Gosford Forest Park: the red trail by Greer's Fort

From the car park by the mill ponds at Gosford Forest Park, the red trail follows forest tracks and paths round the park. The Forest Service's leaflet describes the red trails as passing Dean Swift's Well and Chair beside the Drumlack River, circling the boundary of Gosford Castle through conifer woods, and returning past Greer's Fort, a grassy mound, and the deer and rare-breed enclosures.

It is 6.6 km round with 85 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: forest tracks and paths with steps, tree roots and gullies in places, and gentle climbs. The Forest Service gave the longer red trail, the Crunaght Trail, as 6.2 km.

This is a worked forest, so trails may be diverted or closed for forestry; follow the waymarks.

In 1958 the Forest Service acquired the former Gosford Demesne, the estate of the Earls of Gosford. Jonathan Swift stayed there between 1728 and 1730. The park now follows the charging policy of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council: check the notices at the entrance before you park; pedestrians are generally not charged.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.