Reach the large lay-by (possible parking)
and turn left uphill on a gravel track to reach the forest. Walk uphill
through the forest to reach a sharp bend. Leave the road and cross fence
with care, following it uphill in a trench between the forest on your left
and a high bank on your right. Note that an alternative route exists by
following the forest road to the far edge of the forest and climbing uphill
here to gain crest.
Outside on open ground there is a picturesque old ruin and many small fields,
once cleared laboriously by hand. A souterrain (stone tunnel used as a larder)
can be found beside it. A megalithic court tomb is also located hereabouts
althought I could not find it.
As you rise higher uphill past the walls, abondon the
forest edge for easier passage up the crest of the high ground on the right
of the deep valley. In summer, there is deep bracken (see opposite)
on these slopes which thins as you gain height.
There
are twin summits on Barnavave also called Maeve's Gap. The right hand summit
has a trigonometric pillar pictured below. These pillars mark the apexes
of a grid of triangles that cover the country. An instrument called a theodolite
is mounted on the pillar and used to measure the angles
of the triangle.
Continue downhill to the Golyin Pass
where you will rejoin the Tain Way back to Carlingford.
Pictured
here from a distance, it can be seen that forest flanks the left flank
whilst the walking route takes the right hand side on the upper slopes.
This walk is suited to families with older children but the ground is
rough
in places and boots and raincoats etc. will be needed.
There is an old llime kiln on the left here both
reminding us of the use that local stone was put too in the past: the
quarry for building stone and the lime kiln to burn limestone to produce
fertiliser for the land. The road is narrow but long & straight and
rises past Rooskey Priory, a 6th century ruin on your
right.