Cycle NI - Your definitive guide to cycling in Northern Ireland

Poets Trail : O'Neill Loop

The walk starts at Creggan Parish Church and an historic graveyard where the poets Art MacCooey, Pádraig MacAliondain and Séamus Mór MacMurphy are buried. The route follows quiet country lanes past Glassdrummond Lake, Roche Castle and Hearty's Folk Cottage back to the starting point

County

Armagh

Distance

8 miles

Nearest Town

Creggan, Crossmaglen

OS Map

Sheet 28

Route Type

Hill

Route Shape

Circular

AONB

Ring of Gullion

Grid Ref (Start)

H934159

Public Roads

On Public Road

Grid Ref (End)

H934159

Terrain

Flat to undulating public roads

Point of Interest

Creggan Parish Church and graveyard and the South Armagh poets, Castleroche and Heartys Folk Cottage.

Route Description

From Creggan Parish Church follow a country lane along the Glassdrummond Road for 2.5 miles. Take the first right past Glassdrummond Lough on to Leeter Road. Continue for 0.5 miles and take the first turning left on to Mounthill Road. Continue for 1.5 miles.

Turn left at the crossroads and continue for 0.5 miles before turning left. Then continue for another 0.5 miles and veer right through Ballsmill Village. Continue on for 1 mile and take the first turning on the left in to Cortreasla Road. Turn right on to Lurgan Road after 0.5 miles and continue for a further mile past Hearty's Folk Cottage.

Take the first turn on the left at Murray's Road. Continue for 1 mile and then turn right on to Cregganbane Road. Continue for 0.25 miles until the junction. Turn left back to Creggan Church.