Mountsandel Fort (State Care Monument) — Attraction in Mount Sandel

This place is very hard to find unless you happen to be a local! Google maps tries to route you through a neighborhood when it should route you to Mountsandel Wood and the Fort is accessed there.

I did the research and was super excited to see this place. I wanted to stand in a place so old and feel its energy. It's great if you're looking for a short, secluded hike or run. Inside the wood is a lovely 2 mile circle around the fort and it is one of the most pleasant walks I've ever made despite a ruptured tendon in my foot.

There is nothing to be seen of the ancient discovery other than the fort itself. This would be fine except it hasn't been mowed. When I got to the top, I couldn't distinguish any characteristics of the mound and yet I knew they were there under my feet, which made me wary of my steps. The view is good from the top, not spectacular. As I looked around, I then realized I didn't know which set of steps I'd come up. Signs would be helpful for those of us caught up in all the beauty and/or directionally challenged. Had I not known the background of this area, it would not have been worth the time and effort. As it is, I am glad I visited but...

This is the first known human settlement in the inland of Ireland dating from the 8th century B.C.E. . There is most likely earlier sites but they were able to carbon date this site from a food midden found there that contained salmon bones and roasted hazel nuts and the hazel tree's are still growing all around the site. I would love to a dish of salmon with roasted hazel nut sauce sounds good. The site was fantastic and easy to find on Google maps, I have put up a photo of the small carpark and entrance to the site. There is a walk along the river Bann that leads to the site that seems to start in the centre of the town, we only walked a short part of it but the kids loved it and I loved...

A fairly easy walk that can be accessed from two small car parks on Mountsandel Road. One is across the road from the courthouse, the other is further up the road about 500 yards after the Spar. Both are signposted. The path is rough gravel and a bit muddy in places and there are some steep sections so it's not exactly baby buggy or wheelchair friendly (though doable with some effort). The Fort itself is only accessible on foot and has steep steps but gives good views over the River Bank...