This is a 44 mile loop (since at least 2015, apparently used to be longer, maybe 51 miles?) right in the centre of Ireland. The Slieve Bloom Mountains rise out of the flat plains of the midlands. The mountains provide opportunities for hiking , running and mountain biking. There are a network of trails which link to form the loop , there are five different trail heads from which to start which also serve as ideal places for meeting support crew.
It lends itself to both supported and unsupported FKT attempts.
The route is predominantly mountain and forest trails will a few short stretches of interlinking roads .
https://slievebloom.ie/walk/slieve-bloom-way
The loop provides fantastic views across Ireland - it is special because it links together numerous historical sites , it also gives a feeling of being on top of the world when you do a 360 view from the peaks of the surrounding 10 counties. The trail is well maintained but due to the nature of the weather can become soft underfoot - the climbing is split into 6 main peaks spread evenly along the route.
Comments
I will be attempting this unsupported on the 15/8/20. The official trail now differs slightly from the gpx above - it looks like the trail now skirts around Kinnitty rather than going through it. I will post the revised gpx on completion .Â
TrevorÂ
Hi Trevor, do you have the updated fox of the route or is it similar to lmahonys below? Thanks
*gpx!
DNF on the 15/8/20Â
Fell at 41 miles - with all the hard work done . Ankle is black and blue - disappointing but I will try again in the springÂ
I did this yesterday on the current route
(the one listed above is about 6/7 years old, it's now just over 70km &1800m elevation gain - details can be seen at the website https://slievebloom.ie/walk/slieve-bloom-way and map https://slievebloom.ie/perch/resources/sliev-bloom-offaly-way-a2-to-a5-…)
My time was 6:55:01
My GPX of the current route
Is there a women's FKT for this route?