Tourism \ Activities \ Walking \ The Poets' Trail

The Ballykeel Loop – in the shadow of Slieve Gullion

Park at the Ti Chulainn Cultural Activity Centre in Mullaghbane (Information Board 1).

Begin walk by leaving the centre to the right, at the end of the road turn left and almost immediately left onto Mill Road. Continue along and follow waymarks past the birth place of Art Bennett, poet and scribe (Information Board 2) and you will pass the last working flax mill in the area.

At the end of Mill Road go straight across the Crossmaglen – Newry Road onto Mullaghan’s Road. Continue, turning left to Cowans Road which is part of the Old Road structure dating back 500 years. Follow the road to the junction with the B30 Crossmaglen to Newry Road at Mullach Ban Folk Museum, go straight across the B30 to the end of the Old Road, turning left along Tullymacrieve Road. Continue until Ballinaseck Bridge where you can enjoy information on townlands (Information Board 3).

Turn right at the Bridge onto Ballinaseck Road at the junction continue left to Cashel Road, left onto Cnoc an Damhsa Road and continue to junction with Cranny Road turning left at your next junction. Once on Cranny Road turn right onto Lough Road, passing Cloverhill Golf Course and Ring of Gullion Trekking Centre turning left at the junction with Glendesha Road. (Information Board 4).

Continue along to junction with Upper Road, turn left and left immediately onto Forkhill Road. Proceed into Mullaghbane Village turning right at the sign for Ti Chulainn onto Maphoner Road and back to the centre.

This walk follows a country lane and minor roads in the outstandingly beautiful Ring of Gullion where you can follow the life and times of the poets of South Armagh.