The Slieve Felim Way stretches from Murroe in Limerick to
Silvermines Village in Co. Tipperary, a distance of about 18 miles. The walking
trail straddles the counties of Limerick and Tipperary. The general area
consists of valleys and hills running east west, commencing with the Slieve
Felim range to the south and moving northwards to the Mauher Slieve Hills to
Keeper Hill and on to the Silvermines Mountains. While avoiding all the peaks,
the routes provide scenic views of much of the Region and it is possible to see
parts of Counties Clare, Limerick, Offaly,and Tipperary from different locations
on the route as well as sections of Lough Derg and also of the River Shannon
basin.
The walk can be divided into three main sections, Murroe to
Tooreenbrien Bridge, Tooreenbrien Bridge to Toor and Toor to Silvermines.
Beginning at the southerly end, you travel two miles beyond Murroe village to
the Thomond Scout Centre where the walk officially begins. You follow the
markers along the roads for a distance of approximately two miles, passing on
the left-hand side the estate of Glenstal before entering Glenstal Forest. A
short distance further on you will find a picnic area and map board specifying
the trail. The walk travels through the forest for a distance of 5.5 miles
before crossing a small stream coming to the main Newport Thurlas road at
Tooreenbridge. At this point the trail turns left and continues along the road
for 100 metres before turning right at the gateway and crossing over the Annagh
River by way of another foot-bridge.
Shortly afterwards the trail
re-enters the forest and proceeds over the Mauher Slieve range before descending
into Toor village, a distance of about 4 miles. On rejoining the road in Toor,
you turn right and travel for 500 metres until you meet the ball alley and turn
left onto the trail again. This section goes up to the easterly side of Keeper
Hill and through the Ciamaltha Woods, until it meets the road network at the Old
School at Glencullo, a distance of 3 miles. The final section crosses over the
Newport river and climbs up to Step Viewing Point passing on the way Knockanroe
Wood and another map board detailing the trail. From here, the route descends
into Silvermines Village, where the Slieve Felim Way finishes at the
carpark.
"Sorry this is so late but I just wanted to say Thank you so much for planning such a wonderful trip! We enjoyed every aspect of it. I just wanted to let you know that the tax on the Bed & Breakfast's was a Dublin tax." -- Audrey