Bantry Blue-way Blue Trail
Paddling Trail · Cork
Bantry Blue-way Blue Trail is a 6 km intermediate waymarked out-and-back route in Cork, starting near Bantry.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoeing/Kayaking/Paddling | Intermediate | Moderate | 2 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Abbey Point Slipway, near Bantry.
Finishes at Abbey Point Slipway.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.67852, -9.47275
- Irish Grid reference
- V 982 483
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 85
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 trail travels west to South Beach where the crossing point is marked by a signpost and flag. Beware of winds and tidal flows at the crossing, a wind flag at South Beach will indicate local wind conditions. If suitable cross 600m (15 minutes) to the Blueway flag on Whiddy Island and on to Bank House on Whiddy Island, returning via the same route to Abbey Slipway.Be careful of ferries operating between Whiddy Island and Bantry.
Before you go
Abbey Point Slipway to Bank House Return Canoeing & Kayaking is an adventure sport. When you go canoeing follow the five points below to stay safe:Planning - Plan your trip well in advance by consulting with the Blueway website and local providers.Experience - Ensure the Blueway is a suitable match for your group's experience. Water can be dangerous, if you are inexperienced use a local guide and seek formal training.Conditions - Consult the weather forecast and tide tables in advance of your trip and if unguided only go out in favourable conditions, clear days with low wind.Equipment - Always wear an approved buoyancy aid. Ensure your boat has adequate buoyancy. Bring suitable clothing, such as a wetsuit and equipment to deal with an emergency.Emergencies - In the event of capsize, stay with your craft, be ready and equipped to help one another. Always bring some form of communication with you, ie mobile phone - VHF. Ensure your group has a towing system in place. For further information, visit the Bantry Bay Port Company website or the below Map Booklet
- Waymarking
- Flags
Who manages it
Bantry Bay Port Company DAC
BANTRY BAY PORT COMPANY - www.bantrybayport.com
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Bantry Blue-way Green Trail 0 m away · 1 km trail
- Bantry Blue-way Red Trail 0 m away · 9 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Rooska Loop 1.3 km away · 13.9 km trail
- Sheep's Head Way 1.3 km away · 171.8 km trail
- The Sheep's Head Looped Cycle 1.4 km away · 60.8 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Whiddy Island Loop 1.7 km away · 6.2 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Bantry Blue-way Blue Trail?
6 km, recorded as a out-and-back route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours.
How hard is the Bantry Blue-way Blue Trail?
Sport Ireland grades it Intermediate, with an overall difficulty of Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Bantry Blue-way Blue Trail start?
Starts at Abbey Point Slipway, near Bantry. The trailhead is at 51.67852, -9.47275 (Irish Grid V 982 483).
Who manages the Bantry Blue-way Blue Trail?
Bantry Bay Port Company DAC. 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.