Details as follows:
Starts from 11a.m. to 1.00p.m., course closes 2.00 p.m.
Yellow - 2.1 km 11controls
Orange- 2.04 km 12 controls
Red - 3.2 km, 14 controls
Light green- 3.41km 15 controls
Green- 4.2km 17 controls
Blue- 4.9 km 19 controls
Brown 7.5km 29 controls (with map exchange)
Leg cover recommended for light green courses up. It is very wet! You will be muddy!
Terrain is typical of old estate hunting grounds. Mature deciduous forest, specimen trees, interspersed with more recent sections of planted, reasonably mature coniferous forest, laurel adds additional challenges in some areas. The River Nore flanks the map to the east with the River Gully traversing the map, STRICTLY crossable only at bridges. This is a protected river and special area of conservation, one of the few remaining areas for the freshwater Pearl mussel.
Please be considerate of other forest users.
Parents please remind your children of water safety, the Junior courses are away from rivers except at bridge crossings. Rivers are high, remind children not to lean over the sides of the very, very, old bridges!
Mapped in 2015 by Pat Healy and Conall Whelan, extensively updated October/November 2017 by Conall Whelan(mostly before storm Ophelia). There may be some additional fallen trees! Due to recent extreme weather conditions in Laois water holes, drains etc. are currently larger than mapped. Take care.
Access: Please access forest/parking from R434 to prevent any build up of traffic on the N77.
From Dublin (M7) take second exit for Portlaoise/Abbeyleix/Durrow, head along N77 ( old Dublin Cork road) you will pass Abbeyleix and the turning for Dunmore wood and head on to Durrow, turning right just before the village, R434 signposted for Rathdowney, continue past the houses and turn right onto L1652(signposted for Balinakill). The wood
is towards the end of the road. If the parking is full the parking officials will wave you on to either Dunnes garden centre or the G.A.A. pitch which you have already passed!
From Cork, ( M8 south) exit at junction 3, Rathdowney. Follow signs for Durrow R433, turning right onto the R434 (very dangerous junction at bend in road), then left
onto L1652(signposted for Balinakill). The
Wood is towards the end of the road. If the parking is full the parking officials will wave you on to either Dunnes garden centre or the G.A.A. pitch.
Parking:
Limited parking at the forest, additional parking at Dunnes Garden Centre, N77, to the north of Durrow, short walk. ( Extreme overflow parking at G.A.A. pitch which is 1km walk away - just in case!). Please follow directions of parking officials.
Toilet stop! Harps GAA have agreed to allow us to use their new toilets!
Location is here. No toilets available at the Wood. Abbeyleix Manor Hotel could also be a toilet stop if you\'re coming from Dublin direction. Toilet facilities are also available at both motorway junction exits
Refreshment available locally (in order of distance from event!) at Castlewood Organic farm, soup, cakes etc. (Also organic meats, apple juice etc. for sale) opposite garden centre.
Lawlors (near bank) and Gala (on the green) for a sandwich to take away.
Abbeyleix have a couple of cafés, a hotel and supermarkets with deli counters too.
, bulbs, bare root trees etc available at very reasonable prices! Please support.
Hoping you enjoy a rare orienteering opportunity in Laois!
Author
Leinster League 11 Dunmore Wood 
