Castlemorris - Pheasant Loop
Walking Trail · Kilkenny
Castlemorris - Pheasant Loop is a 7 km moderate waymarked loop in Kilkenny, starting near Knocktopher.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 2 hours 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Car park at Grand Gates of Castlemorris Estate, near Knocktopher.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.46965, -7.27762
- Irish Grid reference
- S 491 356
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 67
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
On minor road, forest road and forest track, this loop takes you through the fine woods of the former demesne of Castlemorris House. You will pass by the old Gate Lodge, stone outbuildings and a stableyard.
Before you go
Keep dogs under close control
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Coillte North and East
Coillte North and East
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Castlemorris - Fern Loop 0 m away · 2.3 km trail
- Castlemorris - Holly Loop 0 m away · 4.7 km trail
- Windgap - Bearna Breac Loop 7.9 km away · 6.5 km trail
- Windgap - Village Loop 7.9 km away · 1.7 km trail
- Tullahought - Kilmacoliver Summit Loop 8.3 km away · 3.8 km trail
- Tullahought - Kilmacoliver Woodland Loop 8.3 km away · 2 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Castlemorris - Pheasant Loop?
7 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 30 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours 30 minutes.
How hard is the Castlemorris - Pheasant Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Castlemorris - Pheasant Loop start?
Starts at Car park at Grand Gates of Castlemorris Estate, near Knocktopher. The trailhead is at 52.46965, -7.27762 (Irish Grid S 491 356).
Can you bring a dog on the Castlemorris - Pheasant 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 Castlemorris - Pheasant Loop?
Coillte North and East. 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.