Kirk Michael
Distance: This is a walk of 17 kilometres, about 11 miles.
Time: Approximately 6½ hours including stops.
It is for walkers only as parts of the route are not available for wheeled users. The route begins with a steady climb through Eairy Beg, crossing the Twelve Shares to Glion Gill. Follows the undulating forest road in and out of the young plantation to join the Cronk Breck bridleway at Governor Loch's Road. The route then follows the Greenway Road onto the Michael Hills at Sartfell. It then leaves the Greenway and follows an old track down to the boundary wall, following the wall to a disused reservoir at the foot of Slieau Freoaghane. From here there is a steep climb to rejoin the greenway road for the descent to Kirk Michael village.
Participants should be fit and capable of sustained cross country walking. Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear appropriate for the day should be worn. Sufficient food and water should be taken. The route is not waymarked on the ground, but a detailed map (1:50,000 scale) is available from our St John's office or can be downloaded from this page. Eight figure grid references for WayPoints (WPs) are listed below for GPS users.
Note that GPS reception can be variable within the lower parts of the Eairy Beg plantation. The distance between WayPoints is shown after each description.
Parking is available at Glen Helen car park (WP01 SC2950 8425)
- From WP01 Go over small footbridge on south side of car park, continue through gate and turn left. 90 metres to
- WP02 SC2951 8420 Follow the public footpath signs up hill, behind house, into plantation. 220m to
- WP03 SC2965 8418 Following public footpath round to the right, stay on forest ride, gently up hill. 300m to
- WP04 SC2954 8391 Turn left, follow forest ride on the level passing ruins of farmhouse on left. Do not enter. Continue onwards. 350m to
- WP05 SC2988 8397 Turn right and follow sod hedge directly up hill. Hedge will change to a dry stone wall. Continue upwards. 450m to
- WP06 SC3018 8364 Pass through the gap and continue on the other side of the wall. Here the view opens over heather moorland. Follow the plantation edge. 450m to
- WP07 SC3034 8322 Stone track. Turn left and follow one of the parallel unsurfaced tracks across the heath. 1100m to
- WP08 SC3133 8352 Enter the young forestry plantation over stile and continue forwards on forest road. 310m to
- WP09 SC3163 8360 Turn left and follow forest road down hill 820m to
- WP10 SC3198 8376 Bridge over stream. Continue uphill on forest road before descending 1300m to
- WP11 SC3267 8440 Piped stream crossing. Continue uphill on forest road before descending 1500m to
- WP12 SC3285 8542 Piped stream crossing. Continue uphill on forest road, out of plantation 1500m to
- WP13 SC3407 8533 Join bridleway, following forest road onto Governor Loch's Road. Turn left onto B10, 1450m to
- WP14 SC3419 8661 Turn right onto greenway road and continue uphill 810m to
- WP15 SC3426 8737 Bear left as greenway road turns right. Follow path 430m to
- WP16 SC3393 8770 Old sheep dip. Take lower path and continue down hill 900m to
- WP17 SC3323 8822 Stream crossing at boundary with fields. Follow boundary path 1150m to
- WP18 SC3340 8919 Point overlooking old reservoir. Bear right, follow path 380m to
- WP19 SC3375 8911 Stream crossing by old mine workings. Follow path uphill 120m to
- WP20 SC3384 8916 Bear left and continue following path uphill 330m to
- WP21 SC3386 8949 Follow path round hill 350 metres to
- WP22 SC3416 8966 Turn left, rejoining greenway road, follow down hill 2850m to
- WP23 SC3190 9092 A3 in Kirk Michael Village.
10 metre grid references
- WP01 SC2950 8425
- WP02 SC2951 8420
- WP03 SC2965 8418
- WP04 SC2954 8391
- WP05 SC2988 8397
- WP06 SC3018 8364
- WP07 SC3034 8322
- WP08 SC3133 8352
- WP09 SC3163 8360
- WP10 SC3198 8376
- WP11 SC3267 8440
- WP12 SC3285 8542
- WP13 SC3407 8533
- WP14 SC3419 8661
- WP15 SC3426 8737
- WP16 SC3393 8770
- WP17 SC3323 8822
- WP18 SC3340 8919
- WP19 SC3375 8911
- WP20 SC3384 8916
- WP21 SC3386 8949
- WP22 SC3416 8966
- WP23 SC3190 9092
