Lough Derg Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Clare, Limerick and Tipperary
Lough Derg Way is a 68.9 km moderate waymarked linear route in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, starting near Limerick City.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 3 days |
Getting there
Starts at Limerick City Arthur’s Quay, near Limerick City.
Finishes at Dromineer.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.6653, -8.62529
- Irish Grid reference
- R 577 573
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 58, 59 and 65
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
At Start: Bus to Limerick Check with with Bus Eireann. Rail to Limerick Check with Iarnrod Eireann. At End: None
About the trail
The Lough Derg Way is a 64km walking route that starts at the Tourist Office behind the Hunt Museum in Limerick City in the west of Ireland and follows the River Shannon and its associated canals northwestwards to the lake port of Dromineer on Lough Derg. Along the way the route passes through the hamlet of Clonlara, the village of O'Briensbridge and the ancient town of Killaloe, which was once home of the famous 11th century High King of Ireland, Brian Boru. Killaloe is a heritage town, and interested walkers will want to linger at St Flannan's Cathedral with its early Christian oratory. Lakeside and waterside sections of the route offer fine views. Terrain consists mainly of canal and riverside paths at the southern end, and mainly country roads at the northern end, some sections of which can be hazardous with fast-moving traffic. Other than at the start in Limerick, there are very limited options for public transport connections along the route. For more information follow link to Shannon Region Trails - Lough Derg Way
Before you go
38 kms or 55% of the Way follows local roads. There may be some waymarking issues. PLEASE NOTE that this trail may currently be closed on the UL Campus due to works being carried out there at present.
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Tipperary Trails Group/Limerick City & County Council/Clare Walks Ltd
Limerick Tourist Information Office, 20 O'Connell Street, Limerick. Tel: 061-317522 Email: [email protected] Web: www.shannonregiontourism.ie/
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- O'Briensbridge - Errinagh Bridge 13 km away · 7.5 km trail
- O'Briensbridge - Old Barge Loop 13 km away · 11.6 km trail
- O'Briensbridge - Parteen Weir 13 km away · 4.7 km trail
- 12 O'Clock Hills Looped Walks - Blue Route 14 km away · 7.7 km trail
- 12 O'Clock Hills Looped Walks - Purple Route 14 km away · 11.7 km trail
- 12 O'Clock Hills Looped Walks - Red Route 14 km away · 4 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Lough Derg Way?
68.9 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 527 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 3 days.
How hard is the Lough Derg Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Lough Derg Way start?
Starts at Limerick City Arthur’s Quay, near Limerick City. The trailhead is at 52.6653, -8.62529 (Irish Grid R 577 573).
Can you bring a dog on the Lough Derg Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Lough Derg Way without a car?
At Start: Bus to Limerick Check with with Bus Eireann. Rail to Limerick Check with Iarnrod Eireann. At End: None.
Who manages the Lough Derg Way?
Tipperary Trails Group/Limerick City & County Council/Clare Walks Ltd. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary
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.