walk our way saint patrick s way 4

St Patrick's Way: Countryside Paths
Route 1 This joins points A, C, B, and back to A.
Distance: Approx. 2.5 miles, 4kms
Time: Approx. 1-1/4 hrs
Start Point: A, Slaney Inn car park Turn left towards Strangford and then left on to the Myra Road. Cross the main Strangford Road, turn left at the first fork. At the bottom of the hill take the track on the right to the shore, point C, where St. Patrick landed in Ireland in 432 A.D. Retrace your steps up the hill to the junction with the Myra Road. Step over the stile, take the grass path to the main Strangford Road, cross over and then turn left. Leave the road as signposted and follow way markers over stiles and fields to a laneway. Continue to St. Patrick's Road, point B. turn left to return to point A.

Route 2 This joins points A, B, D, E, F, B and back to A.
Distance: Approx 6 miles, 9.6 kms
Time: Approx 2-1/4 hrs
Start Point: A, Slaney Inn car park Turn right towards Downpatrick and take the first laneway on the left past farm houses to the Carrowvanny Road. Turn right then keep along the shores of Lough Money. Follow the signposted path up the hill to Ballystokes. The lane joins the Mearne Road at point D. Keep left, over a stile beside a house. Follow the path to the Green loney, point E. Turn right, back towards the Mearne Road and point F. Finish - Turn left and continue to St. Patrick's Road, then turn right, past point B and return to point A.

Route 3 This joins points A, B, D, E, G and back to A.
Distance: Approx 7 miles, 11.2 kms
Time: Approx 2-1/2 hours
Start point: A, Slaney Inn car park As described for Route 2 until point E. Then left along the lane to the Ballyhornan Road. Left again, continue along the road and take the Ballyculter Road on the left. Walk down the hill and past a small car park on the shores of Lough Money. Continue across the next crossroads to a public footpath signposted on the left at point G. Follow this path to the Carrownacaw Road. Keep left until the road joins the Lough Money Road, then turn right to the St. Patrick's Road, then left to point A.

Ulsterbus provides a service to and from Downpatrick to most areas in Co. Down and beyond. Timetables can be obtained from Ulsterbus Offices in Downpatrick (01396) 612384.