The walks were officially opened on 25th July 2009 by Mr Séan O’Driscoll
(Group Chief Executive Glen Dimplex)

Full details of all the walks are included in the book A guide to The Sheep’s Head Way – Eastern Routes which is available locally or by mail order. Click on the Publications  page for more information and how to purchase.

Drimoleague Heritage Loop

A two-hour  National Loop walk combining village landscape, hilltop panorama, woodland and riverbank.  Starting  at Drimoleague Railway Yard in Drimoleague, your walk takes you past All Saints Church, the Old Graveyard and the Famine Pit. A steep climb takes you to the Top of the Rock where the old village once stood. Here you can survey the hills to the north before descending into the River Ilen Valley for a lovely riverbank walk, which eventually brings you back to the village.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Drimoleague Heritage Loop walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk.  www.westcorkwalking.com

Moyny Bridge Walk

 A pleasant  one and a half hour walk along banks of the Ilen River, with some lovely views on your return journey. Starting point is Drimoleague Railway Yard, where you take the Quarry Road to a point where you descend into the Ilen River Gorge. Here you take in the history of Moyny bridge, cross two more footbridges and enjoy the wooded riverbank until the walk finally draws you upwards over the ridge and back to Drimoleague via the old Millards farm yard and the slate quarries.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Moyny Bridge Walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Glanatnaw Walk

A lengthy  2.5 hour countryside walk in a beautiful natural environment. Start at Moyny Bridge and continue westwards to Glandarta Bridge. Along the way you will pass through Moyny wood, alongside the old Meenies famine village. You will enjoy the rolling farmlands of Bawnbue and Kealnine, view the old Leyton’s school house and take to the hills at Glanathnaw. Crossing over the top you will descend via a forest road with lovely views to join the Bantry road. All of this walk is on minor tarred roads.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Glanatnaw walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Trawlebane Walk

A two hour walk from Glandarta Bridge to Vaughan’s Pass, passing through lovely and varied countryside and culminating in spectacular views of Bantry Bay. You will pass by the statue of Captain Francis O Neill who preserved a large part of the Irish traditional musical heritage  in Chicago. You will observe the homestead of the Downing sisters and finally you will pass by  a megalithic tomb called “The Queen’s table”, as you come in sight of Bantry down below.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Trawlebane walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Schronacarton Walk

This pleasant stroll starts at the Railway Yard and takes you through Drimoleague’s history leading to a restful amenity area at the Mall with a lovely picnic area.  It is a linear walk along a quiet country road. There is much history and folklore to discover along the way.

You can also download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Shronacarton walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Deelish Cascades Walk

Leaving Castledonovan Bridge, walk the old mass path along the banks of the Ilen River, with its cascades, cliffs and patchwork field systems. This linear walk takes about one hour. You get a real feel for the river, with its cascades, dippers and occasionally an otter. A huge river bend in the form of an ox bow is quite interesting, as are the archaeological features you can see from here, a mound at Seehanes, and a ringfort at Deelish.  The path joins a quiet road and continues to the  Ahanafunsion bridge amenity area.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Deelish Cascades Walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Alpaca Walk

NOTE THIS WALK IS NO LONGER A PUBLIC WALKWAY. To arrange a walk with the Alpacas or to enjoy the walk with your family you need to contact Emma at  028 31953 to arrange the walk. A small fee applies.

A gentle one kilometre stroll with a chance to meet the alpacas – perfect walk for all the family. Start at the car park at Castledonovan Bridge. Proceed down the quiet lane adjacent to Castledonovan School. From there on this walk is full of surprises…alpacas peeking over the hedges, giant rabbits, a lovely tea-room and a beautiful  view of the cascades. Small groups are welcomed (contact Emma 028 31953).

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Alpaca walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Glanaclohy Walk

A spectacular walk from Casteldonovan to the top of the hill, where you can see almost the entire West Cork coast. Beginning at the Castledonovan car park, you enjoy views of the west side of the castle as you take the quiet road for the hills. Up ahead is the great stone of Glanaclohy and behind it the house of George the Sky. Farther on you will enjoy the wonder of Coomanore Lake and feast your eyes on the magnificient vista all around the West Cork coast and particularly Bantry Bay.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Glanaclohy walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Mealagh Valley Walk

A challenging 10k walk, about half of which is on tarred roads. Once you get  to Coomanore Lake,  you are on the Mullaghmesha to Kealkill walk . This spectacular three and a half hour walk offers lovely views, history and heritage. An incredibly varied walk, from windswept mountain to deep woodland, with a megalithic tomb, a stone circle and the lovely village of Kealkil with its ancient Carriganass Castle as the terminus.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Mealagh Valley walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

Glanbannoo Walk

An invigorating one and three quarter hour walk on bog road, valley and ridge. Starting at Coomanore Lake, this walk takes you westward to Lough Bofinne. It has quite spectacular views along the ridge, deep mossy woodlands, and yet at no point is it too rugged and steep to be described as more than “moderate” in difficulty.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about the Glanbanoo walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com

St Finbarr’s Pilgrimage

Stretching from the Top of the Rock, Drimoleague, to Gougane Barra, at a distance of 31km, this two day walk follows in the footsteps of Saint Finbarr who visited Drimoleague in the 6th century. The walk passes through Kealkill, taking in part of the Carriganass walks on the way. The walk arrives at Gougane Barra not by road but by way of the  Beara Breffni Way, a steep and spectacular descent, with the hermitage of St Finbarr visible below in its serene lake island setting.  The walk is difficult/challenging in places and should not be undertaken in poor weather.  Guided pilgrim walks on this route are available at  www.westcorkwalking.com.

You can download free of charge an MP3 audio file which contains a fifteen minute radio programme about this walk, with local heritage, folklore and things to watch out for as you walk. www.westcorkwalking.com. (Refer to the booklet A guide to the Sheep’s Head Way – Eastern Routes, Walks 1, 6, 8, 9 and 12, for more details)