Start at the crossroads of Tassagh Road and Dundrum Road, just east of Tassagh Bridge.
(S) Go south into Dundrum Road and soon past Tassagh Post Office. Stay straight on past the narrow road to the left. Past the entrance gates to Dundrum House to the left hand side. Go straight on at crossroads, still along Dundrum Road.
(1) Turn right into Lower Darkley Road. This leads downhill to cross the Callan River after 170 yards. After another 60 yards and to the right you’ll see the shell of an old mill. On old maps, a second is shown just to the left of the road, but very little remains. Maps show these as the Darkley Beetling Mills. In another 70 yards a gate supported by two large stone pillars will give you a better view of the mill to the right and over the valley.
Continue along Lower Darkley Road for another 0.78 miles to a T-junction.
(2) Turn left at T-junction onto Annvale Road. Stay straight on past the road to right hand side. To the left is an old bleach and beetling mill and to the left and above it is a large white house named Linen Vale. At 2.64 miles, the road crosses over the Callan River.
(3) At T-junction, turn right onto Dundrum Road. Then, after just 70 yards, turn right into Annvale Road, signed Mountain Lodge Church. Cross straight over (A29, with care) and into Mountain Lodge Road. Mountain Lodge Road crosses over a small stream which originates at Aughnagurgan Lough. Aughnagurgan Lough is visible to the left hand side. Straight on past Graysons Road to your left hand side. Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church is to your right hand side.
(4) The entrance to Darkley Forest and the car park is to your right hand side. Take a walk around Darkley Forest Fairy Village (adds about 0.6 miles). There is a sign from the car park to the Fairy Village, plus both the trails are waymarked. To take any or all of these diversions, you need to turn right thru’ the car park to join them, then when finished walk back out thru’ the car park and turn right along Mountain Lodge Road).
At 4.65 miles Tullynawood Lake becomes visible ahead and to the right. Also, soon, if you look sharp right, you can see Darkley Lake.
(5) Turn very sharp right into Upper Darkley Road. Tullynawood Lake is now down to your left hand side. At 5.1 miles, the road passes over the Callan River. Stay straight on, past the road to left hand side. Next to the left is a derelict house and just after this, the road crosses a watercourse. This was the mill race from Darkley Lake that fed some of the mills at Darkley. Past Darkley Mill Chimney to right hand side and into Darkley Village. Then after 100 yards, at end of the wall to right hand side, turn right onto the footpath and downhill. Go straight on along the road, past a row of houses to left hand side. To the right hand side at 5.8 miles, below and through trees, is an old Linen Spinning Factory.
At 5.89 miles, Darkley House (now Crossfire Trust) is to the left hand side. At T-junction, turn left and follow the road uphill. Stay on left hand side. Just before T-junction, and entering Darkley Village. Finish at bus-shelter on the left hand side.(E)
If you decide to finish your walk here, then you can catch a 69 bus back to Keady. If you wish to continue walking, then see the next step called : Darkley to Keady.
