From Bragan to Muckle Rocks - Sliabh Beagh Way

Start : Layby, Bragan, Eshcloghfin, Co. Monaghan (near to the Bargan Mountain and the Bragan Penal Cross)

(S) From Bragan, continue along the road for 1 Km, descending steadily to a T-junction.

(1) Turn right (West) here.

(2) Then turn right again after 1.5 Km. Follow this lane uphill for 800m.

(3) Where the road bends sharply right, continue straight ahead (North-West) onto a stone track.

(4) After 400m, turn left (Souh-West) onto a faint path across the open moorland. The turf is springy underfoot as you pass along the right hand side of an old drainage ditch.

(5) Cross a stream with the help of a metal footbridge and continue ahead (South-West), following marker posts across the peaty ground. At the top of a hummock, the waters of Lough Aportan come into view below. Here the trail veers abruptly to the right, and you head North-West to join the end of a track.

(6) Follow the track, swinging left at a junction and continuing towards Lough Antraicer. Shortly before this lough, the waymarkers indicate a right turn.

(7) Turn on this track and return to open ground. Pass along the western side of the lough, crossing two more footbridges on the way.

(8) Soon you arrive at the end of another track. Follow this for around 600m.

(9) Then watch out for a signed right turn back onto the moorland. The route runs parallel to Mullaghfad Forest for a while, then makes a sharp left turn.

(10) Turn left onto a forest track. Now follow the signs through three track junctions to reach the road at Muckle Rocks. At the first junction turn right and at the other two keep bearing left. (E)

Start : Bragan, Eshcloghfin, Co. Monaghan (near to the Bargan Mountain and the Bragan Penal Cross)

Arrival : Muckle Rocks, Mullaghfad Forest, Fivemiletown (BT75 0JH)

Parking : Car parks are situated along the route

Terrain : Minor roads, track and moorland

Public Transport : Translink

Facilities : Car parks and picnic sites are situated along the route

Note : If you wish, you can do several parts of this trek at once. Pay attention to the information given in each part like the duration and the elevation to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Find more information and walk ideas at Walk NI here.

Did You Know?
Just north of the forest at Muckle Rocks lies Shane Barnagh’s Lough, and a nearby outcrop of sandstone is known as Shane Barnagh’s Stables. The name recalls an outlaw who roamed across Northern Ireland in the 17th century. He used the rocks for hiding stolen livestock, and rumours persist of a horde of undiscovered treasure still buried beneath the lough.