All I Need Is The Air That I Breathe…Macreddin Walks (or Runs!)
1. The Village Amble: A gentle walk in the immediate Macreddin area taking in
the Village, Golf Course and Macreddin Brook.
Approximate Walking Times:
Leisurely: 40 Mins. Fitness: 30 Mins
Distance:
1.5km
2. The Macreddin Triangle: A stroll on country roads through the valley, with the
odd sharpish incline, and views of the surrounding mountains.
Approximate Walking Times:
Distance:
6-9km
Leisurely: 70 Mins.
Fitness: 50 Mins
3. The Seán Linehan Walk: A decent walk down through the woods to the
beautiful Sean Linehan Walk along Macreddin Brook. Don’t wear you best
shoes!
Approximate Walking Times:
Distance:
6km
Leisurely: 105 Mins. Fitness: 60 Mins
4. To The Top of Cushbawn: Only for the experienced and energetic, but the
incredible views are worth it. Bring water and your mobile phone.
Approximate Walking Times:
Distance:
11km
Leisurely: 120 Mins. Fitness: 75 Mins
The BrookLodge Hotel & Wells Spa.
Macreddin Village,
Aughrim,
Co. Wicklow
T: 0402 36444
Email: [email protected]
1. The Village Amble
Comments:
This walk takes you onto the Golf course, over Ballycreen Brook and around Macreddin
Village. Take care for golfers and golf balls.
Start…
Exit the Hotel at the main front door to car park, walk across the car park, past the entrance
of BrookHall and down the lane. Take the path leading right which will bring you between
the ladies and gents ‘10th tee box, continue straight along this path through the Golf Course.
This will lead you over a bridge; past an old building on the right. Cross the road taking the
path directly in front of you and keep left. Take the next left which will bring you uphill past
the 17th Tee on the right, follow the path and you will come to a T-Junction. Take a right. You
will see a bridge just below you, cut across to the next path below which will lead you across
Ballycreen Brook.
As you enter onto the road go left, you will see St Brigids Graveyard on the left and the ruins
of the original ‘Macreddin Village’ Church. Take a right at the T-Junction, and take the first
entrance into Macreddin Village.
As you enter in, you will see the horse arena and the Pheasant Pen on the right. Take a left
passing La Taverna Armento Bistro where you can go up the steps on the left into the stables
or carry on straight past The Orchard Café or why not stop into the Actons Pub if you have a
thirst!! As you carry on your journey you can take the path behind the pond, which will lead
you down to the Macreddin Chapel. From here can make your way across the Village Green
and back in to Reception where you started out!!
Road to Aughrim
Macreddin Rock
Stables
10th Tee
BrookLodge Hotel
(Starting Point)
th
17 Tee
BrookHall
2. The Macreddin Triangle
Comments:
This is a lovely walk along country roads around the hills of Macreddin Village. It’s a walk
where you will get a good incline and decline and get a real feel for this beautiful area. On
a good day the scenery is breathtaking and your eyes can take you for miles in the distance
with the amazing landscape and colours.
Start…
Take the upper exit from Macreddin Village and turn left. Go straight for approximately 1.4
Km, passing Ballycreen National School on your right and Macreddin Golf Course on your
left, continue along and take the next left, this takes you down a slightly narrower road
(Sheana Lane). Cross over an old stone bridge, which gives way to the stream (Ballycreen
Brook). To the right is Croighanmoire Mt (661) (locally known as ‘The Mottee’) at the Tjunction, you may notice a little shrine (Marian Year, Easter 1954) on the right, take a left
which brings you up a very steep incline, but, with rewarding views when you reach the top,
looking down over the townsland of Ballymanus and Askinagap. At the next crossroads the
mountain straight in front of you is Croghan Mt (606) which straddles the border of counties
Wicklow and Wexford. Take a left and you will pass The Sheana Beg forest on both sides, you
should see your destination Macreddin Village in front of you. At the bottom of the hill you
will see an entrance to the Golf course on both sides, continue straight and at the T-Junction
go right, take the 1st entrance into Macreddin Village and you are now home.
Shrine
Sheana Lane
The BrookLodge Hotel
3. The Seán Linehan Walk
Comment:
An off-road walk beside the river, taking in the beautiful sounds of nature and you may even
spot some wildlife!
Start…
Take a right as you exit Macreddin and walk 30 metres down the road, you will see a gate
entrance on the left just before the main Macreddin Bridge, as you enter this you will see a
‘Coillte’ sign which is the beginning of the Seán Lenihan walk.
Ballycreen Brook is on your right and Macreddin Golf course on your left, as you pass the 4th
green keep left and follow the path uphill, as you get to the top take a right and stay on this
path. Take in the beautiful scenery, the sounds of nature and the babbling brook below you.
Continue straight and you will come to two ‘possibly’ locked gates, don’t worry you can take
the path at either side and cross the wooden bridge (Ballycreen Brook) where you can rest
for a while if you wish. At the next junction you have two options, carry on straight which is
level ground and you will arrive at Aughrim or if wish to have a little more of a challenge,
take in the upper path, follow ‘Seán Linehan’ signs and as you reach ‘The End’ take a right
onto the road and continue on this, just before the bridge on the right you will see another
entrance into the ‘Seán Linehan’ and the history of this walk. You can enter here and follow
the path meandering through the trees back to retrace your steps for home!
Aughrim Village
Seán Lenihan Path
Macreddin Golf
Course (Front 9)
Ballycreen Brook
Road to Aughrim
The BrookLodge Hotel
4. To the Top of Cushbawn (Top of the
Mountain)
Comments:
This walk brings you right through Macreddin Woods to the very top of Cushbawn Mountain
and offers absolutely stunning views over three counties. It requires a basic level of fitness, but
although some of the slopes are quite severe, no actual climbing is required, only walking!
You may have to negotiate a few puddles, but that’s part of the fun. Please ensure you bring
water and your mobile phone with you.
Start:
Leave the hotel and cross the road by Acton’s Pub into the golf course car park. In the right
hand side of the car park, take the lane on your left with two metal gate posts (rusted brown)
and a sign saying Walking Trail. Shortly you will cross the Par 3, seventh hole – be very careful
of golfers and golf balls, and then you come to a fork in the path, where you take the left
fork and continue following the path across the fairway of the 2nd hole, again being careful
of golfers.
You now enter Macreddin Woods, and this is where the walk really starts. Follow the main
path you are on, up a mild ascent, for about 5 or 10 mins until you come to large circular
clearing in the forest. Go straight across the clearing and head up the path in front of you,
which is quite steep, for a few mins until you meet a T junction. Take the right hand path
which is basically flat and walk along it for 5 or 10 mins until you come to a crossroads, or
“crosspaths”! Take the left path and follow it all the way uphill to the top of Cushbawn. This
climb is quite severe in parts, and you should take your time and occasionally sit and enjoy
the view behind you.
You’ll know you’re at the top, when it’s obvious that the path ahead of you starts to decline.
Stand up on the rocks and, weather permitting, marvel at the 360 degree view of nothing
but valleys, mountains and beautiful scenery all the shades of green that you only
experience in Ireland.
Now the descent:
Continue another twenty or thirty paces along the same path, and you will find a small rocky
pathway on your left hand side which you take. Follow this path downhill (it turns less rocky
quite soon) for about 5 or 10 mins ignoring all lesser paths off it until you finally come to a sort
of T Junction with a number of options. In front of you should be a field, take the option that
has the field on your right side and the woods on your left. Follow this downhill; taking care as
it’s quite steep in parts, until after approximately 5 mins you come to a fork in the path. Take
the more travelled left fork, back into the woods and continue along this basically flat path
for about 5 or 10 mins until you reach the same large circular clearing in the woods that you
were in earlier. Take the main right hand path ignoring the first little one on the right. This is the
same path that you came up on, and should have you crossing over the 2 nd fairway again
within 5 mins. Remember to be aware of any golfers while on or around the golf course.