Carriganass Walks

January 8, 2014 by Dunmanus

Carriganass Castle on the outskirts of Kealkill village is the starting point for a number of walking routes which offer you panoramic views of the West Cork countryside.

Two short loop walks leave from the castle gates and offer stunning views over the West Cork countryside and Bantry Bay. The Srón na Gaoithe walk and the Póc an Tairbh route form extensions to the famous Sheep’s Head Way walking route.

Alternatively, you might choose to walk from here to the famous Kealkill Stone Circle, situated high above the village.

Carriganass Castle is a key staging post on the Beara-Breifne Way, a walk which retraces Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare’s epic march from West Cork to Leitrim.

Carriganass is also the starting point for a walk with a strong spiritual meaning.

‘The Pilgrim’s Way’ walk leads you from the gates of Carriganass over the hills to the lake and chapel at Gougane Barra. Part of the longer ‘St. Finbarr’s Way’, this walk – Slí Bharra – commemorates St. Finbarr’s fifth-century walk from Drimoleague, inland of Kealkill, on his way to Gougane Barra where he established a spiritual retreat.

Póc an Tairbh Loop Walk

January 7, 2014 by Dunmanus

The Póc an Tairbh Loop Walk is a three-hour walking route which offers spectacular views across the valleys that cluster around Carriganass Castle, just outside Kealkill village in West Cork.

The walk’s name – Póc an Tairbh – is an Irish phrase that means ‘the bull’s pocket’, and it’s the name of one of the hills that dominate the skyline here, near the shores of Bantry Bay.

This loop walk takes you from the Carriganass Castle gates up into the hills that overlook the Borlin valley. Enjoy views over the mountains and Bantry bay, visit a Bronze Age Stone Row, or call in to a contemporary basketry workshop and organic farm on your way.

From the castle entrance, follow the road to the left, past the picnic area. After 0.5km, you will cross a bridge over the Owenbeg River.

At the junction beyond the bridge, follow the left fork. The road is narrow with sharp bends, so watch out for traffic.

Follow the winding road for 1.75 km until you reach a marker and stile which lead left, off the road, onto a dirt track. Look out for the wealth of birdlife here. Blackbirds, thrushes, robins, tits, sparrows, crows, ravens, pigeons and pheasants can often be sighted (and heard) here.

Follow the way markers to the crest of the hill, passing a ruined house (cabhlach) on the left. You are now in the Bull’s Pocket (Póc an Tairbh).

From here, you can look out across Bantry Bay to the west, and Kealkill village to the south, and the Sheha hills to the east.
At the second cabhlach, in the hollow of the hill, follow the way markers to the right. This path will lead you to a small stile.

Cross the stile to enter a small forest plantation and fire break.

Cnoc Baoi, the highest peak in West Cork, is to your north, and the Sugar Loaf mountain can be seen in the distant west.
Follow the fire break to a stile which emerges on Barr an Adhmaid (Top of the Timber) road.You can now see the Borlin Valley, one of the three valleys around Carriganass Castle. Turn right onto the Barr an Adhmaid road, and walk for about 2km to the Maughanasilly crossroads.

You are now on the route taken by O’Sullivan Beare on the tragic retreat to Leitrim in January 1603.

East of the crossroads, you’ll see the evidence of other generations’ presence on this landscape in the form of a Bronze Age Stone Row. You’ll also see evidence of the quarry from which stone for Carriganass Castle was originally sourced.

About 150 metres north of here you’ll find the contemporary basketry workshop and organic farm. Visitors are more than welcome to call in!

To head back to Carriganass Castle from here, follow the signs and roadway that take you around the lake, and past the quarry from which the castle sandstone was originally sourced.

To extend the walk for another hour, you can link into the Srón na Gaoithe loop walk at the crossroads.

Srón na Gaoithe Loop Walk

January 7, 2014 by Dunmanus

This loop walk leads you from picturesque Carriganass Castle in Kealkill up into the West Cork hills, with wonderful views across Bantry Bay.

It’s name ‘Srón na Gaoithe’ means ‘nose of the wind’, but hopefully you’ll have fine weather on the day you walk!

From the entrance of Carriganass Castle follow the road to the left past the picnic area. After 0.5 km, you will cross a bridge over the Owenbeg River.

At the junction beyond the bridge, follow the right fork, gradually ascending into the foothills above you.

After about 2.5km, you’ll see a stile on your left. Leave the roadway, and cross the stile. Follow the way markers along the new plantation track which ascends sharply as it brings you to the crest of the hill of Knockbreteen.

From the top of the hill, follow the way markers west alongside the fence. Be careful here on the rough terrain.

Watch out for the small stile, and use it to cross to the other side of the fence.

This spot offers panoramic views across the three valleys which surround Carriganass Castle. See Cnoc Baoi – the highest peak in County Cork to the north – and Bantry to the west.

Follow the markers until there is a dip in the ridge, and then turn to the north and descend the steep firebreak over boggy wet ground to a stile.

Cross the stile to reach the Maugha Road.

Cnoc an Air (the Hill of Slaughter) can be seen across the valley.

At the roadway, follow the sign to the left for 0.4km to reach the Maughanasilly crossroads.

Immediately east of the crossroads, visit the Bronze Age Stone Row on the left. For a more contemporary diversion, call in to the basketry workshop and organic farm 150 metres to the north.

To head back to Carriganass Castle from here, follow the signs and roadway that take you around the lake. The signs lead you past the quarry which was the source of the original stone for Carriganass Castle.

To extend the walk for another hour, you can link into the Póc an Tairbh loop walk at the crossroads.