Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise
Road Cycling Trail · Offaly
Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise is a 24.4 km moderate waymarked linear route in Offaly, starting near Ballycumber.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycling | Moderate | Moderate | 1 hour |
Getting there
Starts at 50 m east of Post Office in Ballycumber, near Ballycumber.
Finishes at Clonmacnoise Monastic Site.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.32644, -7.68542
- Irish Grid reference
- N 207 306
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 48 and 47
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
To Ballycumber: Bus Eireann bus and Local Link Laois Offaly bus
About the trail
This cycle runs along the crest of an esker following the route pilgrims took from Ballycumber to Clonmacnoise monastic site. It was dry underfoot with a wide view over the surrounding countryside, including stunning vistas of Mongan's Bog on the left, the Shannon Callows on the right and Clonmacnoise round tower ahead.
- Waymarking
- White signs blue text with bike symbol
Who manages it
Offaly County Council
Offaly County Council
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Clara Esker Ballinough Doorey Loop 6.9 km away · 5.4 km trail
- Clara Esker Forest Loop Walk 6.9 km away · 1.8 km trail
- Lough Boora - Finnamore Lakes Route 12 km away · 10.5 km trail
- Lough Boora - Mesolithic Cycling Route 12 km away · 8.8 km trail
- Lough Boora - Mesolithic Walking Route 12 km away · 8.8 km trail
- Lough Boora - Sculpture Route 12 km away · 2.8 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise?
24.4 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 111 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1 hour.
How hard is the Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise start?
Starts at 50 m east of Post Office in Ballycumber, near Ballycumber. The trailhead is at 53.32644, -7.68542 (Irish Grid N 207 306).
Can you get to the Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise without a car?
To Ballycumber: Bus Eireann bus and Local Link Laois Offaly bus.
Who manages the Pilgrim's Road to Clonmacnoise?
Offaly County Council. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Offaly
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.