Walking in Ireland

Since this guide book covers the whole country, only a few walks will be within easy reach if you have only one base. A holiday touring Ireland by car, on the other hand, staying somewhere different every couple of days, would enable you to sample a wide selection of walks. A particularly good base for a holiday of three days to a week is Killarney, with about half a dozen walks in southwest Ireland nearby.

14 car tours, 22 long and short walks, 30 picnic suggestions
136 pages + touring map; large-scale (1:50,000) topo maps
4th ed, 2010; ISBN 978-1-85691-385-0; UK retail price £12.99 / USA retail price $17.99

Table of contents:

Preface 5
Recommended books 6
Getting about 7
Picnicking 8
Picnic suggestions 8

TOURING 12
1 DUBLIN BEYOND THE PALE – THE WICKLOW MOUNTAINS 14
2 THE SOUTHEAST 19
3 KILKENNY AND TIPPERARY – WHERE THE HEART OF IRELAND BEATS 21
4 WEST CORK – THE IRISH RIVIERA 26
5 THE RING OF BEARA 30
6 THE RING OF KERRY 35
7 THE DINGLE PENINSULA 39
8 THE HAUNTING LANDSCAPES OF THE BURREN 44
9 GALWAY, CONNEMARA AND JOYCE’S COUNTRY 47
10 MAYO, AROUND IRELAND’S SACRED MOUNTAIN 50
11 SLIGO, BENBULBIN AND YEATS’S COUNTRY 53
12 ISOLATED LANDSCAPES IN THE FAR NORTH – DONEGAL 57
13 THE ANTRIM COAST AND THE GIANT’S CAUSEWAY 62
14 COUNTY DOWN – A LIVING HERITAGE 65

Country code for walkers and motorists 68

WALKING
Waymarking, guides 70
Maps 71
Right of way 71
What to take 72
Climate and weather 73
Mountain safety 74
Where to stay 75
Organisation of the walks 76

THE WICKLOW MOUNTAINS
1 Glendalough – the monastery, The Spink, and Poulanass Waterfall 78
2 Glendalough – along the Upper Lake into the Glenealo Valley 82
3 Lough Dan 84

BEARA PENINSULA
4 Allihies and the Slieve Miskish Mountains 87
5 Bear Island 90
6 Glen Inchaquin 92

IVERAGH PENINSULA
7 Muckross and the Killarney National Park 94
8 From Lord Brandon’s Cottage along Old Kenmare road to Muckross House 99
9 Carrauntoohil, the highest mountain in Ireland 103
10 Derrynane 106
11 From Waterville round Lough Currane 108

DINGLE PENINSULA
12 Anascaul 111
13 Mount Eagle 113

THE WEST COAST
14 The Burren 115
15 Connemara National Park 119
16 Along Killary Harbour to Rosroe 121
17 Inishbofin 123
18 Croagh Patrick 125
19 Kings Mountain and Benbulbin 127

DONEGAL
20 Slieve League 129

NORTHERN IRELAND
21 The Giant’s Causeway 131
22 Glenariff Forest Park 133

Transport timetables 134
Index 135
Glossary 136
Fold-out touring map inside back cover

Aasleigh Falls 50-1
Aghadoe Church & Round Tower 38
Aghaviller Monastic Site 21
Aillwee Cave 44, 46
Alcock & Brown Monument 10, 48
Allihies 30, 31, 87, 88-9, 89
Anascaul (village, lake) 39, 111, 112, 112
Anharc Mór 58, 129, 130
Antrim Coast 62-4
Ardara 57, 58
Ardglass 65, 66
Ardgroom 30, 32
Ardmore 19, 20
Arklow 14, 18
Audley’s Castle 66
Aughnanure Castle 47
Avoca 17
Avondale Forest Park 14, 17
Ballina 50, 52
Ballycastle 62, 64
Ballyconneely 48
Ballycrovane Ogham Stone 32, 34
Ballydehob 28
Ballydonegan Beach 31
Ballyferriter 39, 41
Ballyhack 19
Ballynahinch Castle 47, 48
Ballynalacken Castle 44
Ballyporeen 24
Ballyvaghan 44, 45
Baltimore 26, 28
Bantry 26, 28
Barley Lake 34
Barnesmore Gap 57, 61
Bear Haven 30
Bear Island 30, 34, 90, 91
Beara Peninsula 2, 6, 9, 32-3, 87, 88-9, 89
Ring of, The 30-4
Way, The 87, 88-9, 90, 91
Beaufort 35, 38
Benbulbin 54, 55, 127, 128, 128
Black Head 44, 45
Blasket Islands 40-1
Blennerville 42, 43
Blessington 14, 16
Brandon (village) 43
Mountain 42, 110
Point 4, 39, 43
Brittas Bay 14, 18
Bunglass (village) 57, 58, 129
Cliffs of 129, 130
Burren, The 44-6, 45, 115, 116-7, 118
Way, The 116-7
Burtonport 59
Bushmills 62, 64
Cahir 21, 23, 24
Cahir Park 8
Cahirciveen 35, 37
Cappoquin 21, 22
Carnlough 62
Carrauntoohil (mountain) 103, 104, 105
Carrick 57, 58
Carrick-a-Rede 62, 63
Carrick-on-Suir 21, 22
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery 53, 56
Cashel 21, 25
Castlebar 50, 52
Castlegregory 39, 43
Castlemaine 39
Castlemartyr 20
Castletown-Bearhaven 30
Castletownshend 26, 27
Castle Ward 65, 66
Castlewellan 65, 67
Cleggan 47, 48
Clifden 47, 48
Cliffony 53, 54
Cloghane 43
Clogheen 21, 24
Cloghoge River 15, 84, 85, 86
Clonakilty 26, 27
Clonbur 49
Clonmel 21, 22
Clough 66
Comber 65, 69
Cong 47, 49
Connemara National Park 47, 48, 49, 119, 119, 120
Connor Pass 39, 42, 111
Coomakesta Pass 35, 37
Cork, 19, 20, 26
Corrofin 44, 46
Craggagh (village, tomb) 44, 45
Creevelea Abbey 10, 54, 56
Creevykeel 55
Croagh Patrick (mountain) 50, 51, 124-5, 126, 126
Crookhaven 9, 27, 28
Crossmolina 50, 52
Cushendall 62, 63
Cushendun 62, 63
Delamont Country Park 68
Delphi 50
Derreen Gardens 9, 30, 32
Derrybawn Mountain 78, 82-3
Derrynane 10, 35, 37, 38, 106, 107, 107
Dhulough Pass 50
Dingle 1, 13, 37, 39, 40, 42
Dingle Peninsula 4, 10, 39-43
Dinish Island and Cottage 9, 35, 96-7
Donegal 57, 58-9, 61
Downpatrick 65, 66, 67
Dromahair 53, 56
Drumbeg Stone Circle 27
Drumcliff 53,54
Dunboy Castle 30
Dundrum 66
Dungarvan 19, 20
Dungloe 57, 59
Dunluce Castle 62-3, 64
Dunquin 39, 40
Dunseverick Castle 64, 131, 132
Dursey Sound 30, 31
Dysert O’Dea 44, 46
Ennis 44, 46
Errew Abbey 10, 50, 52
Eyeries 30, 31
Fanore Beach 45, 115, 116-7, 118
Fermoyle Beach 43
Gallarus Oratory 41
Galway 47
Gap of Dunloe 38
Garretstown Strand 26
Giant’s Causeway 11, 62, 64, 131, 132
Glandore 27
Glenakeefe River 8, 21, 23
Glenarm 62
Glenarriff Forest Park 11, 62, 63, 64, 133
Glenbeigh 35, 37
Glencar 10, 35, 36, 38
Glencar Lough 52, 53
Glencar Waterfall 53
Glencolumbkille 11, 57, 58
Glendalough 8, 14, 16-7, 18, 78, 79, 80-1, 82-3, 83
Glenealo River 79, 82-3
Glengarriff Nature Reserve 9, 26, 29, 30, 34
Glengesh Pass 57, 58
Gleniff Horseshoe Road 53, 55
Glen Inchaquin 9, 33, 92, 92, 93
Gleninsheen Wegde Tomb 46
Glenveagh Natonal Park 11, 57, 60, 61
Goleen 28
Gougane Barra 9, 26, 29
Grange 54
Hags Glen (Carrauntoohil) 103, 104, 105
Ilnacullin 9, 30
Inch 39
Inishbofin 48, 122-3, 124
Iveragh Peninsula 36-7, 106, 107
Keimaneigh, Pass of 26, 29
Kenmare 30, 33
Kerry, Ring of 35-8, 108-9, 110
Way, The 103
Kilcar 57
Kilcrohane 26, 28
Kilfenora 44, 46
Kilgeever Abbey 10, 50, 51
Kilkenny 21
Kilkiernan High Crosses 22, 23
Killarney (town) 35, 38, 95
Lakes 10, 36, 94-8, 96-7
Killary Harbour 48, 49, 50, 120-1, 122
Killinaboy 46
Killough 66
Killybegs 57
Killyleagh 68
Kilmaganny 21
Kilmalkedar Church 42
Kilree Monastic Site 21
Kings Mountain 127, 128
Kinsale 26
Knocknarea Mountain 53, 54, 56
Knockgraffon Motte 21, 25
Knockmealdown Mountains 23-5
Kylemore Abbey 47-9
Ladies’ View (Killarney) 9, 35, 36
Lahardaun 52
Laragh 14, 16
Lauragh 30, 32
Leamaneh Castle 46
Leenaun 47, 50
Lehanore Ring Fort 30, 31
Lehinch 44
Letterfrack 47, 49, 119, 120
Letterkenny 57, 60
Liffey River 16
Liscannor 44
Lisdoonvarna 44
Lismore 21, 23
Lissadel House 54
Liss Ard Experience 27
Lord Brandon’s Cottage 98-9, 100
Lough
Anascaul 39, 111, 112, 112
Caragh 35, 38
Currane 108-9, 110, cover
Dan 15, 84-5, 86
Eske 57, 61
Gill 53, 56
Ine 26, 27
Leane 36, 95, 96-7, 99
Macgillycuddy’s Reeks (mountains) 10, 38, 103, 104
Manorhamilton 53, 55
Maum Cross 47
Maumturk Mountains 47
Meenaneary 58
Meeting of the Waters (Co Wicklow) 14, 17
Milltown Malbay 44
Minard Castle 39
Mitchelstown Caves 21, 24
Mizen Head 26, 28, 29
Moher, Cliffs of 10, 44, 46
Moll’s Gap 35, 36
Mount Eagle 40-1, 113, 114
Mount Stewart 65
Mourne Mountains 67
Muckross
Friary 94, 96-7, 98
House 35, 94, 96-7, 98, 102
Lake 35, 94, 95, 96-7
Mullaghmore 53-4, 55
Murlough Bay 11, 62, 63
Murreagh 41
Murrisk 50, 51, 125, 126, 126
Narin (Naran) 59
Nendrum 67, 69
Newcastle (Co Down) 65, 66
Newcastle (Co Tipperary) 22
Newmills 60
Newtownards 65, 69
Oughterard 47
Parke’s Castle 56
Passage East 19
Pollaphuca Reservoir 8, 16
Portaferry 65
Portrush 62, 64
Poulanass Waterfall 78, 81, 82-3
Poulnabrone Dolmen 46
Powerscourt House (gardens, waterfall) 8, 14, 15
Rathcormack 53, 54
Rathdrum 14, 17, 18
Recess 47
Rosroe 120-1, 122
Ross Castle 35, 98-9, 102
Rossbeigh Strand 35, 37
Rosses Point 53
Roundstone 47
Roundwood 14
Russborough House 14, 16
St John’s Point 66
Sally Gap 14, 15
Schull 26, 28
Skibbereen 26, 28
Silent Valley 65, 67
Slea Head 10, 40-1
Slieve League (mountain) 58, 129, 130
Slieve Mish Mountains 39, 43
Slieve Miskish Mountains 30-1, 32-3, 88-9
Sligo 53, 56
Sneem 35, 36
Spelga Dam 65, 67
Spink, The 78, 79, 82-3
Staigue Fort 35, 37
Stradbally (Co Kerry) 43
(Co Waterford) 19, 20
Strandhill 53, 56
Strangford 65
Strangford Lough 65, 69
Stranorler 61
Struell Wells 11, 66
Suir River 9, 19, 22, 24
Swiss Cottage, The (Cahir) 21, 24, 25
Teelin 57
Timoleague Abbey 26
Tintern Abbey 8, 11, 19, 20
Tollymore Forest Park 11, 65, 67
Torc Waterfall 94, 96-7, 98
Tralee 39, 43
Tramore 19
Turlough Round Tower 50, 52
Twelve Pins, The (mountains) 47, 48, 119
Unionhall 27
Vee, The 21, 24
Ventry 40, 108-9
Waterford 19
Waterville 35, 37, 108-9, 110
Wegde Grave 30
Wellingtonbridge 19
Westport 50, 51
Wexford 19
White Strand (Beara Peninsula) 6
Wicklow (town) 14, 18
Gap 14, 16
Mountains 14-18
Way, The 80, 82-3
Youghal 19, 20

Ireland, 4th edition (published 2010); updated 7/9/18

Updates for walks and car tours (drives) throughout Ireland given below supplement those provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book you can “upgrade” to the latest edition at half price.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably by e-mail, to info@sunflowerbooks.co.uk.

We have recently returned from a holiday in Kerry (August 2009) when we used your lovely book, and have a few comments which may be of use to future readers.

Walk 14: We took walk 14 The Burren from 4th edition of Ireland book. We walked this on Thursday, 9th August 2018, a beautiful but windy day. We found it good to start, however we missed the turn up to the right described on p116. I noted a stone cairn and also a point where we went through a gate and the path did go on up, however it did not peter out. We carried on walking around the way marked Black Head Trail, which was good as far as it went but I cannot recommend it: the approx 3km scrambling up and down by a wall along a contour above the road but with no prospect of going uphill was horrible. We did finally meet up with the track uphill marked on the walk 14 route from the R477, and rejoined the walk from there. However my companion, not a seasoned walker, had strained his thighs on the rough rocky 3km wall part and winced the rest of the way, somewhat curtailing our pleasure in the wild views and the green valleys. On reviewing where we went wrong, I think the map suggests the cairn is further round Blackhead. Options to scramble up hill pathless were before the turn and view across Galway Bay. However, I did not use a local map, nor check with a compass. The key point I am making is that there is now a continuous waymarked route, the path does not peter out and so the point to start the scrambling uphill is not now clearly described. Hope this is helpful! It is otherwise good to find a little book with some well described walks: something Ireland does not yet do well. (User, 9/18)