Cavan Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Cavan
Cavan Way is a 21.7 km moderate waymarked linear route in Cavan, starting near Dowra.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 1 day |
Getting there
Starts at Dowra.
Finishes at Blacklion.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 54.18917, -8.01378
- Irish Grid reference
- G 991 267
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 26
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.
Public transport
At Start: None At End: Express buses Check with Bus Eireann.
About the trail
While the topography of most of County Cavan in the northern midlands of Ireland is a post-glacial one of drumlins and lakes, the western part of the county terminates in the wall of the Cuilcagh Mountains, the lower western flanks of which spawn the longest river in these islands, the Shannon. The Cavan Way is a 26 km gentle linear walking route that progresses from the village of Dowra northwards by country paths and quiet roads to reach the magical Shannon Pot, where the great river rises. The route then ascends from the Shannon source into the limestone karst landscape of the northern Cuilcaghs before descending to the village of Blacklion. The terrain consists of mainly quiet roads, paths beside the infant Shannon and open moorland. The road sections at the beginning and near the Shannon Pot can be very busy, and the Shannon and uplands sections can be very wet and mucky. The views from the heights out over Lough Macnean to the north and the Cuilcagh to the south are wonderful. The total aggregate ascent on the route is 330 metres, including two short, steep ascents. There are options for overnight accommodation at both ends of the route, but public transport possibilities are only fair.
Before you go
14 kms or 61% of the Way follows local roads. ***Dogs not permitted on the Cavan Way***
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark
Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, MacNean Resource Centre, Blacklion, County Cavan, F91 NWV7 Tel: 071 9853692 Email: [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.
- SLNCR Greenway Glenfarne 11 km away · 2 km trail
- Cavan Burren Park - Calf House Dolmen Trail 12 km away · 1.1 km trail
- Cavan Burren Park - Giant's Leap Trail 12 km away · 2 km trail
- Cavan Burren Park - Promontry Fort Trail 12 km away · 2.9 km trail
- Cavan Burren Park - Tullygobban Lough Trail 12 km away · 1.7 km trail
- Mullaghgarve Mass Rock 13 km away · 1.4 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Cavan Way?
21.7 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 330 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1 day.
How hard is the Cavan Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Cavan Way start?
Starts at Dowra. The trailhead is at 54.18917, -8.01378 (Irish Grid G 991 267).
Can you bring a dog on the Cavan Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Cavan Way without a car?
At Start: None At End: Express buses Check with Bus Eireann.
Who manages the Cavan Way?
Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Cavan
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.