|
| |
|
CASTLEBLANEY |
| |
|
|
| |
| Unless you're heading for Glaslough or the North, there are two main
routes out of Monaghan: west to the pleasant town of Clones or south to
Carrickmacross. On the latter route you'll pass first through
CASTLEBLANEY , whose two proud broad streets hinge upon a fine Georgian
courthouse at what was once the market square, fourteen miles from
Monaghan. Castleblaney was built by English colonists to serve the needs
of a large estate, beautifully situated beside Monaghan's largest lake,
Lough Muckno , and this is still the town's finest asset. When the
English picked their spot they knew what they were about: it's a
particularly attractive demesne of mixed woodlands and gentle slopes
beside placid waters. The estate is now a forest park, with clearly
signposted walks around beautiful grounds; access is just behind the
courthouse. The Lough Muckno Leisure Park tends to attract families and
anglers in search of peace and quiet, but it's also home to an
independent hostel , The Lough Muckno Adventure Centre and Holiday
Hostel (tel 042/974 6356), where you can hire canoes, sailing dinghies
and wind-surfers. It's advisable to ring ahead as the hostel caters
mainly for groups. There's more water-based excitement to be had at
Muckno Waterski Club (tel 087/666 0077), and plenty of coarse angling
available at Lough Muckno and in the series of small lakes roundabout.
B&Bs include Hillview , just outside town (tel 042/974 6217;
£26-33/¬33.01-41.90), and the spacious and comfortable Palm Grove Lodge
, Lough Egish, two miles out on the Shercock Road (tel 042/974 5170;
£33-40/¬41.90-50.79). There are several places to eat : during the day
Joan's Pantry , Main Street, serves inexpensive, wholesome meals; The
Comet , Main Street, has good bar food and a restaurant for evening
meals; and the location of the down-to-earth Hope Castle Bar and
Restaurant (tel 042/974 9450) takes some beating, overlooking the lake
within the grounds of the forest park - they serve generous helpings of
pub grub and their evening menu is only a little more expensive. The
Hope Castle also has the lion's share of nightlife around here, with
bands several nights a week during the summer months - mainly country,
ballads and so forth, plus bluegrass on Fridays. The Comet is similarly
popular, and in fact pubs in Castleblaney generally seem surprisingly
lively given the tranquillity of the daytime rural scene. |
| |
|
