Mullaghmeen White Walk
Grade
Moderate
Length
8 km
Time
2 hours
Format
Loop
Dogs Allowed
Under effective control
Waymarking
White
Start Point
Mullaghmeen Forest Carpark
Finish Point
Mullaghmeen Forest Carpark
Nearest Town to Start
Oldcastle
Grid Ref.
N 479 779
Lat. and Long.
53.7488691, -7.2731651
This walk starts from the car park near the forest entrance at Hammondstown and loops through the largest beech forest in Ireland. It passes the remains of famine fields and a famine garden. There is a good display of woodland flowers in the springtime, especially bluebell. From this forest there are scenic views of Lough Sheelin and the surrounding area of County Cavan.
Trail Management
Coillte Mullingar, 1st Floor, Block B, Marlinstown Office Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Tel: 1890 367378 Fax: ++ 353 44 9342770
Facilities
In Oldcastle
At trailhead: car parking, picnic area
OSI Maps
Discovery Series Sheet 41
John from Westmeath
Mullaghmeen is a fantastic amenity and more and more people are finding the forest and enjoying it. The white trail is a little challenging in places but is compensated for by the views over the country side offered from viewing points. The walk changes with the seasons so offers something new all the time. The mass of bluebells in the spring are a particular highlight.
The one downside is the signage for the trails but for the white walk in particular. The old sign posts were wooden and time has not been kind to them. The result is a number of people have got very lost and found it difficult to find their way back to the car park. As I live on a road bordering the forest I have come across a number of groups recently that took a wrong turn and ended up exiting the forest on to the local roads. It can be a very long walk back to the car park if they don't know which direction to turn or don't call into the first house they come across. A few new signs on a couple of important trail junctions would easily solve the problem.
The one downside is the signage for the trails but for the white walk in particular. The old sign posts were wooden and time has not been kind to them. The result is a number of people have got very lost and found it difficult to find their way back to the car park. As I live on a road bordering the forest I have come across a number of groups recently that took a wrong turn and ended up exiting the forest on to the local roads. It can be a very long walk back to the car park if they don't know which direction to turn or don't call into the first house they come across. A few new signs on a couple of important trail junctions would easily solve the problem.
Paula from Dublin
We intended on doing the white trail and followed the sat nav coordinates (provided by this website) to the starting location but they weren't correct. We ended up entering the forest from an off road location and started following a trail which was sparsly marked with identity colours. We walked for about 1.5 hours in what we thought was a loop but couldn't get back to our starting location by the trail. We cut across the forest as day light was falling and met a cyclist who was also lost! We were fairly panicked, ended up carrying our 2 small dogs across brambles and fallen trees until we found the road and followed that. If it wasn't for the My Tracks app on my mobile phone, which was recording our route, we would have spent the night in the forest. Beautiful forest, nice views of the lake and neighbouring counties but make sure you find the carpark and walk from there! Coilte you need to update your maps!!!
Inga from Meath
We had a great time in Mullaghmeen Forest. Took the white route - 8km, way is well marked. 2 girls on horseback passed us and a few other walkers. It was peaceful and beautiful - definitely recommend it!
Mary from Meath
Walked this trail in Mullaghmeen Forest for the first time in the pouring rain, but well wrapped against the elements. Due to the poor weather conditions there was not a very good view of the surrounding areas, In fact nothing was visible.
But certainly will do the walk again on a more pleasant day.
The trail is well marked but although there is a White trail marked on the information map at the car park, there is no written details given which would be advantageous before setting out so that the correct time could be allocated. Nevertheless very pleasant moderate walk.
But certainly will do the walk again on a more pleasant day.
The trail is well marked but although there is a White trail marked on the information map at the car park, there is no written details given which would be advantageous before setting out so that the correct time could be allocated. Nevertheless very pleasant moderate walk.
Alan from Westmeath