6 Ulster Canal Route 91
Length:
65.7km
Time to Complete:
3hr 41m
Terrain:
Some Hills
Difficulty:
Moderate
Directions
- Head for Glaslough but just beyond the welcome sign on the approach to the village turn right in the direction of Monaghan. You will see the Ulster Canal cycle trail sign accompanied by the route 91 finger post sign at this junction.
- Continue ahead for about 7 kilometres until you descend a steep slope which brings you onto the N2 road. Go straight through this road junction and take the next left at Ballyalbany Presbyterian Church followed immediately by the next right which takes you close to Milltown Business Park. Turn left at this junction and proceed into Monaghan town passing Monaghan County Hospital on your right. Before reaching the Market House which is situated in the centre of Market Square you will find the County Museum on the right hand side.
- From here continue down Park Street to the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto the Clones Road. Take the next left turn before the Applegreen filling station and continue along this road past the Costcutter supermarket on your right and take the next turn to your left about 150 metres further on. Continue on this road until you reach a gate entrance to Rossmore Park. Follow the Cycle lane to the right of this path until you reach the Front Entrance gate to the park. On the main road turn left in the direction of Threemilehouse. At the first sharp left hand bend you can veer across the road onto the Route 91 and take the first left for Threemilehouse looking out for the route 91 signposts as you go.
- Go straight through Threemilehouse towards Newliss taking a right turn about 3.5 kilometres along this road where you see the blue R91 signpost. Continue through until you reach Killevan and take a right turn here on the R183 road for Clones.
- From Clones head out the Monaghan N54 road and Smithborough is the first town that you meet.
- Just past Smithborough take a left turn onto the L2160 road in the direction of Ballinode. Pass through the Roslea/Monahan road and on reaching the next crossroads take a right turn and head into Ballinode. Go over the bridge in Ballinode and head for Tydavnet. On reaching the far edge of the village turn right in the direction of Emyvale on the L1171 road. At the next crossroads turn left at Corragh on the L1155. Take the first right turn, and turn right again on reaching the next junction. Continue along this road until you reach the N2 Derry/Dublin road. Cross over this road and turn right followed by a left turn and continue until you reach the Emyvale/Glaslough road at Glennan. Turn left here and you are about a half mile from DrumlinTrails base.
Points of Interest
- Ulster Canal starting point and route 91 signpost.
- Monaghan County Museum and Market House exhibition gallery.
- Threemilehouse. In the churchyard of Drumsnat Church of Ireland lie the remains of the Wilde sisters Emily and Mary who were tragically burned to death at a ball in nearby Drumaconnor House which is now a B&B accommodation. Emily and Mary were half-sisters of the writer Oscar Wilde.
- Clones old graveyard is worth visiting where you will find Clones Round tower and St Tiernach’s burial plot. In the Diamond is the Celtic High Cross, and Monaghan’s County Library is located in Clones. Only recently, re-discovered in Clones was a 17th century castle in 2016. Clones is the birthplace of World Champion boxer Barry McGuigan, writer and poet Eugene McCabe and the well known author and film writer Patrick McCabe. Clones High Cross, Canal Stores and Round Tower in graveyard with St Tiernach’s burial plot in the foreground.
- Smithborough. Abandoned Canal lock house nearby.
- Drumlin Trails base.
Local Knowledge
Read more about this trail from local experts.
