Ballygar to Creggs

Trail Description

Ballygar is the perfect place to begin your journey on the Suck Valley Way. The walk is signposted from the centre of the village with a map board of the trail located opposite the church. Leaving the village the walker is directed onto the Creggs road and into the woodlands of Aghrane.

Once in Aghrane Forest there is a junction on the Suck Valley Way; keep straight on for Creggs or follow  the path to the right to go to Athleague. Aghrane Forest is also home to two shorter looped walks created by Coillte, The Aghrane Loop (8km) and the CastleKelly Loop (5.7km).

For this section of the walk continue straight on for Creggs walking further into Aghrane forest, an old woodland which was formerly part of the Castle Kelly Estate. The O’Kellys were once a great family of the area and the woods formed part of their Demesne, it was here that they built their first castle in the 14th century. Today, the remains of the castle are still visible and there are also two ‘raths’ or ringforts located nearby, the first of many located along the Suck Valley Way. 

After 5km, the Suck Valley Way leaves the woods and you will soon pass Abbey Grey where a 12th century monastery of the Norbertines, the Grey monks, once stood before being destroyed by Oliver Cromwell’s army in the 1650’s. The Way then follows a minor road for a short section where you will reach another forest path. This path will bring you to Mount Mary, the highest point of the way at 160m.

Mount Mary is where the famous O’ Sullivan Beara and his army marched in 1603. On the 10th night of their march O’Sullivan Beara and his army made camp on Mount Mary. The path taken by O’Sullivan Beara and his army now forms part of the longest national walking trail in Ireland. For more information on the Beara Breifne Way, click here.

From Mount Mary, the Suck Valley Way goes through farmlands to the village of Creggs. Look out for fallow deer and grey squirrels and also for the wild strawberries, blackberries and blue berries that line the way. On arrival in Creggs, the walker will arrive in a small heritage park and the Suck Valley Way map board is located outside the Heritage Centre to direct you to the next section of the Way.