County Kildare Walking Routes Project - Kildare.ie

County Kildare Walking Routes Project
Comments
1. This 13km walk is situated in the Southern Lowlands Landscape Character as defined
in the Kildare County Council County Development Plan. The walk begins at the
elevated site of the Moate of Ardscull giving pleasant views across the Barrow Valley
to the Castlecomer Plateau and to the east the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. The
route is along country roads through dominantly tillage farm land with a section which
skirts bogland at Blackwood with some forestry plantations along the way
2. The route commences in mixed woodland planted in the nineteenth century on the
Moate. Adjacent to the Moate is a small garden with native shrubs, flowers and trees
clearly identified. The walk passes through tillage and some pasture land with pleasant
views to the SW towards the Barrow Valley and Castlecomer Plateau. The roadside
supports a diverse hedgerow habitat and section of the walk is through raised bog with
riverbank and coniferous forest plantation.
3. The route is just four kilometres from Athy, situated beside the village of Kilmeade.
There is a regular bus service. The Moate is a popular destination for day trippers from
Athy.
4. Ardscull has the largest Norman Motte in Ireland built in the twelfth century. Beside the
motte is a plaque to commemorate the 4 th Gordon Bennett motor race in 1903, the first
motor race to be run over a closed circuit. There is a former RIC barracks c 1830 and
a wall mounted cast iron post box c. 1905 with ER VII royal cipher and raised crown
motif.
5. Most of the route is along public roadway with a short stretch of bog road which may
be in private ownership. Access to the bog itself is under the control of Bord na Móna
and is restricted.
6. There are no SACs or NHAs along the route but the Moat of Ardscull is a protected
structure.
7. The underfoot conditions are good along public roadway but bog road with potholes
requires some care.
8. There is adequate signage at the starting point of the walk with information boards and
plaques explaining the local history and flora. Stiles giving access to the Moate are
safe and well maintained. There is neat fencing around the garden area.
9. The entire route is on tarred surface or potholed back roads.
10. The heritage sites are all accessible or visible from the route.
11. Apart from the annual Gordon Bennett Memorial Vintage Car Rally there are no events
of national importance advertised for the locality.
12. The route is on the level and does not require special navigation skills or equipment
other than stout walking shoes. However it is quite long at 13kms but variations are
available to make shorter looped walks.
13. The majority of the walk is suitable for wheelchair access and alternative looped walks
accessible to wheelchairs are available.
14. Most of the walk is along quiet country road but sections are along the busy N78
although there is a wide hard shoulder for walkers.
15. There is ample safe car parking at the Moate of Ardscull.
16. There is a need for signage to warn motorists of the presence of walkers. There are
sections of the bog road that are badly littered and illegal dumping continues to be a
problem. There is evidence of erosion of the Motte due to the number of visitors
climbing to the summit.
17. A number of short looped walks are provided off the main walking route to suit different
levels of walker and walking times.