Living the Sheep's Head Way

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Glantanaw Loop Walk

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Thes satisfying 2.5 hour Glantanaw Loop Walk is part of the Drimoleague Heritage Walkways network

It introduces you to the beautiful natural environment of inland West Cork.

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 fields of Bawnbue and Kealnine which show off some of the richest farmland in West Cork. View the old Leyton’s school house as you walk, and take to the hills at Glanathnaw en route.

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 purchase the Drimoleague Heritage Walkways book at Centra Drimoleague for more details.

A visit to the Drimoleague Inn would make a lovely end to a very satisfying walk!

Drimoleague Heritage Loop Walk

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The Drimoleague Heritage Loop Walk is a two-hour walk which combines village landscape, hilltop panorama, woodland and riverbank.

Starting at Drimoleague Railway Yard in Drimoleague village in the heart of West Cork, your walk takes you past All Saint’s 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. Now you’ll find modern glamping pods there at the Top of the Rock Pod Pairc and Walking Centre!

From 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.

Drimoleague Heritage Walkways

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The Drimoleague Heritage Walkways make up a unique network of six wonderful walks, covering an area of nine miles in the West Cork countryside.

Drimoleague was once the busiest railway junction in West Cork with no fewer than three platforms, has now become the hub of walking networks in the area: the ‘walker’s junction’ of West Cork.

Here the acclaimed Sheep’s Head Way walking route converges with the six Drimoleague Heritage Walkways, and then continues northwards to Kealkill. St Finbarr’s Pilgrim Way, a 37km ancient pilgrim path to St Finbarr’s hermitage at Gougane Barra, also starts here.

The Dunmanway network of walks is accessible from Drimoleague and, with a few green road stretches, you can find your way to the walks at Carrigfadda, near Rosscarbery. Skibbereen is just 13km away, with Lough Hyne, Baltimore and other coastal walks within driving distance.

Drimoleague is an attractive West Cork village, and the Top of the Rock Pod Páirc provides excellent accommodation. Meanwhile, the Drimoleague Inn provides a place for refreshments after your walk!

Choose a Drimoleague Heritage Walk, and get walking!

Top of the Rock Walking Centre

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High above the village of Drimoleague in unspoilt West Cork there is a spot where people feel compelled to pause and reflect on the beauty of the stunning landscape around them.

Now it’s become home to a state-of-the-art walking centre, a base from which to explore West Cork’s spectacular and peaceful hiking trails. You can either sign up for walks led by West Cork Walking, arrange guided tours with them, or use the centre here as the base for your walking group’s activities.

Drimoleague is the junction of West Cork for walkers. From here, they can set out on the famous Sheep’s Head Way route which takes them through to Bantry and on to the very end of the Sheep’s Head peninsula. Or they can walk an Irish camino, and follow in St. Finbarr’s footsteps on a two-day walk from the top of the rock to Gougane Barra where St. Finbarr established a spiritual retreat.

‘Barr an Carraig’ or ‘Top of the Rock’, has always attracted people – from St. Finbarr in the sixth century, to today’s walkers – who appreciate the place’s power to touch the soul.

The new walking centre is an ideal base for anyone who’d like to connect with the landscape in this beautiful part of Ireland.
 

Location:
Drimoleague, Co. Cork
Open:7 days, all year round.
Email:[email protected]
Tel:00 353 (0)28 31547
Wheelchair accessible?No
Website:http://topoftherock.ie/walking-centre/
TripAdvisor:Yes
Google Maps:Yes
Facebook:Yes
Twitter:@Podpairc

Whiddy Island Loop Walk

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Whiddy Island Loop Walk
Whiddy Island Treasure Hunt

Take a walk on Whiddy Island – one of West Cork’s seven inhabited islands!

Whiddy Island is situated in Bantry Bay between the Beara and Sheep’s Head peninsulas, and it’s home to a walk that offers spectacular views across Bantry Bay and the neighbouring landscapes.

Whiddy Island Ferry

Whiddy Island Walk Details

From the Bantry West trailhead, set out along the N71 to the pier and take the Whiddy Island Ferry. The trip over Bantry Bay gives you a stunning view of Bantry House, and takes approximately 20 minutes, depending on weather conditions.

From the Whiddy Island Trailhead set out along the road. At the T-junction take a left at the finger post sign taking the Tranaha option. At the next way marker take a right over a timber stile and continue off-road uphill along a path. At the second timber stile, you will begin to descend the hill. You will encounter two more timber stiles before re-joining the road again at the fourth timber stile and continue on to your right.

From here on follow the road and way markers back to the trailhead, and maybe take a moment to stop at the Bank House pub before you make your way back to Bantry.
 

Please note the seasonal ferry times to Whiddy Island before setting out from the pier at Bantry.

Start/Finish:Whiddy Island Trailhead
Grade:Moderate
Distance:1.6 km (approx)
Estimated time:1 hour (based on average walking speed of 3 km per hour)
Metres Climbed/ Ascent:75 metres
Maximum Height:40 metres
Dogs Allowed?No
Minimum Gear:Walking boots, rain gear, fluid, and a mobile phone.

Sheep’s Head Way

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The Sheep’s Head Way walking route has a worldwide reputation as Ireland’s best-loved coastal walking trail

The West Cork walking trail traces the coastline of the Sheep’s Head peninsula – its beauty enhanced by the magnificent views it offers across Bantry and Dunmanus bays.

Whether you walk the whole 88km hiking route along the West Cork stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, or choose one of the 20 loop walks on offer, you’ll be captivated by the unspoilt beauty of the Sheep’s Head Way.

The walking trails begin in the historic West Cork market town of Bantry. The main route passes through breathtaking, unspoilt scenery including high ridges up to 365 metres, coastal paths, small roads and boreens. It also takes in the lovely coastal villages of Durrus, Ahakista, and Kilcrohane.

As you walk the route, enjoy views across the West Cork islands, and our neighbouring Mizen and Beara peninsulas.

These fabulous West Cork walking routes are clearly marked and are accessible to anyone with basic levels of experience and fitness.

Way-marked loop walks along the Sheep’s Head Way provide shorter walking trails suitable for easier one-day excursions. Additional routes extend the Sheep’s Head Way eastwards to Drimoleague and Kealkill and onto the Mizen at Mount Corrin, south-west of Durrus.

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Sheep’s Head Way Section 2: Boolteenagh to Glanlough

Sheep’s Head Way section 2 offers you a beautiful ridge walk with views to both sides over Bantry Bay and the lush valley of Coomkeen. IV 95052 45241 At the top of the ridge, a track turns off from the road. Along this section are several cairns constructed when the first Ordnance Survey maps were […]

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Featured Accommodation

Tíg na Fáilte Holiday Home

Tíg na Fáilte is a comfortable and welcoming holiday home on West Cork’s stunning Sheep’s Head peninsula. This lovely Irish holiday home on West Cork’s Sheep’s Head peninsula offers wonderful views of Dunmanus Bay from the living room, kitchen and all three bedrooms. The master bedroom with double bed and en-suite, is on the first […]

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This project has been supported by Cork County Council & the LEADER programme under the Rural Development Programmes 2007-13 and 2017-2021.