Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail
Walking Trail · Cork
Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail is a 2.5 km easy waymarked out-and-back route in Cork, starting near Baltimore on the mainland.
Distance and time given are for the return journey
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 2 hours |
Getting there
Starts at First junction above the pier on Sherkin Island, near Baltimore on the mainland.
Finishes at First junction above the pier on Sherkin Island.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.4761, -9.40182
- Irish Grid reference
- W 026 256
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 88
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
Ferry from Baltimore
About the trail
This is an attractive road walk west which climbs the small hill to the church and then opens panoramic views across Roaring Water Bay to the Mizen.
- Waymarking
- Red arrow on white background
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Sherkin Island Development Society
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Sherkin Island 3 Yellow Trail 0 m away · 1.9 km trail
- Sherkin Island 5 Blue Trail 0 m away · 2.3 km trail
- Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop 0 m away · 2 km trail
- Baltimore Beacon Walk 2.0 km away · 1.5 km trail
- Baltimore Coney Walk 2.0 km away · 1.2 km trail
- Baltimore Hill Loop 2.0 km away · 2.1 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail?
2.5 km, recorded as a out-and-back route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 2 hours. Distance and time given are for the return journey
How hard is the Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail start?
Starts at First junction above the pier on Sherkin Island, near Baltimore on the mainland. The trailhead is at 51.4761, -9.40182 (Irish Grid W 026 256).
Can you bring a dog on the Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail?
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 Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail without a car?
Ferry from Baltimore.
Who manages the Sherkin Island 5 Red Trail?
Sherkin Island Development Society. 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.