Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle Walk
Walking Trail · Laois
Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle Walk is a 6 km moderate waymarked loop in Laois, starting near Stradbally.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 1 hour 15 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Oughaval Wood Car Park, near Stradbally.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.00353, -7.1271
- Irish Grid reference
- S 585 951
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 55
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 Eireann Service passing
About the trail
This walk follows forest road and path around the whole mainly broadleaf woods, passing close to the site of Cobbler's Castle folly which was constructed during the Famine. There is a good selection of flora and fauna with viewing points along the way giving splendid vistas over the surrounding countryside.
- Waymarking
- white arrow on red background
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Coillte North and East
Coillte North and East
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.
- Oughaval Woods - Beech Way Walk 0 m away · 2 km trail
- Oughaval Woods - Mass Rock Walk 0 m away · 2.8 km trail
- Carrigmeal Woodlands Loops - Milo's Circuit 6.9 km away · 0.6 km trail
- Carrigmeal Woodlands Loops - Sheep's Walk Trail 6.9 km away · 0.4 km trail
- Carrigmeal Woodlands Loops - Tir na nÓg 6.9 km away · 0.9 km trail
- Garryhinch - Barrow walk 18 km away · 3.3 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle Walk?
6 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 1 hour 15 minutes.
How hard is the Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle Walk?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle Walk start?
Starts at Oughaval Wood Car Park, near Stradbally. The trailhead is at 53.00353, -7.1271 (Irish Grid S 585 951).
Can you bring a dog on the Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle 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.
Can you get to the Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle Walk without a car?
Bus Eireann Service passing.
Who manages the Oughaval Woods - Cobbler's Castle Walk?
Coillte North and East. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Laois
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.