Routes & Shoots Cycle Trail
A Durrow Community Bike Hire Trail
Visiting:
Castle Durrow Gardens
Dunmore Country School – A Working Garden
Heywood Gardens, Ballinakill
Castlewood Organic Farm, Durrow
Route Details:
Distance: 22.9KM – 14.2 Miles
Elevation: Gain 201M
Start: 89M
Max: 171M
Route Map
Starting Point Durrow
This suggested trail is inspired by some of the beautiful gardens that we are blessed with in South Laois. Starting at the magnificent garden at Castle Durrow, we next head for Dunmore Country School, which is run by Tanguy and Isabelle de Toulgoët, on the outskirts of Durrow Village. After exiting the Castle gates, turn left onto the R639, and immediately left again, onto the Swan Road, after crossing over the bridge.
Follow this road, passing the Harps GAA pitch on your left hand side, and continue until you reach the first right hand turn. Turn right at this junction, then immediately left, and Dunmore Country School is situated on your right hand side.
As it is a working garden, with gardening courses throughout the year, it is advised to make contact, prior to your visit.
Onwards To Ballinakill
After leaving Dunmore Country School, turn left onto the New Line, which will bring you back to the main road, passing Dunmore Wood as you cycle.
Turn left, passing Dunne’s Nurseries, and continue to the junction, where you will see two roads on your right hand side.
The first of these roads will take you to Castlewood Organic Farm Shop, whilst the second road leads directly to Ballinakill. Once you have reached Ballinakill, turn left and follow the road to Heywood Gardens. The exquisite formal gardens, were developed by Edwin Lutyens, and Gertrude Jekyll, between 1906-1912, and are well worth a visit.
Rather than follow your outbound route, immediately outside the gardens, a road leads to an alternative route, back to Ballinakill village. This route brings you alongside picturesque Gills Pond, you’ll arrive in the village, directly opposite Heywood Haven Coffee.
After passing by the village’s two churches on your left, take the first road to the right, again opting for an alternative route back to Durrow. Stay on this road until you arrive at the junction for the N7 (main Durrow to Abbeyleix road). Turn left for Durrow.
