Half Day Itinerary, Tuamgraney
Half Day Itinerary, Tuamgraney
This is a small pretty village at the convergence of three important East Clare routes, that of Ennis, Killaloe and Scariff/Mountshannon. At the centre of the village is the well-kept and accessible triangular village green with its manicured walkways and greens. Start with a short visit to St Cronan’s 10th Century Cathedral located on the southern corner of the triangular village green in Tuamgraney. Here you can see the oldest continuously in use church in Ireland. It’s located directly beside the charming Croaghrum River where you can spend a restful 10 or 15 minutes sitting on the beautiful wrought iron seat placed perfectly for a peaceful sojourn. There’s plenty of free parking on the road beside the Cathedral.
After a 30 minute stop here, take a stroll of approx. 50 metres to the peculiar bedrock formation at the southern apex of the village green. Here is the large oak growing directly out of the bedrock mound that gives Tuamgraney its iconic view. Five minutes’ walk further on out the Ennis road of Tuamgraney towards the RC church you will see the sign for Wilde Irish Chocolates artisan Chocolate Factory which is open to visitors daily.
In the Chocolate Factory, you can easily spend 20 to 30 minutes looking at the chocolate production, talking to the chocolatiers and tasting the various chocolates being made. There is also the Hot Chocolate Café & Coffee Dock at the Chocolate Factory where you can enjoy one of the many hot chocolate varieties they make. Those with younger children might need to schedule a little longer stop. It’s perfect for a family to make, and even more useful if it’s a rainy day.
After the visit to the chocolate factory you can make your way back towards the village green and pass along the western side until you reach McKernans Hand weavers, which is only another 10 minutes stroll from the Chocolate Factory. At the weavers you will get to see the machines, both modern and vintage, which are used in the making of the exciting and colourful cloths, scarves and blankets that McKernans are so well known for. Watch the intricacy and skill that goes into the production of the wonderful woven creations. 20-30 minutes will easily be spent here.
This will leave you plenty of time to make an early lunch booking in the highly regarded family friendly Nuala’s Restaurant & Pub on the East side of the triangle, where gutsy and filling lunch and dinner menus are to be found at reasonable cost. Or indeed to organise a takeaway lunch picnic from Nuala’s, which you can devour locally in charming and very well kept Tuamgraney Green or take with you on a short walk to Reddan’s Pier where Tuamgraney village meets the navigable Scarriff River.
Along the walk to the Pier you will pass along a pleasant track bordered by rolling fields and on your right hand as you approach the pier will be found a refurbished lime kiln. Hand cut stone has been reinstated and refurbished to show the kiln as it once would have looked when the production of lime was of necessity for local farmers. These kilns were very important sources of fertiliser for farming in Ireland in previous centuries.
Returning back along the track from the Pier you will then take the left hand turn at the main road for the short walk to the Community Woodland nearby which is just a 5 minute stroll up the beautifully landscaped and manicured hilly road that leads out of the village towards Killaloe. There is signpost indicating the way. Follow the circular path through the Community Woodland for glimpses of the nearby ancient oak Forest of Raheen Wood which will bring you back to the main road where you can make your way back to Tuamgraney village.
If you are feeling a little more adventurous you can now take a walk along the newly paved footpath/cycle path that runs from Tuamgraney all the way to the beautiful heritage town of Killaloe. This walk is approximately 16 km and takes approximately 3 hours and winds its way along the hills and edges of Lough Derg. There are fabulous lake views available all along the route with various looped walks which go further up into the Slieve Bernagh Mountains which overlook Lough Derg on the Clare side of the lake.
You can terminate your walking tour along the way at the fabulous Holy Island Viewing Point which is just approx. 4.5 Km or 1 hour easy walk along the way. There are picnic benches here where you can stop for a break and enjoy the sights of the Round tower on Holy Island in the centre of the lake and you will just see peeping up from the edge of the lake below, the refurbished CastleBawn tower house.
You can return back along this road to Tuamgraney or you continue on the path which will eventually bring you to the easy access swimming location on the lake , the charmingly named 2 Mile Gate which is not surprisingly just 2 miles from Killaloe further on the path and very much worth a visit if you have time. This swimming, picnicing and beauty spot is right on the lake shore and has plenty of parking and space for kids to run around and is also the access point to climb Moylussa, the highest point in Co. Clare at 530 metres high. But you don’t even need to climb that high to get some more fantastic lake views. There are plenty of breathtaking views to be had from the picnic spot that’s only a short walk up into the hills. Whether you do the whole walk or short sections you will find it very rewarding. Make sure to have your camera ready too!—
