John's Hill Loop
Walking Trail · Carlow
John's Hill Loop is an 11 km strenuous waymarked loop in Carlow, starting near Bunclody (8km) Myshall Village.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 3 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Cark park at Kilbrannish North Forest Recreational Area, near Bunclody (8km) Myshall Village (6km).
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.65643, -6.75485
- Irish Grid reference
- S 84297 56834
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 68
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
Nearest available point for public transport is Bunclody
About the trail
The John's Hill Loop takes you to John's Hill and a loop around it before heading back the way you came, well worth the effort for the spectacular views.
- Waymarking
- Blue arrows
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Carlow County Council
Carlow County Council | email: [email protected] Tel: 059 9170300
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Kilbrannish North to Kilbrannish South Trail 0 m away · 14 km trail
- Kilbrannish Loop 28 m away · 5.1 km trail
- Windfarm Loop 28 m away · 3.2 km trail
- Kilbrannish South - Short Loop 996 m away · 6.5 km trail
- The Columban Way - Nine Stones to Magany 3.4 km away · 50.1 km trail
- South Leinster Way 5.6 km away · 103.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the John's Hill Loop?
11 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 400 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 3 hours.
How hard is the John's Hill 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 John's Hill Loop start?
Starts at Cark park at Kilbrannish North Forest Recreational Area, near Bunclody (8km) Myshall Village (6km). The trailhead is at 52.65643, -6.75485 (Irish Grid S 84297 56834).
Can you bring a dog on the John's Hill Loop?
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 John's Hill Loop without a car?
Nearest available point for public transport is Bunclody.
Who manages the John's Hill Loop?
Carlow County Council. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Carlow
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.