Bantry Blue-way Red Trail
Paddling Trail · Cork
Bantry Blue-way Red Trail is a 9 km advanced waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Bantry.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoeing/Kayaking/Paddling | Advanced | Challenging | 3 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Abbey Point Slipway, near Bantry.
- 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
Follow the Blue Trail description to Bank House on Whiddy Island and continue north to where the crossing point is marked by an orange buoy and flag where a wind flag will indicate local wind conditions.This is a 2 km long (45 minute) open water crossing which requires experience to successfully complete. Beware of winds and tidal flows at the crossing. Cross between Horse Island and Chapel Island flanked by mussel farm buoys to the green channel marker. From the green channel marker head for the Blueway flag on Reenbeg Point. Then cross the small bay south to reach Railway Pier and on to Abbey Slipway.
Before you go
Abbey Slip to Whiddy Island to Abbey Slip 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 Blue Trail 0 m away · 6 km trail
- Bantry Blue-way Green Trail 0 m away · 1 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 Red Trail?
9 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 3 hours.
How hard is the Bantry Blue-way Red Trail?
Sport Ireland grades it Advanced, with an overall difficulty of Challenging. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Bantry Blue-way Red 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 Red 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.