Home Sponsored Where the Laois Walks Festival is going this week

Where the Laois Walks Festival is going this week

By
Steven Miller
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The Laois Walks Festival is now heading into its second full week.

The first week of the Laois Walks Festival saw 584 walkers of all ages taking part at locations all over the county.

The walkers took on wood walks in Stradbally and Durrow and bog walks in Abbeyleix and Portarlington. They went as far as the Slieve Bloom Mountains via Clonaslee and came back down to the Rock of Dunamaise while there were also family walks in Emo and Portlaoise.
The weather was great and the fun starts again this Tuesday in Spink, followed by the windy country roads of Luggacurran on Wednesday night.

The lake in Grantstown is the centre piece of the walk on Thursday night while our third family walk sees us off to Portarlington on Friday night.

For the weekend, walkers will head to Rossmore in Killeshin on Saturday afternoon before crossing over the border on Sunday where they will head into parts of Kilkenny for the Gattabawn loop which uses old farm lanes, open countrysides and forest paths.

See the full schedule below for the week ahead.

A Grade C walk is deemed moderate; a Grade B walk is difficult and a Grade C walk is strenuous.

Registration takes place half an hour prior to each walk starting and walkers are encouraged to wear comfortable walking boots and to bring raingear and sufficient food and drink for the duration of the walk.

TUESDAY, JULY 11

Spink
A challenging walk traversing the hills of the 16th century Cooper Estate with spectacular views of Laois, Carlow, Waterford, Kildare and Tipperary.
Meet: Knock Church, Spink
Time: 7.30pm
Distance: 10km
Difficulty: Grade A

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12

Luggacurren
This walk includes quiet winding country roads with great countryside views.

Meet: Community Centre
Time: 7.30pm
Distance: 10km
Difficulty: Grade B

THURSDAY, JULY 13

Grantstown
Quiet roads, laneways, Grantstown lake and countryside views. Between Ballacolla and Rathdowney.

Meet: Gates of the lake
Time: 7.30pm
Distance: 7km
Difficulty: Grade B

FRIDAY, JULY 14

Portarlington Family Walk
Sli Walk, lovely gentle walk traversing the town of Portarlington.  Family walk suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.

Meet: Community Centre carpark 
Time: 7.30pm
Distance: 5km
Difficulty: Grade C

SATURDAY, JULY 15

Rossmore, Killeshin
This walk is a must for the wonderful views of the Barrow Valley, Dublin and Wicklow mountains.

Meet: Oisin Park
Time: 2.30pm
Distance: 10km
Difficulty: Grade B

SUNDAY, JULY 16

Gattabawn
Stroll along the Gattabawn loop across the Kilkenny border which uses old farm lanes, open countryside and forest paths.

Meet: Mackey’s Pub, Gattabawn
Time: 2.30pm
Distance: 12km
Difficulty: Grade A

SEE ALSO – Check out the full schedule in this month’s Laois Walks Festival

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