The Sheep’s Head Loop Walks in West Cork give you a marvellous introduction to the coastal walks and lush farmland along our Wild Atlantic walking trails
Explore the Sheep’s Head peninsula – a European Destination of Excellence – Whiddy Island, and the lush farmland around Bantry and Drimoleague.
Easy to Follow Walking Trails
All of the stunning Sheep’s Head loop walks are colour-coded, and so each route is easy to follow. The self-guided walker can choose from a great variety of rewarding walking experiences. West Cork walking guides are also available, and scheduled walks can be found on our event calendar.
Each of the Sheep’s Head loop walks will take you between one and seven hours to complete. We offer you full details about the length and difficulty of each loop walk on each walk’s page so that you can choose the walking trail best suited to you. The Sheep’s Head loop walks radiate from trailheads at Drimoleague, Bantry, Ahakista, Kilcrohane, Black Gate, and Tooreen near the tip of the Sheep’s Head peninsula.
The walks invite you to explore the Sheep’s Head peninsula – a European Destination of Excellence – and give you a taste of what it is like to walk the complete Sheep’s Head Way around the peninsula’s unspoilt coastline.
At every turn, you’ll find spectacular views across Dunmanus Bay, Bantry Bay, the West Cork islands, and our neighbouring Mizen and Beara peninsulas.
The Eastern Trails
On the eastern side, the Sheep’s Head Way extends to Drimoleague, Mealagh, Kealkill and Carriganass Castle, linking up with the Beara-Breifne Way en route to Gougane Barra. The inland loop walks provide new pleasures as the rolling hills and lush farmland of West Cork come into view.
Take the iconic walk to the Sheep’s Head Lighthouse. Walk the Peakeen Ridge, or enjoy the beauty of the Coomkeen Walk (pictured). There’s great variety here for hikers of all abilities.
As you explore the West Cork landscape, you’ll find numerous monastic, archaeological and historical sites. Take in views across Sheep’s Head lakes, blowholes, the West Cork islands and the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean as it stretches towards America.
This area is predominantly a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and National Heritage Area (NHC). In 2009, the Sheep’s Head Way was recognised as a European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) and the award recognises the high-quality and sustainable tourism on offer in this beautiful part of Ireland.
Walk the Sheep’s Head Way and start to explore one of the most scenic places in Ireland!
