Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk
Walking Trail · Cork
Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk is a 7.2 km easy waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Ballydehob.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 2 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Lisheen Church, near Ballydehob.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.52629, -9.38771
- Irish Grid reference
- W 037 313
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 88
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 from Cork City
About the trail
This walk follows a quiet coast road carrying minimum traffic with wading birds such as Curlew and Little Egret visible on the mud flats and excellent views of the tidal Ilen River in its many phases as well as sea and islands.
Before you go
Please keep dogs on leash
- Waymarking
- Blue arrow
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Fastnet Trails Walks Group
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Fastnet Trails - Bechers Walk 0 m away · 12.5 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Rock Loop Walk 0 m away · 2.9 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Derreenard Loop 3.8 km away · 11.9 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Lisheenacrehig Loop Walk 3.8 km away · 7.7 km trail
- Baltimore Beacon Walk 4.9 km away · 1.5 km trail
- Baltimore Coney Walk 4.9 km away · 1.2 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk?
7.2 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 35 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours.
How hard is the Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk start?
Starts at Lisheen Church, near Ballydehob. The trailhead is at 51.52629, -9.38771 (Irish Grid W 037 313).
Can you bring a dog on the Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk?
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.
Can you get to the Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk without a car?
Bus from Cork City.
Who manages the Fastnet Trails - Ilen River Walk?
Fastnet Trails Walks Group. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Cork
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.