Bolus Barracks Loop
Walking Trail · Kerry
Bolus Barracks Loop is a 5.9 km moderate waymarked loop in Kerry, starting near Ballinskelligs.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at US Navy Liberator Monument, Ducalla, Ballinskelligs, near Ballinskelligs.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.81417, -10.33719
- Irish Grid reference
- V 388 650
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 83
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 walk includes minor road, hillside paths and green road to reach the end of Bolus Head and pass along high cliffs before rising to the ruins of a signal tower perched on top of a steep climb and descending to return to the start. It offers spectacular views of cliffs, the Skelligs, St Finian's Bay, Ballinskelligs Bay and the open Atlantic Ocean.
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Saoiste Sceim SST Ciarraí Theas
Saoiste Sceim SST Ciarraí Theas
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- The Skelligs Way 4.5 km away · 11.8 km trail
- Skellig Monks Trail 4.5 km away · 2.3 km trail
- Portmagee Knockeenawaddra Loop Walk 7.7 km away · 6.9 km trail
- Portmagee Pound Loop Walk 7.7 km away · 6 km trail
- Emlagh Loop 8.0 km away · 6.1 km trail
- Reenroe Cliff Walk 8.0 km away · 1.5 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Bolus Barracks Loop?
5.9 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 270 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours 30 minutes.
How hard is the Bolus Barracks Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Bolus Barracks Loop start?
Starts at US Navy Liberator Monument, Ducalla, Ballinskelligs, near Ballinskelligs. The trailhead is at 51.81417, -10.33719 (Irish Grid V 388 650).
Can you bring a dog on the Bolus Barracks Loop?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Who manages the Bolus Barracks Loop?
Saoiste Sceim SST Ciarraí Theas. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Kerry
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.