Molly National Loop Walk, Grange

Route Description

A–B

From the trailhead at John Long's Pub, follow the green arrows (together with the purple waymarkers) along the surfaced road. The purple arrows are for the longer Rooskey Loop. After 500m you reach a crossroads at a place called The Acre; go straight across here and join a surfaced laneway.

After 300m watch for a waymarker directing you right onto a farm laneway (Billy's Lane). Follow the green and purple arrows as the surface changes to grass and, after 1km, join a surfaced road where you turn left. Almost immediately the loop turns left again and ascends to a 3-way junction where the Rooskey Loop turns left, but you turn right.

B–C

You now overlap briefly with the Barnavave Loop from Carlingford. Follow the green and red arrows downhill to a surfaced road where you turn left. After 150m you reach an old limekiln on your left and briefly rejoin the purple Rooskey Loop.

Watch for a waymarker directing you right onto a downhill laneway, leaving both the Rooskey Loop and Barnavave Loop. After 150m you reach a Y-junction where the official loop turns right; straight ahead adds a short extra distance. At the end of the laneway you join a surfaced roadway, turn right, ascend for 100m to the brow of the hill, and turn left onto a grassy laneway known locally as The Molly.

C–A

The laneway takes you downhill to reach another laneway, Forty’s Lane, where you rejoin the purple loop and turn right. After 400m the laneway crosses the R173 and joins a surfaced laneway, Skeekan’s Lane, for the final 1km back to the trailhead.

Directions

The M1 is the motorway connecting Dublin and Belfast. Leave the M1 at Junction 18 and join the R173 in the direction of Ballymascanlan and Carlingford. Continue for about 15km, passing Lordship and The Bush. Approximately 1km past The Bush, turn left onto the L3061 signposted Grange. Follow the road to St. James Parish Church on your right, where parking is available. The trailhead is at John Long’s pub directly opposite.