Ballard Waterfall Trail
Walking Trail · Cork
Ballard Waterfall Trail is a 5.3 km moderate waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Kilworth.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Mountain Barrack, near Kilworth.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.23455, -8.18335
- Irish Grid reference
- R 875 092
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 74
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
Public transport
Bus Eireann and Local Link bus services
Before you arrive
Please park your car in the spacious car park at Mountain Barrack as parking is not permitted by the barrier at the forest entrance as this is in constant use.
About the trail
The trail brings the walker on roadway, forest track and path passing through forest of mixed tree species, with a spur to the beautiful hidden waterfall on the Muchnagh River which eventually flows into the River Blackwater. Otter, salmon, brown trout, brook and river lamprey can all be found in the Muchnagh River and the trail has a variety of flora and fauna including the usual woodland animals. As well as the stunning waterfall, the trail offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside and hills including Skeheen Mountain.
- Waymarking
- Blue arrow on white background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, Tel: 022-46580, Email: [email protected]
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Knockmealdowns Trails - Knockmealdown Trail 6.9 km away · 33.2 km trail
- Knockmealdowns Trails - Sheep Hill Loop 6.9 km away · 7.8 km trail
- Ballyhoura - Attychraan Loop 9.6 km away · 3.6 km trail
- Combaun Loop 11 km away · 11 km trail
- Glengarra - Loop Walk 11 km away · 1.7 km trail
- Glengarra - Millenium Trail 11 km away · 6.5 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Ballard Waterfall Trail?
5.3 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 60 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1 hour 30 minutes.
How hard is the Ballard Waterfall Trail?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Ballard Waterfall Trail start?
Starts at Mountain Barrack, near Kilworth. The trailhead is at 52.23455, -8.18335 (Irish Grid R 875 092).
Can you bring a dog on the Ballard Waterfall Trail?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Ballard Waterfall Trail without a car?
Bus Eireann and Local Link bus services.
Who manages the Ballard Waterfall Trail?
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Cork
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.