Ballinruan Loops - Gortnamearacaun Loop
Grade
Moderate
Length
14.9 km
Am
4.5 hours
Format
Loop
Ascent
120 m
Dogs Allowed
No
Waymarking
Purple arrow
Start Point
Ballinruan Village
Finish Point
Ballinruan Village
Nearest Town to Start
Crusheen
Grid Ref.
R 444 896
Lat. and Long.
52.95479, -8.82762
This trail offers pleasant walking on minor roads, forest tracks and forest and bog paths and old sunken tracks through a variety of landscape, including farmland, evergreen and deciduous woodland and blanket bog. The expansive bogland at the highest point is a good example of cutover and recovering blanket bog and also provides extensive views in all directions including towards the Slieve Aughty Mountains and the Burren while the Hen Harrier and Merlin are resident in the general area.
Maps and other information
External Links
Trail Management
Clare Walks, Main Street, Tulla, Co. Clare, V95 C4E0.
Email: info@clarewalks.ie
Web: www.clarewalks.ie
Facilities
Car parking available at trailhead.
Shop, restaurant and toilet facilities available in Crusheen
OSI Maps
Discovery Series Sheets 52 and 58
Public Transportation
Ptrick from Clare
Very well marked and varied trail. I walked it after a heavy rain and did run into some areas that were muddy and above ankle high in water. All in all very enjoyable
John from Clare
Ran the majority of this at the end of May18, during a period of good weather, the road sections were fine and well signposted, (one or two missing/overgrown, some really nice forrest trail, (more would be nice). some sections of the trail were very wet/muddy and covered by trees so unlikely to dry out. you can run alongside the trail on higher ground, but, its slow going, need waterproof footwear to enjoy this, I just had runners on. Great views on the way back down the mountain of the Burren at sunset to the west and a sighting of young deer standing on the trail was another highlight. turned right after bog road back to the village of Ballinruan, (about 12k ) but, will return to do this again including the lower section which looks like forrest road mostly.
Ian N from Clare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9IqGXRqAzY