Ballyroney Lake and Bog Walk

From the parking place at the Lackan Road, follow the Crabtree Hill road uphill. A footpath sign on the left located beside a cottage will direct you down towards the lake. Continue until you reach the stile. Crossing over turn right and follow the field boundary towards Annahinchigo / Hunshigo Lake. Continuing you will reach another stile which leads past a cottage on the lake shore onto a short-enclosed section of path with a further two stiles to climb. The third stile will bring you into a large open field which runs down to the lakeshore. Near the lakeshore look out for another stile in the fence line to the right. If you come to the farmyard you have passed the stile and will need to retrace your steps. Pass through this stile which opens in a V - walking away from the lakeshore. Stay to the right as you pass through two open fields. Continue until you will reach a wooden field gate and stile leading into a bog rampart. Continue until this section of path meets a surfaced lane. Turn left here (away from the old house) and continue along the lane following the waymarkers, until you reach the Crabtree Rd. Take a left into the Crabtree Rd and continue to its junction with the Bannfield Rd. Take a right into Bannfield Rd and continue. This road climbs a hill before following the River Bann. Continue to its junction with the Dromara Road. Turn right into the Dromara Road and stay on this road through Ballyroney using the public footpath where available. Pass by Ballyroney Lake and take a right into the second road on the right, Dicksons Hill Rd. Continue along this road looking out for the finger post reading 'Green Road Footpath' pointing across an open field. Pass through the stile here and cross field to the next stile which leads onto the 'Green Road'. Please keep to the waymarked path. The bog rampart can be very uneven and potholed with animal burrowing, watch your step! Follow the path to the Lackan Rd and on meeting this road turn left to return to the starting point.

From the parking place at the Lackan Road, follow the Crabtree Hill road uphill. A footpath sign on the left located beside a cottage will direct you down towards the lake. Continue until you reach the stile. Crossing over turn right and follow the field boundary towards Annahinchigo / Hunshigo Lake. Continuing you will reach another stile which leads past a cottage on the lake shore onto a short-enclosed section of path with a further two stiles to climb. The third stile will bring you into a large open field which runs down to the lakeshore. Near the lakeshore look out for another stile in the fence line to the right. If you come to the farmyard you have passed the stile and will need to retrace your steps. Pass through this stile which opens in a V - walking away from the lakeshore. Stay to the right as you pass through two open fields. Continue until you will reach a wooden field gate and stile leading into a bog rampart. Continue until this section of path meets a surfaced lane. Turn left here (away from the old house) and continue along the lane following the waymarkers, until you reach the Crabtree Rd. Take a left into the Crabtree Rd and continue to its junction with the Bannfield Rd. Take a right into Bannfield Rd and continue. This road climbs a hill before following the River Bann. Continue to its junction with the Dromara Road. Turn right into the Dromara Road and stay on this road through Ballyroney using the public footpath where available. Pass by Ballyroney Lake and take a right into the second road on the right, Dicksons Hill Rd. Continue along this road looking out for the finger post reading 'Green Road Footpath' pointing across an open field. Pass through the stile here and cross field to the next stile which leads onto the 'Green Road'. Please keep to the waymarked path. The bog rampart can be very uneven and potholed with animal burrowing, watch your step! Follow the path to the Lackan Rd and on meeting this road turn left to return to the starting point.

The village of Ballyroney is located between Rathfriland and Dromara off the B7. At Ballyroney take Lackan Road (signed for Castlewellan). Continue for approx. 1.5 miles to first X-roads (Lackan/Flush and Crabtree Roads). Park with consideration on grass verge at side of Lackan Road before X-roads. Coming from Ballyroney Crabtree Road is the road to the right (up the hill).