Avondale House, famed for it’s beautiful forests and Charles Stuart Parnell’s homeplace. This walk starts in the children’s playground close to Avondale House and is an easy ramble along the open parkland known as the Great Ride to reach the Cairn. These rocks were assembled here when by the first foresters who cleared the land before planting. The route then goes in through a range of forest types. You’ll see beech, oak, Sitka spruce, pine and Douglas Fir along the way. The route is easy underfoot and is suitable for sturdy children’s buggies.

Grade: Easy , the route can be walked in either direction.

Markings: Orange Arrows – Loop Trail
Distance: 2.8km
Estimated time: 1.5hrs
Total height climbed: 70m
Highest point: 120m
Terrain underfoot: Grass Path & Forest Road
Suitable for: Young families

How to get to start point: Play Area Avondale 

• GPS FOR START POINT: 52.9133081,-6.222759
• GRID REF: T 195 862
  • Avondale House can be reached by public transport from Rathdrum Village which is 1.5km away:
  • Bus:  Bus Eireann: www.buseireann.ie
  • Train: Irish Rail: www.irishrail.ie