[RWD version 1 ] On a lovely bright morning we started from the car park in Trooperstown. Caution is required for the first couple of hunderd meters since the track here is shared with local traffic which is allowed to move back and forth between the main road (R755) into Laragh and the local road under Trooperstown Hill.
Once you reach the T-junction at top road and head to your right, there are wonderful views out over to the west. On the next half kilometer section keep your eyes out for the Holly tree on your right with the knomes and two chairs underneath. Lovely place to rest on the return journey should you need it. Just over the crest at Ballard, while the Avonmore Way follows the road, there is an option to take the track at right angles heading west down and rejoining the road below. The start of this track is directly in line with the track coming down from Trooperstown Hill. The Way heads through the woods and re-emerges at Ballardpark. There is now a couple of kilometers of road walking before reaching the high road bridge below Clara More. Just across the bridge a sign post leads you down right through the woods and on to the Church of St. Patrick & St. Killian. Along the way there is a small detour up to a way-side shrine to Our lady. There are nice views from up there (and a bench!). On rejoining the road, head left up the hill until the first bend. Veer off to the right over the low ditch to follow the path down though the woods. From here on it a most wonderful stroll through mature open woods along Clara Vale. There is no need to check your course here since the track continues alongside the river without disruption until you finally reach a bridge crossing a tributary. After the bridge continue on to the right and then straigh ahead alongside the river bank until you reack the Avonmore Way Spur (heading off to the left). Keep to the right until you reach the splendid suspension bridge dedicated to Samuel Hayes. Crossing the bridge there is an extensive information board to the right on the river bank. Continue walking to the right and the track gets narrow before coming to a T-junction. Switch back left here and follow the track, keeping to the left at the next junction. Further on at the T-junction (with the bench) head left and continue until you reach the steps down to the board walk. From here on there is no deviation possible until you reach the paved road into Lowtown.