Wexford Walking Trails together with Wexford Country Council, Healthy Wexford and the Irish Farmer’s Association are inviting you to get outdoors and explore some of Wexford’s fabulous country trails. Our first walk of 2024 takes place on Sunday January 7th in North Wexford, just 17km from Gorey on Croghan Mountain’s Walking Trails. The walk will take place on an established and fully Sport Ireland accredited trail. The trail is graded as moderate and is suitable for people with a moderate level of fitness but care is required. Good outdoor walking footwear, suitable clothing and snacks/drinks are all recommended.
Save the Date and Enjoy Getting Active!
Trail Croghan Trail
Date & Time Sunday 7th January 20242 pm – 4.30 pm
Meeting at Entrance to Ratheenleagh WindFarm 52.781807, -6.291854 (see map below)
Distance 8 Km with an ascent of 300m
Category Moderate
Duration 2 hrs 30 minutes
Teas/coffees/biscuits will be served in the Ballyfad Community Centre after the walk.
About Croghan Trail
The walk commences at the entrance to Ratheenleagh Windfarm on the Ballyfad-Woodenbridge Road. This area is known locally as the ‘White Heaps’ so-named after the mounds or cairns of white quartz stones once located there. The cairns are likely to have marked prehistoric burial mounds but were removed and crushed down by the gold companies in the late 18th century. The Irish name for Croghan is Cruachán Chinnsealaigh which signifies the association of the area with the ancient Uí Chinnsealaigh clan. A plaque at the entrance to the Ratheenleagh Wood records that the rebel army camped in this area for a period in late June 1798 after their defeat at Vinegar Hill. The remote and mountainous location would have given protection from attack from Government forces. In 1795 the area on the north-eastern flank of the mountain at Ballinvalley was the subject of Ireland’s only gold rush. Nuggets of gold were found in the stream (the Gold Mines River) and once word got out there was a rush of people to the area. It estimated that over 3,000 ounces of gold were removed by panning. If weather conditions are right you may be able to get a glimpse of the Welsh Mountains across the Irish Sea.
