Castlecomer - Ardra Loop
Walking Trail · Kilkenny
Castlecomer - Ardra Loop is a 4.3 km easy waymarked loop in Kilkenny, starting near Castlecomer.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 1.5 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Car Park at Visitor Centre, near Castlecomer.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.80708, -7.20214
- Irish Grid reference
- S 536 731
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 61
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 pleasant walk follows wide compacted tracks and narrower paths through the trees as it winds its way through part of the old Wandesforde demesne encircling the two lakes and passing the site where Ardra Castle once stood.
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Castlecomer Discovery Park
Castlecomer Discovery Park
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Castlecomer - Arboretum loop 0 m away · 1.9 km trail
- Castlecomer - Captains Loop 0 m away · 2.2 km trail
- Castlecomer - Ladies Loop 0 m away · 1.5 km trail
- Jenkinstown Wood - Jenkinstown Wood Loop 10 km away · 3.3 km trail
- Jenkinstown Wood - Walled Garden Loop 10 km away · 2 km trail
- Durrow Leafy Loops - Dunmore Woods Loop 14 km away · 20 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Castlecomer - Ardra Loop?
4.3 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 40 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1.5 hours.
How hard is the Castlecomer - Ardra Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Castlecomer - Ardra Loop start?
Starts at Car Park at Visitor Centre, near Castlecomer. The trailhead is at 52.80708, -7.20214 (Irish Grid S 536 731).
Can you bring a dog on the Castlecomer - Ardra 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 Castlecomer - Ardra Loop?
Castlecomer Discovery Park. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Kilkenny
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.