Kerry Head Cycleway
Road Cycling Trail · Kerry
Kerry Head Cycleway is a 17.1 km moderate waymarked loop in Kerry, starting near Ballyheigue.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycling | Moderate | Moderate | 40 mins |
Getting there
Starts near Ballyheigue.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.38839, -9.82657
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 63 and 71
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
The Kerry Head Cycleway which is a mix of flat and hilly countryside starts in Ballyheigue and departs along the steep hill overlooking Ballyheigue Bay, with its crashing waves where many a ship has foundered. As cyclists climb to the top, the westerly prevailing Atlantic wind can be a challenge but soon the road levels out for a gentler but undulating ride back to Ballyheigue. It is worth stopping at various points along the route to enjoy the views, where the Atlantic Ocean stretches to the horizon. Gradually the route turns inland along the edge of the mountain and finally enters the town of Ballyheigue again by the local golf course and the castle, built in the early 1800's, but now a ruin.
Before you go
A bike with low gears is recommeneded to get up the climb in the first half of this route. The route is on quiet roads with very light traffic along the way. The route should be signposted but please print the map provided here and bring it with you just in case. There are very few turning points on the route - after leaving the start keep straight on at all junctions until the return journey where you turn right at the crossroads near Glenlea (shown on the map) and then right again when you reach the R551 and take the smaller road back into Ballyheigue.
Who manages it
Kerry County Council Cycle Hubs
Kerry County Council Cycle Hubs
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Kingdom of Kerry Greenways - Tralee to Fenit 16 km away · 13.6 km trail
- Dingle Way 16 km away · 162.9 km trail
- North Kerry Way 16 km away · 43.7 km trail
- Shannon Way 17 km away · 39.4 km trail
- Ballybunion Loops - Beach Walk 17 km away · 7.2 km trail
- Ballybunion Loops - Lahardane Hill Walk 17 km away · 8.2 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Kerry Head Cycleway?
17.1 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 141 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 40 mins.
How hard is the Kerry Head Cycleway?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Kerry Head Cycleway start?
Starts near Ballyheigue. The trailhead is at 52.38839, -9.82657.
Who manages the Kerry Head Cycleway?
Kerry County Council Cycle Hubs. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Kerry
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.