Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop
Walking Trail · Cork
Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop is a 2 km easy waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Baltimore (on mainland).
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Easy | Easy | 60 mins |
Getting there
Starts at First junction above the pier on Sherkin Island, near Baltimore (on mainland).
- 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
About the trail
This is an attractive and enjoyable walking trail which is made up of minor roadways and green tracks and takes in the eastern end of Sherkin Island in the area between Horseshoe and Kinish Harbours with views across Horseshoe Harbour and the Island.
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow on white background
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
Sherkin Island Development Society
email: [email protected]
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 5 Red Trail 0 m away · 2.5 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 Horseshoe Loop?
2 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 40 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 60 mins.
How hard is the Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Easy. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop start?
Starts at First junction above the pier on Sherkin Island, near Baltimore (on mainland). The trailhead is at 51.4761, -9.40182 (Irish Grid W 026 256).
Can you bring a dog on the Sherkin Island Horseshoe 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.
Can you get to the Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop without a car?
Ferry.
Who manages the Sherkin Island Horseshoe Loop?
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.