Glenshelane - Grotto Walk
Walking Trail · Waterford
Glenshelane - Grotto Walk is a 2.1 km moderate waymarked loop in Waterford, starting near Cappoquin.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 1.5 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Glenshelane forest entrance car park, near Cappoquin.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.14574, -7.82561
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
This walk follows forest road along the wooded Glenshelane River before branching off into the western glen along the combined Monavugga and Glenfallia Rivers to where they converge, passing a waterfall and lovely viewing points of the surrounding countryside. The Grotto is located a short distance away at Mellary Bridge.
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Coillte South
Coillte South
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Elsewhere
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Glenshelane - Blue Trail 0 m away · 1.9 km trail
- Glenshelane - Green Trail 0 m away · 3.4 km trail
- Mount Melleray Pilgrim Paths - Byrne's Bridge 5.1 km away · 12.2 km trail
- Mount Melleray Pilgrim Paths - The Cross 5.1 km away · 1.9 km trail
- Mount Melleray Pilgrim Paths - The Grotto 5.1 km away · 2.3 km trail
- Mount Melleray Pilgrim Paths - The Source 5.1 km away · 4.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Glenshelane - Grotto Walk?
2.1 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 30 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1.5 hours.
How hard is the Glenshelane - Grotto Walk?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Glenshelane - Grotto Walk start?
Starts at Glenshelane forest entrance car park, near Cappoquin. The trailhead is at 52.14574, -7.82561.
Can you bring a dog on the Glenshelane - Grotto 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.
Who manages the Glenshelane - Grotto Walk?
Coillte South. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Waterford
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.