Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop
Walking Trail · Clare
Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop is an 8.8 km moderate waymarked loop in Clare, starting near Ballyvaughan.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 2 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Ballyvaughan Town, near Ballyvaughan.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.11682, -9.15159
- Irish Grid reference
- M 229 079
- 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 on minor roadways, green lanes, woodland and cross country, explores the valley behind the seaside village of Ballyvaughan with splendid views of the surrounding Burren's folded limestone layers. It passes close by Ailwee Cave.
Before you go
Trekking shoes, raingear and fluids are recommended
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Ballyvaughan Community Development Group
Ballyvaughan Community Development Group
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop 8.7 km away · 24.1 km trail
- Fanore Ballyvaughan Trek 8.7 km away · 20.8 km trail
- Caher Valley Loop 8.9 km away · 14.1 km trail
- Carran Loop 10 km away · 9.3 km trail
- Carran Turlough Loop 10 km away · 5 km trail
- Templecronan Loop 10 km away · 4.5 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop?
8.8 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 15 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours.
How hard is the Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop start?
Starts at Ballyvaughan Town, near Ballyvaughan. The trailhead is at 53.11682, -9.15159 (Irish Grid M 229 079).
Can you bring a dog on the Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Who manages the Ballyvaughan - Wood Loop?
Ballyvaughan Community Development Group. 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.