Annagh Pillbox – Gosford Castle loop from Markethill
Annagh Pillbox – Gosford Castle loop from Markethill
12
riders
Annagh Pillbox – Gosford Castle loop from Markethill
02:43
65.0km
420m
Road cycling
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: April 8, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Bus stop
Get Directions
14.4 km
Fruitfield Factory
Highlight • Historical Site
Fruitfield factory on the main Portadown-Armagh Road (adjacent to Richhill) goes back well into the last century, when Charles B. Lamb bought the premises to run his jam and foods business.
Charles had come from England to work in Richardson’s Mill in Bessbrook, but fancied the challenge of starting up on his own, he moved to Richhill, and began in a small way in Richhill village.
The business was as immediate success, Charles expanded into the factory in 1886, he and wife were married the following year, and the entire family of eight was involved in the business.
The Richhill factory until 1920’s when Ireland was troubled, business was tough and the business lay dormant for a few years.
Then, the three sons of Charlotte (then Mrs Peile) felt it would be a good idea to start a business of preserving fruit, as they witnessed so many strawberries, apples and other fruits being dumped – thus ‘Fruitfield Preserves’ was born.
They made a full range of jams, including marmalade from oranges imported from Spain, as well as canned fruit and foods, plus jellies, and the business really thrived-they grew much of their own fruit in their own farms dotted around County Armagh and also bought from farmers. But in the mid-1960’s, foreign imports started eating into the market share – mainly from Bulgaria and South Africa where the climate was ideal for growing and labour was cheap.
It’s quite a contrast from the days when Fruitfield was a real centre of activity – not just for workers under that particular roof, but for wide spectrum of farming and fruit growing community.
There was scarcely a home in Portadown, or Northern Ireland for that matter, which didn’t have in its larder jams, tinned fruit or jelly from ‘Fruitfield Preserves.’
Tip by
47.4 km
Ground Espresso Bars Café
Highlight • Cafe
Showing Translation
Tip by
49.4 km
Annagh Pillbox
Highlight • Historical Site
The Type 28 Pillbox lies off the Tandragee Road between the Co. Armagh towns of Portadown and Tandragee. The location of the pillbox today is next to a housing development but in the early 1940s would have offered views along the River Bann.
The Annagh Pillbox is in excellent condition, well maintained by the local council. A plaque next to the pillbox explains its use during the 1939-1945 conflict.
Tip by
63.4 km
Gosford Castle
Highlight • Castle
Tip by
65.0 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
62.8 km
1.67 km
372 m
155 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
62.0 km
3.04 km
< 100 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
Highest point (100 m)
Lowest point (10 m)
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Weather
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Thursday 2 July
17°C
10°C
46 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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