Bahana Forest takes its name from the Irish word for ‘Beitheanna’, meaning a place of birch trees. This route covers a distance of 4.5km along forest tracks and the River Barrow towpath, one of the great ancient highways of Ireland’s Ancient East. From its starting point on the quayside in St. Mullins, take the towpath for approximately 15 minutes, before following a canal away from the river to reach St. Mullins Sea Lock – the river is tidal up to this point.
Continue by the canal to reach a track junction. Turn right, uphill to reach a crossroads where you turn left on the main track. Reach a three-way junction and keep left. Reach a lower track and turn sharp left to arrive back down at the towpath on the River Barrow, noting a lime kiln on your left side. Return to the Quayside.