Castle Oliver Loop
Walking Trail · Limerick
Castle Oliver Loop is a 6.7 km moderate waymarked loop in Limerick, starting near Ballyorgan.
Notice from the trail operator
*Notice* Due to recent heavy rainfall, the trail forming the Ollivers Folly spur from the Castleoliver Loop Walk is currently in poor underfoot condition. There is a risk of slipping, and we advise walkers to avoid this section for now. We will provide an update once it has been reopened.
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment CLG before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Ballyorgan Community Park, near Ballyorgan.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.3158, -8.46988
- Irish Grid reference
- R 68009 18309
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
The Castle Oliver Loop takes in some unique historical sites of the region including views of Castle Oliver (1800s), the site of the original castle (Castle Oliver Farm), its gates, walls and woodland and traverses the grounds of what was once a 81km² estate with Olivers Folly the dominant feature of the landscape. Begin your walk at the Ballyorgan Community Park (adjacent to the Ballyoura Mountain Lodges), follow the purple arrows through and note spurs to Olivers folly and a natural woodland habitat.
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment CLG
Ballyhoura Heritage and Environment CLG. Main Street, Kilfinane, Co Limerick Email | [email protected] Tel | 063 91 300 www.visitballyhoura.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.
- Ballyorgan Loop 62 m away · 12.5 km trail
- Molanna Loop 62 m away · 9.5 km trail
- Ballyhoura - Blackrock Loop 2.2 km away · 10 km trail
- Ballyhoura - Lyre na Freaghaun 2.2 km away · 4.9 km trail
- Ballyhoura - Castlepook Loop 2.5 km away · 48.5 km trail
- Ballyhoura - Garanne Loop 2.5 km away · 33.9 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Castle Oliver Loop?
6.7 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 90 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours 30 minutes.
How hard is the Castle Oliver Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Castle Oliver Loop start?
Starts at Ballyorgan Community Park, near Ballyorgan. The trailhead is at 52.3158, -8.46988 (Irish Grid R 68009 18309).
Can you bring a dog on the Castle Oliver Loop?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Who manages the Castle Oliver Loop?
Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment CLG. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Limerick
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.