The Trail Map:- OSI Map Series 25
Glen Wood is a pleasant forest walk with a lovely shaded picnic area. It is situated beneath some of the most dramatic Ox Mountain peaks and overlooks the beautiful Ballisodare Bay. The walk is approximately 2.5km in length and is suitable for all abilities. It should be noted that the initial section of the trail consists of a series of steps due to steep gradient, however, the stepped section can be avoided if not suitable for some by using the public road for a short distance to access the trail.
The Route
Upon leaving the car park and picnic area a series of steps leads the walker onto a onto a relatively flat all weather surfaced forest road. The trail is linear in nature and brings the walker through the wood providing impressive views of Doomore Mountain and intermittent but wonderful views of Sligo Bay and the dramatic scenery of North Sligo and beyond.
Did you know?
Doomore Mountain sits above and to the west of the wood, Doomore means ‘The Large Mound’, which refers to the large cairn on the summit. Preserved above Glen Wood are the remains of an upland farm settlement including a field clearance system dating back to the middle 1800’s. Nearby, some two hundred metres south of the car park, on the right hand side of the public road is a rock known as the Hungry Rock. It is said to have gotten its name from the number of people who died on the road during the famine in the 1840’s, according to folklore whoever throws a stone at this rock will never know hunger on his journey.
*Sections of this route cross Coillte property, for up to date information on diversions/closures due to tree felling, please visit www.coillteoutdoors.ie
I’ve walked this route before and intended to do the same but ended up on a different trail, which must have been a bike trail. I followed it to the end and ended up 2km from the car park up the road. It is a lethal walk because of the bends & no kerbside. I ended up walking 7.7km. So many questions. Definitely some signage needed. Bad enough for a local.
Very poorly sign posted and not at all clear what path to take or if the walk is a loop or out and back. There is no mention in the description of the walk or at the trail head of the high volume of mountain bike activity which makes the walk very dangerous – didn’t meet any other walkers on the trail but met 7/8 mountain bikers who were going at high speed and are on top of you with no warning – no problem with mountain bikers or mtb trails but this shouldn’t be marketed as a forest walk if the main activity is biking, very misleading and an accident waiting to happen.
wabean60@gmail.com
We’d the same problem as Claire. We followed the path to the end. Climbed the mountain following a rough trail but never found the famine village. Disappointed to have missed that but a lovely walk nonetheless. Any chance of some signs/site info.
comhra.gaeilge2012@gmail.com
Lovely walk but signposting needed. I was confused as to where to go. I ended up walking up a hillside which took me to some ruins. I returned the way I came.
Hi, just done this walk today, lovely walk in the woods, but little and no signposting, 2 signs at the start and thats it, the walk came back on itself, but i wasnt sure where it ended, i followed a dirt path up the mountain side until it came to a big rock surrounded by a little wall not sure of any significance? And no information. Again you mentioned hungry rock couldnt find this either no sign post. These walks defo need more signposting, i am local and found it hard, what about tourists? Hope this helps 🙂
I have marked the Hungry Rock with a yellow X here.
The rock is only visible from the road, you will need to take care while walking the road.
https://ibb.co/Yfx4CLM