Spotlight on Garrykennedy

This month I'd like to put the spotlight on one of my favourite routes - The Lakes and Uplands from Garrykennedy.

As one customer put it recently, this route has something for everyone! There are beautiful lakeshores, quiet country roads and hilly countryside. But don't worry if the thought of hills scares you, because not only do the ebikes make the climbs relatively easy, but the steepest bits can also be skipped if you really don't fancy it, while still enjoying some great views.

The route

The route starts and finishes in Garrykennedy, midway between Nenagh and Ballina/Killaloe. The first section takes us uphill out of Garrykennedy before turning off down a quiet road towards Youghalarra. There we begin a steady climb into the Arra range along small, quiet roads. As we reach the top of the first climb, there are spectacular views across the valley to Tountinna and Laghtea (home of the Millenium Cross). We then descend through a slate quarry, before beginning the big climb to the Graves of the Leinstermen. This big climb can be skipped for those who would rather not! At the Graves we see spectacular views down over Lough Derg, before descending to the Lookout, for more views down over the Lough. Next we descend to the lake shore at Castlelough, before returning to Garrykennedy on quiet roads.

Garrykennedy

The village of Garrykennedy was once a key harbour for building materials for the nearby slate quarries. The days of shipping slate are long gone, and now the village includes a beautiful harbour which is popular with leisure craft. The harbour includes the remains of a 15th Century castle which belonged to the O'Kennedy family. The village name means 'Garden of the Kennedys', and the castle was once much bigger, but was largely destroyed by the forces of Oliver Cromwell in the 17th Century. Most of what remained after that crumbled in the following centuries, but the castle lives on, both in the form of the remaining wall which sits by the harbour, and in the stonework of the harbour itself, which was built using the rubble from the ruined castle.

The Arra Range

The Arra Range lies along the shore of Lough Derg between Ballina and Portroe. Its highest peak is Tountinna, and this route climbs up part of Tountinna. For the adventurous, you can park at the Graves of The Leinstermen car park and walk up to the summit of Tountinna, or to the Millenium Cross, both of which are reached via the Lough Derg Way footpath. Our route takes us up the road which runs between Tountinna and the Millenium Cross, so you will get great views of both.

The Graves Of The Leinstermen

At the top of the longest climb in this route is the viewing point known as the Graves of the Leinstermen. This name derives from a legend of Brian Boru, in which the King of the Leinstermen was engaged to be married to Brian Boru's daughter, but was ambushed on his way to Killaloe. Legend has it that the stones by the roadside were the graves of the ambushed party. In fact the stones are way older than that, and are thought to be part of a megalithic tomb. Whatever the truth of the legend, it can't be disputed that from here you will see some of the best views of Lough Derg!

The Lookout

On our way back down from the Arra Range, we arrive at The Lookout. This is a well known spot for looking down over the lake, with views over the Castlelough area, and also of the remainder of the route.

Castlelough

We arrive back down at the lakeside at Castlelough. This area features a ruined church and a castle, namely the 17th Century Castle Cambie. It also includes a leisure area which is popular with campers and people enjoying a barbecue, or fishing, or swimming. Castlelough was once covered by forest which reached all the way from Garrykennedy to Tountinna. Most of the forest is gone now, but there is a wooded area which we pass through on our route.

And for afters..

After all that cycling, you may be ready for refreshments. In which case you're in luck, because Garrykennedy is home to Larkins Pub and Restaurant, which was recently declared to be the best pub in Ireland by the Times!

If you would like to book the Garrykennedy Lakes and Uplands tour, click on This Link and select Garrykennedy as your starting point. The scenery is unbeatable!