The Táin Way is a 40-kilometre (25-mile) long-distance circular walking trail on the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Louth County Council, Coillte, and the Walks Partnership Group.
Location and Route
The trail begins and ends in the medieval village of Carlingford. It loops around Carlingford Mountain (Slieve Foy) and its western outliers, passing through the villages of Ravensdale and Omeath. The route climbs along the northern slopes of Slieve Foy, crosses Clermont Pass below Clermont Carn, follows a ridge between Carnawaddy and Castle Mountain in the Cooley Mountains, and returns to Carlingford via the southern flanks of Slieve Foy. Total elevation gain is approximately 1,025 metres (3,363 ft).
Terrain and Difficulty
The trail is rated moderate to strenuous. Terrain consists of quiet roads, forestry tracks, and open mountain paths. About 52% of the route follows local roads. The trail is typically completed in two days, though experienced hikers and trail runners may finish it in a single long day.
Name and Mythology
The trail takes its name from the Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), a legendary epic of early Irish literature. The saga recounts Queen Medb (Maeve) of Connacht's invasion of Ulster to capture the Brown Bull of Cooley, and the defence mounted by the young hero Cú Chulainn. Many events of the tale are set on the Cooley Peninsula.
History
The Táin Way was devised by J. B. Malone and officially opened on 21 August 1986 by Liam Kavanagh, TD, Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry. A 2010 review of National Waymarked Trails found moderate multiday usage and high day usage on the Táin Way, and recommended the development of additional looped walks and rerouting of sections on tarred roads.
Waymarking and Navigation
The trail is waymarked with a yellow arrow on a black background. It is covered by OSI Discovery Series Sheet 36 and the EastWest Mapping Táin Way Map Guide (1:25,000).
Points of Interest
- Slieve Foy – the highest peak in County Louth (589 m / 1,932 ft)
- Clermont Carn – a Bronze Age cairn at the trail's highest point
- Carlingford – a well-preserved medieval town with King John's Castle
- Ravensdale Forest Park – forest trails and archaeological features including standing stones
- Proleek Dolmen – a 5,000-year-old portal tomb near the route
- Carlingford Lough – views across the lough to the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland
Access
Carlingford is accessible by car from Dublin (approx. 1.5 hours) and Belfast (approx. 1.5 hours). The nearest railway station is in Newry, with bus connections to Carlingford. Parking is available in Carlingford village.
