Hike from the village of Kilcrohane to the coast at Farranamanagh and on, via ‘the old road’, to Ahakista.
Sheep’s Head Way Section 8 Distance: 6.5km (4.07 miles)
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The Sheep’s Head Way Section 8 route follows the main road out of the village of Kilcrohane on the Sheep’s Head peninsula. The left turn by the church takes you to the top of the Goat’s Path (Finn McCool’s Seat), and Seefin.
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0.5km east from Kilcrohane the path turns right off the main road over a stone stile into a field. Keep to the field boundary and then over a high wall with steps. Across a couple of fields, you join a small boreen which takes to down to the wide bay of Farranamanagh.
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Where the boreen meets the coast is Cois Cuain – a garden with many exotic plants. The path goes between the sea and Farranamanagh Lake and then climbs up the headland after crossing a stone flag bridge.
Site of Bardic School
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The site of a Bardic School. You may wish to stop and compose a poem of your own? If not, continue on to where the path crosses the road at the Dromnea parking area.
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Cross over the road and follow the path over a stone stile to the Poet’s Well – a recently restored holy well. Over the stone stile, the path turns to the right along the old road between Kilcrohane and Ahakista. At 430 is the junction with the Seefin Loop.
Marker 440 (IV 85219 39107) marks a junction with the Barán Loop Walk.
After the old green road becomes a track and then a road (403, IV 85871 39381) you arrive at Hillcrest B&B. You can take a short diversion here to visit the Roskerrig burial ground and then continue down the hill towards Ahakista.
At marker 444 (IV 86096 39533) there is a memorial to the late Tom Whitty who was instrumental in creating the Sheep’s Head Way walking route. He truly deserves your thanks as you pause for a moment.
From here, walk up the path to the Gorteanish stone circle. Then continue on across some rough ground until you cross a stone stile at 459 (IV 86376 40161) onto a road and turn right, downhill.
After 330 meters (462), the next section of the route leaves the road to the left over another stone stile and begins to climb uphill. If you are breaking your journey here, continue down the road into Ahakista (IV 86932 39800).
Alternative routes to Ahakista
From Kilcrohane, you can choose to walk up to Seefin to join the Seefin Loop, or from post 430 up the south side of Seefin, or from post 440, up Roskerrig on the Barán Loop. All of these routes can be used to get up to the ridge before descending to Ahakista where you’ll find pubs the restaurant at Arundel’s By The Pier with its great views across Kitchen Cove, and Heron Gallery Café and Gardens (seasonal): all fine places to relax!
