Estimated Time: Under Three Hours - Living the Sheep's Head Way

Coomkeen Loop Walk | Sheep’s Head Way

August 23, 2014 by Dunmanus

Coomkeen Sheep's Head Loop Walk West Cork

From the ridge of the Sheep’s Head peninsula, the Coomkeen Loop Walk offers wonderful views

Look out over Whiddy Island, Bantry Bay, and the Beara peninsula. And take in views along the peninsula before heading down to walk quiet country lanes in the fertile valley where Durrus Cheese is made.

Coomkeen Loop Walk Route

To begin the Coomkeen Loop Walk, drive from Durrus village taking the main road for Kilcrohane and after St. James’s Church of Ireland take the first right, continue on until you reach a crossroads and take the option for Coomkeen (straight on). This road will take you all the way to the car park at Boolteenagh.

From the car park at Boolteenagh, way marker no. 31 set out off road in a southwesterly direction along the ridge before you reach way marker no. 49 you will see “Lough Na Fuilla” (Lake of the Blood) straight ahead of you. Turn left here after crossing over a timber stile, way marker 20 CM.

Follow a track (The old lake road) in a southerly direction which will eventually lead onto a tarred road. Go straight on here at way marker no. 16 CM, past the junction for Fahane and Gerahies until you reach a finger post sign for “Coomkeen”. Take a left here and continue along the road again until you reach two more sets of finger post signs, take the “Coomkeen Loop option at each. Continue back to the car park at Boolteenagh along the road, passing the turn off for “Durrus Cheese” enroute.

Note : Be aware of weather conditions and cut away peat bogs along the loop walk. Please do not exit marked trails only on marked routes. No dogs are allowed on The Sheep’s Head Way.

The Coomkeen Loop Walk is one of 20 colour-coded Sheep’s Head Way loop walks.

Download GPX File:	Coomkeen Loop GPX File
View the route in 3D on Google Earth:	Download Coomkeen Loop Walk KMZ file
Start/Finish:	Durrus Trailhead and drive to the Boolteenagh car park.
Grade:	Easy
Arrow Colour:	Follow the orange arrows & yellow 'walking man' markers
Distance:	6.8 km (approx)
Estimated time:	2 hours 30 mins (based on average walking speed of 3 km per hour)
Metres Climbed/ Ascent:	433 metres
Maximum Height:	222 metres
Dogs Allowed?	No
Minimum Gear:	Walking boots, rain gear, fluid, and a mobile phone.

Barnageehy Loop Walk | Sheep’s Head Way

February 5, 2014 by Dunmanus

Barnageehy Loop Walk on the Sheep’s Head Way is a peaceful walk through gorgeous Irish countryside

You’ll enjoy the wonderful views over patchwork fields and moorlands as you walk you walk the quiet roads around Durrus and explore country tracks with views over Bantry and the West Cork hills.

Barnageehy Loop Walk Details

To begin the Barnageehy Loop Walk, drive from Durrus village to the Car Park at Barnageehy.

Take the old creamery road from Durrus, passing Wiseman’s Hardware Store, and continue on along this road until you reach the N71 and take a right here.

The N71 will take you all the way uphill until you reach the car park at Barnageehy. At the Sheep’s Head Way finger post sign, turn right into the car park. There is a sign for Glanlough there also.

To reach Barnageehy from Bantry, drive from Bantry taking the N71 passing The Westlodge Hotel and the turn off for The Sheep’s Head peninsula en route. Turn right at the junction for Skibbereen and Ballydehob and the N71 will take you all the way uphill until you reach the car park at Barnageehy. At the Sheep’s Head Way finger post sign turn in to your right to the car park, there is a sign for Glanlough there also.

From the car park at Barnageehy set out along the road in a westerly direction following the yellow walking man way markers. At way marker no. 634 turn left off road and continue on up a track in a southerly direction at first before heading in a southwesterly direction with forestry on your left as you ascend. When you reach way marker no. 619, turn right here to descend down to the public road going over a timber stile, way marker no. 603. Turn right here and follow the road back to the car park at Barnageehy passing by a timber stile, way marker no. 600 and a gate with an information sign on it enroute.

Note : Be aware of weather conditions and cut away peat bogs along the loop walk. Be aware of any livestock on the land, especially any Bulls. Please do not exit marked trails only on marked routes. No dogs are allowed on the Sheep’s Head Way.

The Barnageehy Loop Walk is one of 20 colour-coded Sheep’s Head Way loop walks.

Download GPX File for GPS:	Barnageehy Loop Walk file
View in 3D on Google Earth:	Download Barnageehy Loop Walk file
Start/Finish:	Durrus Trailhead and drive to the Barnageehy car park.
Grade:	Moderate
Arrow Colour:	Follow the green arrows & yellow 'walking man' markers
Distance:	7.7 km (approx)
Estimated time:	2 hours 45 mins (based on average walking speed of 3 km per hour)
Metres Climbed/ Ascent:	546 metres
Maximum Height:	301 metres
Dogs Allowed?	No
Minimum Gear:	Walking boots, rain gear, fluid, and a mobile phone.

Funeral Path Loop Walk

February 3, 2014 by Dunmanus

The Funeral Path Loop Walk from Kilcrohane forms part of the Sheep’s Head Way walking route

From the map board, walk in a southwesterly direction, passing the Bay View Bar on your left. You’ll find the Sheep’s Head Way ‘yellow man’ and funeral path finger post sign on the wall beyond O’Mahony’s shop which will point left (to the Paddock).

Continue on the roadway until you turn right up a stone step over and off the road passing way marker no. 402 along the way. Continue along through farm land until you will cross the public road and over a stone bridge at way marker no. 398 and on through farm land again.

At way marker 394, you will step over a stone stile and onto the road again. Continue along until way marker no. 392 and go off road. Follow the main Sheep’s Head Man West ‘yellow man’ poles passing by a stony strand known locally as “Trá Beag” (the small beach) until you reach a farm gate and cattle grid at way marker no. 382.

At this point you will see the main public road in front of you. Here, turn right and return to Kilcrohane village via the public roadway.

Download GPX File:	Download Funeral Path Loop Walk GPX file
View the route in 3D on Google Earth:	Download Funeral Path Loop Walk KMZ file
Start/Finish:	Kilcrohane trailhead.
Grade:	Easy
Distance:	6.1 km (approx)
Estimated time:	1 hr 15 mins (based on average walking speed of 3 km per hour)
Metres Climbed/ Ascent:	51 metres
Maximum Height:	40 metres
Dogs Allowed?	No
Minimum Gear:	Walking boots, rain gear, fluid, and a mobile phone.