Top Treks & Trails in the Ballyhouras
Start your adventure in the beautiful mountain range of Ballyhoura. The mountains lie along with the south-east Limerick and North Cork border, with a number of fantastic trails in the area. Take in the glorious scenery as your trek through one of Munster’s most beautiful mountain ranges. The Ballyhoura Walking Trails are available to download,
Download these fantastic trails through the Ballyhoura Trails Guide App
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The Ballyhouras
The Ballyhouras are best known for their terrific cycling tracks, however the mountains also offer a wide range of walks for both experienced hikers and leisurely strollers.
The Nature Trail is perfect for a family outing, taking 40 minutes to complete. Enjoy an easy to moderate 2km walk, where woodland animals are often seen along the trail.
Take the Greenwood Trail for a step up. Walkers adore this 5km trail through forests and streams. What a wonderful way to spend two hours of your day, taking in the stunning scenery all around.
Experience the Blackrock Loop for a more challenging trek through the Ballyhoura uplands. This strenuous hike follows an 11 km trail combining forest and mountain walking. The loop generally will take 4 hours 30 minutes to complete.
The Ballyhoura Way
The Ballyhoura Way is best accessed at one of seven key trailheads, which provide information map boards and car parking. These are located reasonably close to other services and facilities, such as shops, accommodation, restaurants and public transport. The trailheads are located as follows:
Trailhead 1 Johns Bridge
Johns Bridge is located on the R576 to Kanturk. A shop and filling station are located at the road junction.
Trailhead 2 Near Ballyhea
This trailhead is located at Kennedys Pub, just off the N20, and is 1km south of Ballyhea.
Trailhead 3 Green Wood Car Park, Glenosheen is 1km from the junction on R512 to Glenanaar.
Trailhead 4 Kilfinane
Kilfinane is located on the R517 and is 10km from Kilmallock, 15km from Mitchelstown, and 18km from Tipperary. The trailhead is located at Barrack Street, Kilfinane on the R517.
Trailhead 5 Ballylanders
Ballylanders is on the R513 and is 10km from Mitchelstown. The trailhead is located at the Commemoration Monument, Main Street, Ballylanders on the R513.
Trailhead 6 Lisvernane
Lisvernane is located on the R663 and is 10km from Tipperary. The trailhead is located at Christ the King Monument on the R663.
Trailhead 7 Tipperary Town
Tipperary Town is located on the N24, approximately 40 km from Limerick. The trailhead is located at the Esso Filling Station on the Limerick Road.
Glenair
Located in the heart of the Ballyhouras, the Glenair carpark is the starting and finishing point for the Canon Sheehan Loop. This 7km trail takes a wonderful route across the Ogeen River, by rockpools and through the incredible forestry of the Ballyhouras. Deemed a moderate walk, taking 2 hours 30 minutes.
Ballinaboola
Ballinaboola stretches across 6000 hectares of trails and forest roads, including two popular National Looped Walks the Ballinaboola Loop and the Knockaduv Loop. Both trails start and end at the Ballinaboola carpark, following either the green (Knockduv Loop) or purple (Ballinaboola Loop) arrows along the way.
Take the Knockaduv Loop for a shorter stroll through the woodlands. Enjoy the moderate 5km trail, which typically takes hikers 1 hour 30 minutes to complete. Or, brave the brilliant Ballinaboola Loop for a 10km hike that will take about 2 hours 30 minutes. A great way to start the day!
Recharge in the nearby areas; Ballinaboola is 4km from Ardpatrick and 9km from Charleville.
Keale River Walk
If you would like to get a real feel for an Irish woodland and river bank with at least forty shades of green then the Keale river walk is the perfect solution.
It is a 7km riverwalk between the two villages of Glenroe and Ballyorgan.
Keale River is a level walk fenced from start to finish with many little bridges in between. It is completely safe and ideal for families.
Go in at Ballydonoghue Bridge near Ballyorgan and travel along by the river. The start is through farmland and then you come to beautiful wood and a waterfall in the river. For anyone doing the walk-in October/November time, John Hennessy, a local man, advises to look out for the salmon jumping the waterfall.
It is peaceful and quiet, with very active wildlife such as otters, dippers, kingfishers, Herons and squirrels. You will also come accross one of the last oak tree woodland left in Ireland with many anemone, bluebells or mushrooms depending on the time of year.
It may be a good idea to prepare yourself for the walk with a visit to The Village Inn pub in Ballyorgan where the walk begins and finish off by relaxing in Dalys pub at the other side of the walk in Glenroe, Darragh Bridge.
Explore the many Ballyhoura Walks and trails in the links below;
Download Attychraan Loop Walk Map
Download Bernard Loop Walk Map
Download Knockduv Loop Walk - Ardpatrick Map
Download Ballinboola Woods Loop Walk - Ardpatrick Map
Download Darragh Hill Loop Walk Map
Download Blackrock Loop Walk Map
Download Molanna Loop Walk Map
Download Ballyorgan Loop Walk Map
Download Killavullen Loop Walk Map
Download Paradise Hill Loop Walk Map
Download Canon Sheehan Loop Walk Map
Ballyhoura Walking Trails have a fantastic array of videos that give an insight into the many walking routes to be experienced in the beautiful region of Ballyhoura, Ballyhoura Country Videos
