22 March 2024
10 great walks in Cork for Easter 2024
10 great walks in Cork to get you and the family out and about over the Easter Period .
Cork is in no shortage of incredible scenery, that’s best seen on foot. There’s plenty of easy walks in Cork to choose from whatever your level of fitness is - ideal for a family walk. Here are some of our favourite walking trails locally and also we venture into Tipperary with the Blackwater Way and County Waterford with its greenway and a great forest walk near Cappoquin.
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1. Old head of Kinsale Loop
This is a 6km walk or so near the Old head of Kinsale. This is a great Loop walk for you. This stunning 6km walk takes around 1.5 hours to complete making it both an easy and enjoyable walking trail, perfect for the entire family. Scenery is incredible - you can expect impressive coastal and cliff views over the Atlantic Ocean. Other points of interest along the trail include ruins of a Celtic fort believed to have been built in 100 BC and the black and white lighthouse.
The loop begins and ends at the Speckled Door Bar and Restaurant so food and beverages available when you finish in a very nice beer garden if the weather is kind
https://corkwalksandhikes.com/en/ballycotton-cliff-walk/
2. Ballycotton Cliff Walk
The Ballycotton Cliff Walk is a stunning cliff walk on the Cork coast. This 13km walk weaves its way along the Cork coast with great scenery and views of the lighthouse. This walk can be shortened to a 5km walk - a great family walk.
https://corkwalksandhikes.com/en/ballycotton-cliff-walk/
3. Mount Hillary Loop
The Mount Hillary Loop forest walk in Cork is around 10km long. Fantastic scenery for your Instagram feed. You will pass through woodland and along forest paths as you assent towards Mount Hillary. It is a bit steep at the start but levels out to easy walking. The 10km loop will take you and your family about three hours and will take you up to the mountain’s summit at 290m. At the summit, you will experience enchanting views across the valleys of Duhallow to the Mullaghareirk, Ballyhoura, the Galtee and Derrynasaggart Mountains
https://www.discoverireland.ie/cork/mount-hillary-loop
4. Ballincollig Gunpowder Trails - in the town park in Ballincollig
The Gunpowder walking trails were launched in Cork in 2014 following public interest in the park and its history. Once used by the British armed forces, the park was home to the second largest gunpowder production facility in Ireland and the UK. Today, the ruins of over 60 buildings are dotted throughout the park and guests have multiple options of walking trails and lengths to enjoy in it.
Trail options include a 1km walk through the park and woodland, a 5km Powdermills Trail through the mill ruins, and a 7km Military Trail, which takes in the former barracks and town centre. The hard surface trails are suitable walks for the entire family as they are accessible for prams, buggies, and wheelchairs.
https://www.corkcoco.ie/sites/default/files/2017-04/Z%20Ballincollig%20Gunpowder.pdf
5. Corrin Cross outside Fermoy - Fantastic views
A fantastic circular walk near Fermoy that offers great views on a clear day, totalling at a doable 4.8km. The trail can get muddy in wet weather, so be sure to bring good boots or wellies, and keep any dogs on a lead. Picnic tables are dotted throughout, making it perfect for bringing along a snack or a spot of lunch. Fantastic 360 degree views from the the top beside the cross
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/ireland/county-cork--2/corrin-cross
6. Kilbarry Wood Long Loop near Fermoy
Don’t let the name put you off, this is only 2.6km that’s well-signposted. A slightly steep start, this may be a challenge for buggies, but promises lovely woodland views and plenty of wildlife.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/ireland/county-cork--2/kilbarry-wood-long-loop
7. The Waterford Greenway
The Waterford Greenway is designed as a cycling route between Dungarvan and Waterford City, but many people walk it, too, over a few days.
The Greenway is made up of 46km (25 miles) of beautiful scenery and places of historical interest and it can be walked over the course of a couple of days.
Loads of options to do a small part of the trails if you only want to walk an hour or two suitable for prams and buggies.
There are three viaducts to cross as well as eleven bridges before you reach Kilmacthomas, where you can stop for a break. The route is pretty easy, and you can either stop for a short rest or a night along the way.
https://www.theirishroadtrip.com/waterford-greenway/
8. The Blackwater Way - pick one of these sections close to Fermoy - two cars needed.
Two lovely and completely different sections of the Avondhu Way that will get you hooked. Best to have two cars and to keep this as linear walk
Fermoy to Ballyhooly - or reverse it if you want to start at Ballyhooly Bridge and walk to Fermoy
Start this walk near Ballyhooly bridge and walk through a forest which is parallel to The Blackwater River. It is well signposted by the yellow man on the black pole. The walk continues on to Knockannig, which is one of the highest points on the route with great views. The walk then goes through Glenabo Woods and follows the course of the river into Fermoy town.
https://happyirishhiker.com/2021/05/23/blackwater-way-day-4-fermoy-to-ballyhooly/
Crow Hill to Mountain Barrack - a walk across the hills and finishes a few miles before Kilworth
A descent from Crow Hill is followed by roads and a forest track in the Araglen valley. The Blackwater Way negotiates a maze of minor roads, tracks and paths as it maintains its path high above the Araglen valley. Great scenery and the walking is gentle after the initial roughish first 3 km.
9. Doneraile Wildlife Park
There are two great loops to choose from here: a longer 5.1km perimeter loop and a shorter 2.3km east loop. Both are flat and easy for kids with well-maintained and signposted routes. Along the way you’ll spot stunning wildlife such as deer, just be sure to keep any dogs on a lead.
Doneraile Court, the former residence of the St. Leger family, is situated within the Park. It is opened to the public following completion of restoration works, there is a Tea Rooms onsite (open 7 days a week) and New Large Children's Playground.
https://visitballyhoura.com/explore/doneraile-wildlife-park
10. Glenshelane Forest Walk - near Cappoquin in Co Waterford
Glenshelane wood straddles two river glens, one a long glen through which the Glenshelane River flows, the other follows a section of where the Monavugga and Glenfalla Rivers converge a short distance upstream. All are tributaries of the mighty Blackwater. There is an extensive network of gently graded forest roads and trails for the walker to sample. All walks run beside the rivers and are serviced by five timber footbridges and one underpass under Lyre bridge that is worth exploring. From here if you are adventurous, you can add on a few more kilometres and walk into Mellery Abbey and back . There is a nice café in Mellery for that well deserved cup of tea before the return journey.
