Ballygamboon Wood’s Castlemaine along The Atlantic Way
Ballygamboon wooded forest is located on the eastern end of the Sliabh Mish mountains range in county kerry. Where rough pastures meet up with rich farmland. The wood has a southerly slant with commanding views of the river Maine and a huge area of rich flat farmland below.
With weather conditional suiting you can see the village of Farranfore to the east while looking west an excellent view of Castlemaine harbour and Cromane point. Looking to the south and the Magillycuddy’s Reeks are there in all their splendour with the village of Castlemaine in the laid out before you.
Having once supplied stone for the road construction a flattened quarry is now been used as a the car park and picnic site area. A small trail leads from the car park up through Sitka spruce and Noble fir and out into a large area of young spruce and larch trees. The young trees afford the trekker unimpeded views of the valley below and the of mountain and hills afforded a peaceful setting.
[caption id=”attachment_10881″ align=”alignleft” width=”300 Castlemaine harbour The Atlantic Way
As the trail rises to almost 200 meters over sea level. It is a steady slope all the way up. As you have to come back the same way you went up for about 1.7 Km’s. You can afford to take in the natural beauty.
In good dry weather runners or walking shoes, suit the landscape but if it is raining more robust footwear is necessary. There are 2 distinct viewing points along the way.
The predominant tree species here is Sitka spruce, with Japanese larch and a scattering of broad leaved tree’s, mainly our native birch and ash.
Castlemaine is the gateway to the Dingle Peninsula and within easy reach of the Ring of Kerry – a wonderful touring base for the entire county.
Ballygamboon forest Castlemaine is located about 10 Km’s south of Tralee on the N70 to Killorglin. From Tralee take the N70 towards Killorglin, travel 11 Km’s to the forest entrance and car park on your right. Be careful crossing as it is near a bend on a busy road. From Killorglin, take the N70, go through the villages of Milltown and Castlemaine, 5 Km’s beyond Castlemaine the entrance and car park is on the left just before a bend.
