12. On the Red Earl's road

At point 12 (red spot on map) a shortcut taken by the waymarked trail rejoins the Red Earl's road. To the southeast, the line of the old road can clearly be followed, with rock outcroppings along its line. Its original construction must have been by scraping away the peat covering to reveal the conveniently smooth rock surface.

road in bog, 13k
view southeast from near stile showing the line of the old road

Continuing north from the stile we reach the brow of the hill, and get a view of the Bricklieve Mountains. The trail continues along the eastern edge of the bog. Just beyond the group of conifers (picture, right), the trail overlooks the main battle area of the Battle of the Curlews, 1599. It was down the slope here that Markham's horsemen galloped into a bog (now fields and forestry) to rescue the beleagured Advance Guard of Clifford's army.