Shay Elliott Glenmalure – Mountain Access Route

This is a linear route, 1.4 km one way, graded easy and taking about 20 minutes in that direction. Walking it as an out and back roughly doubles your time on foot, though the distance shown here follows the one way convention for a point to point trail.

You start at the Shay Elliott Memorial Forest Car Park, set on the high mountain pass between Laragh and Glenmalure, about 6 km south of Laragh on the Military Road. The way runs northwest on forest trail and public road, following white waymarkers through the forest until the marked access ends at the edge of the open mountain. Elevation samples along the corridor show a modest net climb with small undulations rather than sustained steep ground.

The marked access opens onto routes heading toward Mullacor, Braigue and Cullentra. That is a different undertaking. Anyone leaving this linear trail for the open mountains should be able to navigate in poor weather and be properly equipped. Access to land beyond the forest estate is not guaranteed, so plan any onward loop on that basis rather than assuming a through route.

Parking is at the named car park beside the memorial at the start of the route. Dogs are welcome in the National Park but must be kept on a lead at all times. In forest areas dogs may be brought along when under effective control, and must be on a lead if they will not reliably come to command; restricted breeds must be leashed and muzzled in public.

If you want something a little harder from the same car park, the separate Ballybraid and Ballyboy Viewpoint route is about 1 km, roughly an hour, moderate. It is a different trail, not an extension of this access route.

• Pushchair friendly on this short marked access route only
• A useful, low commitment leg stretch if you are stopping at the pass