Route: Day 3 Ardee to Slane

12 miles, 19 km

The paved footpaths of minor ‘L’ roads and over meadow to Slane Abbey and Rath, Forest to Slane Farm

Ardee Ferdia and Cuchulainn Statue car park

Slane

Both Ardee country town and the picturesque village of Slane have shops,  cafes, restaurants and pubs with toilet facilities. Only Ardee has a bank ATM machine.

Slane Farm Hostel, Ph: 041 988 4985, www.slanefarmhostel.ie                  Email: info@slanefarmhostel.ie

Turn right out of the Meeting of the Ford car park, cross the bridge and turn immediately right walking down the riverside to the Ferdia monument. Then walk left to the roadside and cross directly over (before another bridge). Walk straight through the Housing estate and at the last house veer right and downwards past fields until you veer left.

This is the L1264(3) a long straight road to Slane. You will pass many crossroads, continue straight on past:

1. Ballapousta. Stop to look at the beautiful stained glass window of St Brigid on the right hand side aisle.

2. You will pass the entrance to Smarmore Castle.

3. You will pass Grangegeeth crossroads and townland. Continue straight. 

At 14km from Ardee, there is a crossroads with a Famine memorial stone on the left and an old red brick cottage on the right.

Continue straight onto the N2 to the outskirts of Slane Village. Note the turn right up to the Hill of Slane Abbey ruins. There is an Rathe, old circular raised mound, at the back across a field. This is an ancient sacred site said to be the cross section of the masculine and feminine ley lines.

Retrace your steps back down to the main road and walk right into the very picturesque and historic village of Slane. Follow the signs at the main square crossroads right to Slane Farm Cottages.