Sheep's Head - Mealagh Woods Loop
Walking Trail · Cork
Sheep's Head - Mealagh Woods Loop is a 2.9 km easy waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Bantry.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 1 hour 15 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Car Park at Barnagowlanes, near Bantry.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.72459, -9.30378
- Irish Grid reference
- W 099 532
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 85
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 Mealagh Woods Loop is a pleasant woodland walk which follows the bank of the Mealagh River and woodland paths, taking in an ancient wedge tomb.
Before you go
Well behaved dogs are welcome, but please keep them on a lead near the river so as not to disturb otters. If they soil the path, please kick their droppings to one side.
- Waymarking
- Orange arrows
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Sheep’s Head Way Limited
Sheep’s Head Way Limited
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Sheep's Head - Mealagh Valley Loop 3.6 km away · 10.9 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Mullaghmesha Loop 3.6 km away · 10.4 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Castledonovan Loop 4.0 km away · 10.8 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Deelish Cascades Walk (Drimoleague) 4.2 km away · 3.1 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Glounaclohy Walk (Drimoleague) 4.2 km away · 5.4 km trail
- Sli Gaeltacht Mhuscrai 5.9 km away · 71.3 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Sheep's Head - Mealagh Woods Loop?
2.9 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 60 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 1 hour 15 minutes.
How hard is the Sheep's Head - Mealagh Woods Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Sheep's Head - Mealagh Woods Loop start?
Starts at Car Park at Barnagowlanes, near Bantry. The trailhead is at 51.72459, -9.30378 (Irish Grid W 099 532).
Can you bring a dog on the Sheep's Head - Mealagh Woods 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.
Who manages the Sheep's Head - Mealagh Woods Loop?
Sheep’s Head Way Limited. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Cork
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.