Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop
Walking Trail · Clare
Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop is a 24.1 km strenuous waymarked loop in Clare, starting near Ballyvaughan.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 7 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Fanore Beach mapboard, near Ballyvaughan.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.11837, -9.28206
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 51
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.
About the trail
This loop is a mix of Burren hill and coast, following green laneways, tracks, and mountain paths and taking in Fanore Beach, the Caher Valley and part of Gleninagh Mountain with some wonderful views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. It is also rich in the Burren wildflowers.
Before you go
Trekking shoes, raingear and fluids are recommended
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow on white background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Clare Local Development Company
Clare Local Development Company
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Fanore Ballyvaughan Trek 53 m away · 20.8 km trail
- Caher Valley Loop 272 m away · 14.1 km trail
- Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop 8.7 km away · 8.8 km trail
- Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk 12 km away · 19.5 km trail
- Slí Chonamara 14 km away · 33.1 km trail
- Doolin Cycle Hub Loop 1 14 km away · 18.2 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop?
24.1 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 480 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 7 hours.
How hard is the Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Strenuous, with an overall difficulty of Challenging. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop start?
Starts at Fanore Beach mapboard, near Ballyvaughan. The trailhead is at 53.11837, -9.28206.
Can you bring a dog on the Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Who manages the Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop?
Clare Local Development Company. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Clare
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.