Tinahely
to Shillelagh – (The Finish!!)
For the road runners among
you – this leg is about 90% on tarred roads.
At the stage start take a small narrow track to the left NOT the wide road which is
the entrance to a farm house.
You are now on the off-road section of this
leg.
Go up the narrow track – you soon arrive at a
gate with the next Wicklow Way marker pointing left up the hill on a track.
About 50m there is another Wicklow Way marker pointing right where you cross
another gate. You are now on the Muskeagh Boreen.
The Muskeagh Boreen is used more by cattle these days than humans
and in wet weather can be muddy. The
rough part of the boreen goes on for about 1.5k. When coming towards the end of
this you will see a forest on your left. However, before you reach the forest
there is one final gate before you arrive out onto a forest road.
At this point there is a
small farm house on your left - you turn right along the forest road and after
passing another forest road on the left, the road turns sharp right and drops
down to a junction with a tarred road.
Turn left here. From here
on the route is all on public roads so be aware of traffic. (Not that I
expect you’ll see that much of it!!)
Having turned left after
about 900m you arrive at a T junction – turn right. After another 200m there is
another junction – turn right again then immediately left past two stone
cottages and over a humped back bridge. All signposted.
Climb gradually over 1.5k to
Stranakelly cross roads and Tolans pub locally known as the Dying Cow. At this
point you leave the Wicklow Way and it is marked all the way the the finish Taylors
Bar in Shilleleagh