Castlefreke - Castle Cross Loop
Walking Trail · Cork
Castlefreke - Castle Cross Loop is a 1.5 km easy waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Rathbarry.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 40 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Castle Cross Carpark, near Rathbarry.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.57174, -8.97535
- Irish Grid reference
- W 324 359
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 89
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 loop walk brings you through woodland that was once part of the Castlefreke estate. It was planted in the early 1950s with a mixture of conifer and broadleaf, by the State Forestry Division, the precursor of Coillte. As well as a variety of trees with a rich carpet of bluebells in spring, you will see an abundance of wildflowers during summer and autumn making a colourful display at the edge of the track as you walk along. Watch out for the fingerpost to the bullaun/ wart well, which is just a short diversion from the trail and further on, the magnificent high wall bounding the old gardener’s cottage.
- Waymarking
- Green
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Castlefreke Our Woods Our Walks
Castlefreke Our Woods Our Walks: [email protected]
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Castlefreke - Rathbarry Old Churches Loop 0 m away · 1 km trail
- Castlefreke - High Cross Loop 660 m away · 1.6 km trail
- Castlefreke - River Trail 1.1 km away · 0.4 km trail
- Castlefreke - Rathbarry - Kilkeran Loop 1.2 km away · 7.8 km trail
- Carrigfadda - Carrigfadda Hill Walk 9.6 km away · 2.4 km trail
- Union Hall Walks - Lake Walk 11 km away · 7.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Castlefreke - Castle Cross Loop?
1.5 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 45 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 40 minutes.
How hard is the Castlefreke - Castle Cross Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Castlefreke - Castle Cross Loop start?
Starts at Castle Cross Carpark, near Rathbarry. The trailhead is at 51.57174, -8.97535 (Irish Grid W 324 359).
Can you bring a dog on the Castlefreke - Castle Cross 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 Castlefreke - Castle Cross Loop?
Castlefreke Our Woods Our Walks. 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.