Duhallow Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Cork and Kerry
Duhallow Way is a 73.9 km strenuous waymarked linear route in Cork and Kerry, starting near Rathmore.
Notice from the trail operator
Please note: This trail is currently being upgraded at the Mushera section of the trail ( 52.011803, -8.993739, grid ref: W319 851) and the Paps section of the trail at the Clonkeen side (52.012440, -9.248627, grid ref: W144 853) , walkers can still pass through both sections but please take care. If you require any further information, please contact the Rural Recreation Officer in IRD on 029-60633 It is vitally important that dogs must not be brought on The Shrone/The Paps, Mustera and the Mount Leader Fields areas of this trail (from 52.05075, -9.06831 to 52.04670, -9.06163). Bringing dogs to these areas is putting the trail at risk of closure as landowners are concerned about the impact on their livestock. The ongoing presence of dogs will lead to the closure of the trail. To keep the hills open to walkers, it is imperative that landowners and their livestock are respected.
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with IRD Duhallow before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 2 to 3 days |
Getting there
Starts at Clonkeen, near Rathmore.
Finishes at Bweeng.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.98871, -9.29579
- Irish Grid reference
- W 11048 82616
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 79 and 80
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
Millstreet: Bus Eireann: 257 Killarney, Co. Kerry to Macroom, Co. Cork (weekdays only) Irish Rail: Killarney to Millstreet (daily), Cork Kent to Millstreet (daily – depending on time may have to get connection in Mallow) Rathmore: Irish Rail: Cork Kent to Rathmore (daily – transfer at Mallow), Killarney to Rathmore (daily) Bus Eireann: 257 Killarney, Co. Kerry to Macroom, Co. cork (weekdays only)
About the trail
The Duhallow Way, makes up the first part of the Blackwater Way – a 168 km linear long distance walking route that stretches from the boarders of Country Kerry, across North Cork and into County Waterford, starting in Clydagh and crossing the Derrynasaggart mountain range and following parallel to the River Blackwater. The Duhallow Way is richly varied in terms of topography and includes contouring sections along mountain flanks with great views, contrasting with views of wild bog, forest roadways, glens, lakes, rivers and stretches of beautiful isolation. The unspoilt landscapes are abounding in plant and animal life, displaying all nature’s colours – emerald green, golden yellow, purple and brown. The Way is an area of rugged beauty, a place which one could explore for days on end, features along the way include passing by ancient monuments such as standing stones, stone circles and cairns, and more modern monuments such as cillins (infant burial grounds) and holy wells. There are no significant ascents apart from the climb of 560m meters under Caherbarnagh and the Paps.
Before you go
IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT DOGS MUST NOT BE BROUGHT ON THE SHRONE / THE PAPS AND MUSHERA AREAS OF THIS TRAIL AT ANY TIME, NOT EVEN ON A LEAD. BRINGING DOGS IS PUTTING THE TRAIL AT RISK OF CLOSURE. LANDOWNERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVESTOCK AND THE ONGOING PRESENCE OF DOGS WILL LEAD TO THE CLOSURE OF THE TRAIL. DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON MUSHERA, ALSO DUE TO SHEEP WORRYING. TO KEEP THE HILLS OPEN TO WALKERS IT IS IMPERATIVE TO RESPECT LANDOWNERS AND STOCK. 21 kms or 31% of the Way follows local roads. There may be some wet areas underfoot so it is advisable to wear the appropriate footwear.
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
IRD Duhallow
IRD Duhallow
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Rossacroo Wood - Milenium Park Trail 7.5 km away · 1.3 km trail
- Cosan Barr a Chuma 9.5 km away · 2.3 km trail
- Kilbanow Mountain Loop 14 km away · 5.3 km trail
- Kilgarvan Village Loop 14 km away · 3 km trail
- Ballingeary Loops – Cahir Loop 16 km away · 9.8 km trail
- Ballingeary Loops – Ceimcoraboula Loop 16 km away · 7 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Duhallow Way?
73.9 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 560 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 to 3 days.
How hard is the Duhallow Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Strenuous, with an overall difficulty of Challenging. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Duhallow Way start?
Starts at Clonkeen, near Rathmore. The trailhead is at 51.98871, -9.29579 (Irish Grid W 11048 82616).
Can you bring a dog on the Duhallow Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Duhallow Way without a car?
Millstreet: Bus Eireann: 257 Killarney, Co. Kerry to Macroom, Co. Cork (weekdays only) Irish Rail: Killarney to Millstreet (daily), Cork Kent to Millstreet (daily – depending on time may have to get connection in Mallow) Rathmore: Irish Rail: Cork Kent to Rathmore (daily – transfer at Mallow), Killarney to Rathmore (daily) Bus Eireann: 257 Killarney, Co. Kerry to Macroom, Co. cork (weekdays only).
Who manages the Duhallow Way?
IRD Duhallow. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Cork and 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.