Sliabh Bawn
Overview
Sliabh Bawn recreation facilities are located on on Slieve Bawn mountain (Slíabh Bághna na Tuatha – the mountain district of Bághna) in Doughill Forest. This is also the home of the Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm which comprises 20 turbines and a substation.
Throughout the forest are looped walks, a trim trail for fitness, an equestrian trail, a raised viewing platform and a new picnic area. These amenities were developed as part of the Sliabh Bawn wind farm and represent a €500K investment by Sliabh Bawn Power a joint venture between Coillte and Bord na Mona.
The walking trails range in distance from 2.7km to 6.5km and would be graded as either easy or moderate difficulty making them suitable for family groups to enjoy. To note that all trails start with an ascent, before reaching level ground. Site maps are located throughout the forest, pinpointing historical areas of interest, the submit viewing point and picnic areas.
The mountain is made up of two main peaks, the highest being 262m high. The second peak is 254m high and is the location of the Holy Year Cross.
The Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm is producing clean electricity for homes, farms, hospitals, schools and businesses in Ireland and has an export capacity of 58 Megawatts (MW) which will supply the equivalent of approximately 37,700 households per annum.
From Strokestown follow the N5 south out of the town, approximately 1.5km outside the town take the right hand turn onto the road heading for Kilroosky. Travel 4.2km along this road, then take a sharp left turn. A further 1.2km along this secondary road you will come to the forest and will find a car park just above the first turbine.
Things to do
Heritage Trail (white trail): This 1 hour 15 minute trail gives you a full insight into the history of the mountain, taiking in the church run, Mass rock, Monastry trail and the Holy Year Cross. The trail commences at the main car poark following the existing forest road to the church ruin before truning south on to a specially constructed trail linking the Mass Rock to the Monastry trail. This section fo the tral will take you through a wide variety of wooland and habitats. You will see water tolerant species such as alder and willow along the wet areas for the forest. The land is rich with a number of wild herbs and shrub species including fern, wood sorrel, soft rush and long heather.
Monastery Tail (blue trail): This hour long trail is part of an existing monastic trail that runs across the mountain between the Augustinian Abbey’s of Lisonuffy on the west and Cloontuskert on the east. The trail commences adjacent to turbrine 20 in the townland of Ballyduffy with a moderate climb onto an existing forest road, running directly east across the forest before exitng the mountain at Tullyvarran.
Trim Trail (green trail): This loop walk takes approximately 45 minutes, but please allow extra time to use the 12 outdoor fitness stations along the route to complete the fitness challenge. The loop commences at turbine 20 in the and runs south along the forest road before truning east at Lackan and onto a specially constructed track uphill, where there is a challenging 70 metres assent. On reaching the summit the terrain levels out.
Yellow Loop Walk: This 1 hour 50 minue trail gives you a good experience of Slieve Bawn, while seeing 3 turbines up close and experiencing the Holy Year Cross, and Summit which offers spectacular views to the south and east of the mountain. The trail commences at the car park on a specially constructed track uphill to the forest road which leads to another new switch back trail to the Holy Year Cross located at the second highest point on the mountain (254m). The trail continues on a loop fromteh crossroads close to the mast and south on a new track towards the forest road leading to the Summit location. The highest point of the mountain (262m) is close to turbine 1.
Orange Loop Walk: This 1 hour 10 minute long walk commences at the main car park. The loop takes you through diverse forest with a wide raing of species and age classes. It is within close proximity to 4 wind turbines. The walk is mainly on forest roads, with sections of a new trail shared with the equestrian route.
Equestrian Trail (pink trail): This trail commences close to turbine 14 at Kilmacanannerny and continues south on a specially constructed trail which includes a bark mulch finish as far as turbine 13. The trail continues to the south of the mountain on the forest road and includes two off road cantering loops close to turbines 11 and 18.
Don't miss our hidden gem
The speculator views from the Summit.
Visitors Facilities on site
Car Park 10 spaces