A walk for the weekend: Farm Loop, Lough Avalla, Co Clare

Farm Loop, Lough Avalla, Co Clare

Map OSI Sheet 51, 303 944
Time and distance 8km: two hours.
Suitability Easy to moderate but be aware of uneven ground.
Start/finish Coming from Ennis/Corofin, turn right in Kilnaboy and follow the L1112 for 5km until you reach Mullaghmore Crossroads where the walk begins and ends.

Clare is renowned for its rugged beauty and outside almost every village is somewhere scenic to explore. But few walks combine trees, rocks and lakes with flora, fauna, a hot slice of fruit cake and good, strong tea.

Just outside Kilnaboy in north Clare, a Dutch family have turned their farmland on the shores of Lough Avalla into a stunning, rewarding yet not-too-challenging 8km walk. Open to the public, the working farm is home to Belted Galloway cattle and mountain goats.

Starting at the Mullaghmore Crossroads, the trail is signposted and, at weekends, there are usually plenty of cars parked along the road at the entrance to the looped walk.

Visitors are invited to borrow hand-cut walking sticks – these are advisable accessories as there are quite a few steep inclines and anyone not used to rugged terrain will benefit.

First stop on the trail is a drink from the local holy well – cups are helpfully left hanging on a nearby branch – or, for those who don’t want to imbibe, there is a plethora of colourful rags blowing in the wind, ostensibly left behind as a symbol of people’s troubles.

Suitably refreshed or unburdened, it’s time for the off once again. First, along forest paths and sandy lanes, then out into open grasslands before a gentle ascent into the hills. Anyone used to this part of the country will be aware that many of the trails take walkers over the rocky terrain of the Burren and, while there is certainly plenty of limestone, this hike is different because, just as you begin to grow accustomed to the white-grey environment, you turn a corner and suddenly find yourself in a field with long grasses and colourful meadow flowers.

The higher you climb, the more impressive the view of Mullaghmore and the Burren National Park.

Trekking upwards, we passed a handful of picnickers perched on flat slabs, enjoying a flask of something hot and soaking up the unrestricted vista across the county. Although tempted by the notion of tarrying a while, we had heard on the grapevine that somewhere towards the end of the trail we would find a cottage in the woods where Harry Jeuken and his family would be waiting with freshly baked goods and cups of tea, so we soldiered onwards and upwards towards the stone cairn.

The well-worn route is punctuated by discreet signage and, as a fellow walker helpfully told us, little stone markers along the trail indicate that you are heading the right direction.

The walk takes roughly 2½ hours but if, like me, you are with a mixed age-group, your teenagers could finish in half the time and be relaxing down by the lake at the bottom of the hill, while more sedate members may still be struggling with some of the steeper slopes in the latter half of the walk.

It’s good to bear this in mind as seasoned walkers will find this trail easy enough, but the ground can be uneven in parts so anyone unsteady on their feet may require a helping hand.

Climbing up to the top and winding down through the looped walk, you will be rewarded with an ever-changing environment, but the best prize was reaching the tea-room, where hot drinks, fruit cake, scones and elderberry cordial were on offer. The Jeuken family serve it with a smile and chat, and ask nothing more than a donation when you finally take your leave of their hospitality.

The environment, location and welcome truly make this a walk with a difference.