Hill Walk Ravensdale Forest/ Ben Rock

Walk: Ravensdale Forest including Ben Rock summit 

Meeting Point: Ravensdale Forest Recreational Park LINK HERE

Meeting time: 09:00am

Walk Start time: 09:15am

Route: Ravensdale Forest, Ben Rock, parts of the Tain Way and Ring of Gullion Way, back to the car park. 

Distance: 12km

Height: 508m

Duration: 4 – 4½ hours

Grade: This is graded as a hillwalk (slightly bordering on moderate)

Please Text the leader by Friday 14^th July if you would like to register for this hill walk.  

Leader’s Note:  This is a lovely hike on forest tracks and some open mountain.   We will start at Ravensdale Forest Car Park (free parking, link to google maps above) and will follow the Ravensdale Loop and Tain Way through the forest along forest tracks. We should get magnificent views of Slieve Gullion in good weather.  We will leave the forest and climb on open moorland to complete the ascent to Ben Rock (410m) with views of Dundalk Bay, and then up to Clermont Cairn (508m).  From the Cairn, on a clear day, the views of Carlingford Lough are spectacular. We will retrace our steps back down from the Cairn to the forest track and complete the walk following the Tain Way and Ring of Gullion Way back to the car park.  Sections of the moorland may be wet and muddy and can be tricky underfoot so poles would be recommended if you use them and please wear hiking boots.  

Directions from Skerries: Refer to google maps link above. Journey time by car from Skerries approximately 50 minutes (and 9 minutes from exit 18) 

• Take M1 motorway northwards and exit at 18. Follow R132 sign posted Ravensdale. 
• After 4 km at roundabout take exit to Ravensdale and follow signage to Ravensdale.
• Continue and take the R174 off the roundabout.
• At T Junction (house directly in front), turn left onto L7092. 
• The Ravensdale Forest Recreation Park and car park is approx. 1.3 km on right hand side.

A WhatsApp group will be set up for ease of communication for those coming on the walk. If you do not wish to be included in the WhatsApp group, please let the leader know when registering your interest in the walk.