle and head steadily uphill.
B. Reach a road junction and continue for a short distance. Turn left uphill through hazel woodland following a
path. Emerge from the trees after a short climb.
Follow the waymarked route across Cullahill Mountain to reach a road on the far side. Turn left.
Cullahill Mountain. The large rath visible on the
mountain can be visited. There are also a
number of wells around Binnianea 14 kms./ 3½ Road & Forest Walk the mountain which are well preserved. In 1844, the population census shows that there were in excess of two hundred people living on Cullahill Mountain. There are now less than ten - a sign of the passing years in which both emigration and now migration have led the rural population to the towns and cities.
Note the fine views across County Laois and onto the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
C. Pass a ruined house on the right and turn right up a lane. Continue past some farm sheds to reach a point where the walk follows a waymarked way through fi elds towards a prominent farm shed.
D. Reach a road and turn right for a few metres before going left into a forest on a marked pathway. The pathway soon leads to a forest road.
E. When the forest road passes an old farmhouse, continue downhill for a short distance and take care to follow the waymarked route to the left and back down to a road. Descend to Ballykealy by road and Lime Kiln. There is a fine example of a lime kiln on the green opposite Cullahill Castle. Lime kilns were once in common use: limestone rock was ‘burnt’ in the kiln to provide a fertiliser for spreading on the land.
The Heathy Way 10 kms./ 2½ hoursRoad & Forest Walk
A walk that takes you briefly up onto the hills behind
Cullahill via quiet lanes and back roads.
A. Turn right in the village towards Cullahill castle. Keep right at the castle and head steadily uphill.
Cullahill Castle. This imposing structure was built in the 15th century by MacGiolla Phadraig. A Sile na Gig is visible on the south east wall. The castle chapel is located about 100 metres west of the castle. It lost its roof during Cromwell’s sojourn in Ireland, c.1650.
B. Reach a road junction and turn left sharply uphill. Reach a sharp bend in the road and turn left along a forest track.
C. When the forest track turns left into the forest, cross a stile and keep straight on following an old path. Pass over a couple of stiles at gates with the walk now descending through young forest but more or less close to edge of the forest. The walk trends right lower down and exits the forest at a corner. Descend through a fi eld to reach an old track beside an abandoned farmhouse. Turn right and follow tracks to Ballykealey and thence to Cullahill.
