Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop
Walking Trail · Cork
Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop is a 10 km strenuous waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Goleen Village.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 3 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Goleen Village Cross Roads, near Goleen Village.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.49513, -9.71115
- Irish Grid reference
- V 812282
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- OSi 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
About the trail
This trail goes from sea level to the 237m summit of Knockaphuca, with its Holy Year cross on top (lit up at night), on road, track, grassy track and open mountain, passing between rocky outcrops and becoming steeper as you ascend. Views are stunning from most of the trail and particularly from the summit with a 360 degree spread including the Mizen Peninsula stretched out below, the Sheep's Head Peninsula, Cape Clear and Sherkin Islands, Roaring Water Bay and Fastnet Rock.
Before you go
Please keep dogs on a lead
- Waymarking
- Red arrow on white background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Fastnet Trails Walks Group
www.fastnet-trails.com
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 - Goleen Harbour Long Loop 0 m away · 2.5 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Goleen Harbour Short Loop 0 m away · 1.8 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Goleen to Tormore Trail 0 m away · 14.3 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Gortdubh Loop Walk 0 m away · 13.9 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Lissigriffin Loop Walk 0 m away · 10.7 km trail
- Fastnet Trails - Toormore-Barr an Bhealaigh Link Walk 5.5 km away · 18.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop?
10 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 232 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 3 hours.
How hard is the Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop?
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 Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop start?
Starts at Goleen Village Cross Roads, near Goleen Village. The trailhead is at 51.49513, -9.71115 (Irish Grid V 812282).
Can you bring a dog on the Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop without a car?
Bus.
Who manages the Fastnet Trails - Knockaphuca Loop?
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.