East Clare Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Clare
East Clare Way is a 168.8 km moderate waymarked loop in Clare, starting near Killaloe.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 8 days |
Getting there
Starts at Car park ‘Between the Waters’ in Killaloe, near Killaloe.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.80739, -8.43979
- Irish Grid reference
- R 70393 73003
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 52, 53, 58 and 59* (*ca 1 km in Whitegate)
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
Bus services to and from Killaloe & Ballina available. Bus Eireann Local Link - https://www.locallinklc.ie/2020/01/24/route-c2-scariff-killaloe-scariff/
About the trail
County Clare in Ireland is renowned for its great music, set dancing, and its unique limestone landscape. East Clare, however, presents another face of the county, a little known, hidden land, a district that has a character all of its own. A land of mountains and lakes, it covers roughly 400 sq miles, with the town of Ennis to the west, Limerick to the south, the Slieve Aughty Mountains to the north, and the broad reaches of Lough Derg forming its eastern boundary. The East Clare Way is a 180km circular walking route that wends its way through the wildest part of the region while touching on its many villages. Terrain consists of mainly quiet tarmac roads, forestry tracks, bog roads, open ground and field paths. Some sections off-road can be wet and muddy, and some road sections carry fast traffic. The aggregate ascent over the whole route is about 3000m, and although there are a few short, steep sections, there are no significant climbs. This is a route that will appeal to walkers who like a bit of wilderness and are interested in monuments of the past, as the rare hen harrier, the merlin and herds of Sika deer may be spotted along the way, which is scattered with dolmens, holy wells and ancient churches, one of which, at Tuamgraney, was frequented by the 11th century High King of Ireland, Brian Ború. Overnight accommodation options in the area are good.
Before you go
95 kms or 53% of the Way follows local roads. Trail Surface issues ***Dogs not permitted on the East Clare Way***
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Clare Walks Ltd
Clare Walks, Main Street, Tulla, Co. Clare, V95 C4E0. Email: [email protected] Web: www.clarewalks.ie
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe Loop 89 m away · 2.5 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Killaloe to Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) 89 m away · 5 km trail
- Ballycuggaran - Crag Wood Walk 3.3 km away · 7.1 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) to Annacarriga Loop 3.8 km away · 3 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) to Scarriff via Ballynagleragh 3.8 km away · 17.3 km trail
- Graves of the Leinster Men Looped Walk 5.6 km away · 5.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the East Clare Way?
168.8 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 3,060 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 8 days.
How hard is the East Clare Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the East Clare Way start?
Starts at Car park ‘Between the Waters’ in Killaloe, near Killaloe. The trailhead is at 52.80739, -8.43979 (Irish Grid R 70393 73003).
Can you bring a dog on the East Clare Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the East Clare Way without a car?
Bus services to and from Killaloe & Ballina available. Bus Eireann Local Link - https://www.locallinklc.ie/2020/01/24/route-c2-scariff-killaloe-scariff/.
Who manages the East Clare Way?
Clare Walks Ltd. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Clare
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.