Cullum's Cup Main Loop
Walking Trail · Kerry
Cullum's Cup Main Loop is a 7.8 km moderate waymarked loop in Kerry, starting near Knightstown.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 3 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Knightstown Church carpark, near Knightstown.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.92337, -10.28749
- Irish Grid reference
- V 42706 77016
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 83
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 Cullum's Cup Loop follows the shore road in Knightstow, up McCormack’s Road (Grassed road) for 200m on main road and then the hill side path to the top of Kilbeg Mountain, where Cullum' Cup is located. The Cup was erected in 1888 on the instructions of John Edward Cullum, then superintendent of Valentia Observatory, to serve as a base for an electrical anemometer, which was connected by copper wire to a recording apparatus in the observatory. From here you have 360 degree views of the Iveragh Pennisula. Views include Cahersiveen, River Ferta, Portmagee Channell, Portmagee village, Skellig Michael, Bray Head, Blasket Islands, Dingle pennisula, Valentia Lighthouse, Glanleam estate, Beginish Island, Valentia harbour, Renard Point and Knightstown.
- Waymarking
- Red arrows
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd
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.
- Cullum's Cup Kilbeg Loop 0 m away · 4.8 km trail
- Cahersiveen - Beentee Loop 5.3 km away · 9.5 km trail
- Cahirsiveen - Carhan Letter Loop 5.3 km away · 11.1 km trail
- Laharn Bog Loop 5.3 km away · 14.7 km trail
- Portmagee Knockeenawaddra Loop Walk 5.8 km away · 6.9 km trail
- Portmagee Pound Loop Walk 5.8 km away · 6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Cullum's Cup Main Loop?
7.8 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 180 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 3 hours.
How hard is the Cullum's Cup Main Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Cullum's Cup Main Loop start?
Starts at Knightstown Church carpark, near Knightstown. The trailhead is at 51.92337, -10.28749 (Irish Grid V 42706 77016).
Can you bring a dog on the Cullum's Cup Main Loop?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Who manages the Cullum's Cup Main Loop?
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Kerry
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.