Slí Ruadhrai - Maghera-Port-Maghera
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 18.69 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,953 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 3,999 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,135 ft
- TrailRank
- 34
- Min elevation
- -43 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 8 hours 16 minutes
- Time
- 10 hours 20 minutes
- Coordinates
- 5282
- Uploaded
- June 3, 2022
- Recorded
- June 2022
near Maghera, Ulster (Ireland)
Viewed 138 times, downloaded 6 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Maghera-Port-Maghera
This is a really beautiful hike. We have named it after our brother Ruardhí who sadly never got to see Maghera but he loved the hills of Ireland, particularly the Wicklow hills. These ones are just as enchanting.
The walk is tough though, due to the terrain - some parts can be quite boggy - the cliffs and the length of the route.
Do not try it:
- if you do not have a GPS and map with you.
- if it is raining, misty or if there is a risk of either.
- if you are not used to lengthy hikes.
An alternative to returning back to Maghera is to continue on the route to Glencolmchille once you arrive in Port.
Herewith a poem our father wrote in Ruardhi’s memory. It’s called ‘Candles Bán’, after the bog-cotton that are a major feature of the Irish hills, including along the trail from Maghera to Port.
Candles Bán
There are mountains that we wander on
In Irish known as Cill mhanntáin.
He trekked there too with family, friends
through Heather, Fraughan and Ceannabhan,
Dancing, thousands of nodding zephered heads
brought joy to him with their Candles Bán.
We climbed together in Europe's Alps
In Tatra's mountains twixt Slovakia-Poland.
He fished the Vosges, caught trout there too
But he never forgot his native land
For there he fished near Tully Cross
and landed Sea Trout and Wisdom Salmon grand.
But Cill Mhanntáin was the Mecca he loved
whether cutting turf or scaling hills
With Heather, Furze , bog verges Foxgloved
glowing Broom,* King's River's murmuring trills.
There, near tragic Hugh O'Donnell's and Art O'Neill's rugged Glenreemor
He, his son Faolán and setter fished the artful speckled trout for thrills.
These and more were Ruary's and are our Candles Bán.
This is a really beautiful hike. We have named it after our brother Ruardhí who sadly never got to see Maghera but he loved the hills of Ireland, particularly the Wicklow hills. These ones are just as enchanting.
The walk is tough though, due to the terrain - some parts can be quite boggy - the cliffs and the length of the route.
Do not try it:
- if you do not have a GPS and map with you.
- if it is raining, misty or if there is a risk of either.
- if you are not used to lengthy hikes.
An alternative to returning back to Maghera is to continue on the route to Glencolmchille once you arrive in Port.
Herewith a poem our father wrote in Ruardhi’s memory. It’s called ‘Candles Bán’, after the bog-cotton that are a major feature of the Irish hills, including along the trail from Maghera to Port.
Candles Bán
There are mountains that we wander on
In Irish known as Cill mhanntáin.
He trekked there too with family, friends
through Heather, Fraughan and Ceannabhan,
Dancing, thousands of nodding zephered heads
brought joy to him with their Candles Bán.
We climbed together in Europe's Alps
In Tatra's mountains twixt Slovakia-Poland.
He fished the Vosges, caught trout there too
But he never forgot his native land
For there he fished near Tully Cross
and landed Sea Trout and Wisdom Salmon grand.
But Cill Mhanntáin was the Mecca he loved
whether cutting turf or scaling hills
With Heather, Furze , bog verges Foxgloved
glowing Broom,* King's River's murmuring trills.
There, near tragic Hugh O'Donnell's and Art O'Neill's rugged Glenreemor
He, his son Faolán and setter fished the artful speckled trout for thrills.
These and more were Ruary's and are our Candles Bán.
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