Climb With Charlie and the Rhododendron Walking Festival

On Saturday, April 2nd, Charlie Bird will be climbing Croagh Patrick in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House. Charlie is encouraging everyone to get involved and to do so in their own area, and with that in mind the Rhododendron Walking Festival have organised two fantastic walks to choose from; the Crohan West peak and a ramble in Glengarra Woods. While Crohan West is now booked out, the walk at Glengarra Woods walk still has availability.

GLENGARRA WOODS

Starting at the main Glengarra Woods car park, the trail will follow the Millennium Loop as it gradually goes uphill with the Burncourt River flowing below. The trail goes through the Millennium plantation of trees before coming out onto the main path, then taking a hairpin turn uphill on forest roads, which give splendid views first across the Galty Vee Valley on one side, then into the heart of the Galtee mountains on the other side.

The trail will then briefly backtrack towards the wonderfully restored Mountain Lodge, before continuing on the Millennium Loop over a footbridge into another millennium plantation. After leaving the plantation, forest roads will lead to trail down to another footbridge, then turn left back to the car park with the soothing sounds of the river gently lapping against the rocks by your side as you pass by the varied trees, plants and bushes that Glengarra is renowned for.

It is a minimum of €10 to take part, but if you would like donate more when booking to support two great causes then you can. The Glengarra Woods walk is approximately 7km long, with an ascent of 186 metres. The estimated time to complete the loop is between 1.5 and 2 hours.