Walking Routes

The Sheep’s Head Way has over 250km of walking trails. These are made up of linear routes and loop walks. All the trails are graded depending on how easy going the terrain is under normal conditions.

The distance and duration (approximate time) is given for each walk in a searchable table.

The walking routes are listed in two sections

The Sheep’s Head Way main route area includes the peninsula with Bantry to the north and Dunbeacon to the south and The Eastern Trails area includes the three valleys to the east of Bantry and connects with the Beara Way.

Trailheads

Detailed maps and information can be found for the walks accessed from each of the major trailheads. The location of the trailheads and map boards are also indicated on the main Sheep’s Head Way trail map below.

Distances & times (based on walking 3km per hr) between Trailheads

Trail Heads	Distance	Time
Bantry to Dún Óir	20 km	6 hrs 30 mins
Dún Óir to the Goat’s Path	7km	2hrs 30 mins
Goat’s Path to Tooreen (lighthouse)	14.8km	5 hrs
Tooreen (lighthouse) to Black Gate	6km	2 hrs
Black Gate to Kilcrohane	8km	3 hrs
Kilcrohane to Ahakista	7km	2 hrs 30 mins
Ahakista to Durrus	11km	4 hrs
Durrus to Bantry	21 km	6 hrs 30 mins
Bantry to Drimoleague	23km	7 hrs 30 mins
Drimoleague to Kealkil	20-26 km	6 – 8 hrs

The Sheep’s Head Peninsula

This section includes the walks on the Sheep’s Head peninsula around Kilcrohane, Ahakista, Durrus and west of Bantry.

The main Sheep’s Head Way is a 93km long walk which starts and finishes in Bantry town. We have divided it into 11 sections and you will find it listed on the main Sheep’s Head Way page with the directions and map for each section.

The Loop Walks are listed by locality so you can choose a walk to suit your available time and ability in your preferred area.

The Eastern Trails Section

The Eastern trails section lists both linear and loop walks by area. Drimoleague, the Mealagh Valley and Kealkill (Carriganass) are to the east and north east of Bantry.

The Sheep’s Head peninsula and Eastern trails connect via linear routes. The Bantry to Drimoleague trail takes you eastwards where you can join the St Finbarr’s Way route. This pilgrim trail takes you through the Mealagh Valley on to Kealkil and beyond to Gougane Barra.

There are several loop and linear walks in each area, with differing difficulty and duration, for you to choose a local walk to suit you.

Interactive Map of the Sheep’s Head Way

Below is a complete list of all the walks included on the Sheep’s Head Way site.

• Difficulty & Duration
• Sheep’s Head Peninsula
  • Main Sheep’s Head Way
    • Section 1: Bantry to Booltenagh
    • Section 2: Booltenagh to Glanlough
    • Section 3: Glanlough to Seefin
    • Section 4: Seefin to Cahergal
    • Section 5: Cahergal to the Lighthouse
    • Section 6: Tooreen to Letter West
    • Section 7: Letter West to Kilcrohane
    • Section 8: Kilcrohane to Ahakista
    • Section 9: Ahakista to Durrus
    • Section 10: Durrus to Barnageehy
    • Section 11: Barnageehy to Bantry
  • Peakeen Ridge Linear
  • Mass Path Linear
  • Loop Walks
    • Tooreen Trailhead
      • Lighthouse Loop
      • Poet’s Way Loop
    • The Black Gate Trailhead
      • Poet’s Way Loop
      • Caher Loop
      • Cahergal Loop
    • Kilcrohane Trailhead
      • Funeral Path Loop
      • Farranamanagh Loop
    • The Goat’s Path Trailhead
      • Peakeen Ridge Loop
    • Dun Óir Trailhead
      • Gortnakilly Loop
      • Foilakilly Loop
    • Ahakista Trailhead
      • Baran Loop
      • Glanlough Loop
      • Seefin Loop
    • Durrus Trailhead
      • Coomkeen Loop
      • Barnageehy Loop
      • Mount Corrin Loop
    • Bantry West Trailhead
      • Barnageehy Loop
      • Coomkeen Loop
      • Rooska Loop
      • Whiddy Island Loop
• Eastern Trails
  • Bantry to Drimoleague Linear
  • St Finbarr’s Way Linear
  • Glanbannoo Linear
  • Drimoleague
    • Deelish Cascades Linear
    • Schronacarton Linear
    • Castle Donovan Loop
    • Drimoleague Heritage Loop
    • Glanaclohy Loop
    • Moyny Bridge Loop
  • Carriganass, Kealkil
    • Kealkill Stone Circle Linear
    • Póc an Tairbh Loop
    • Srón na Gaoithe Loop
  • Mealagh Valley
    • Mealagh Valley Loop
    • Mealagh Valley Woods Loop
    • Mullaghmesha Loop