Slieve Bloom Way
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Laois and Offaly
Slieve Bloom Way is a 71.4 km strenuous waymarked loop in Laois and Offaly, starting near Clonaslee.
Notice from the trail operator
NOTE - CLOSED between Glenbarrow to Monicknew until further notice due closure of the Ridge of Capard. Please note this trail can be started and finished at the Monicknew, Kinnitty, Cadamstown and Clonaslee trailheads as well as Glenbarrow. There is car parking available at all of these, however the car park at Glenbarrow is heavily used and it can be difficult to find a space here.
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with Slieve Bloom Outdoor Recreation Partnership before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 3.75 days |
Getting there
Starts at Glenbarrow, near Clonaslee.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.12221, -7.45025
- Irish Grid reference
- N 368 081
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 54
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
At Start: None.At End: None
About the trail
Although their highest point, called Arderin or 'the height of Ireland', is at 527 m, the isolated range of the Slieve Bloom Mountains have a presence that belies their height. They stand alone in Ireland's Central Plain, which means they can be seen for many miles around and the views from their heights are very extensive. The Slieve Bloom Way, a 70 km circuit of the range, crosses high, heathery ridges and dips down into many deep and beautiful glens through which streams flow, hidden landscapes as full of character as they are of stories and legends. The range is heavily forested with modern conifers which lends much of the route good terrain on forestry roads but means long sections have little outlook. Generally terrain consists of forestry tracks, tarmac roads, mostly quiet, and paths beside streams and over open moorland, some of which can be wet and muddy. Apart from in Kinnity, there is no accommodation available on the actual route, but there are towns and villages of considerable character strung around the range, some quite close to the route, that provide overnight accommodation. The total aggregate ascent over the route is 1275m, but there are no significant climbs. For more information follow external link to Shannon Region Trails
Before you go
The upgrade work at Clarnahinch / Ballyhuppahane is now completed and the Slieve Bloom Way returned to its original route here. All diversion signage has been removed. 5 kms or 14% of the Way follows local roads. Some soft ground may be encountered on parts of this route. ***Dogs not permitted on any section which crosses private farmland.*** NOTE **closed temporarily due to board walk repairs needed at the NPWS area of Ridge of Capard**
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Slieve Bloom Outdoor Recreation Partnership
Web: www.slievebloom.ie
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Glenbarrow - Eco Walk 57 m away · 8.5 km trail
- Glenbarrow - Old Mill Loop 57 m away · 10.5 km trail
- Glenbarrow - Waterfall Loop 57 m away · 4.2 km trail
- Ridge of Capard - Capard Loop 1.7 km away · 1.3 km trail
- Ridge of Capard - Glenbarrow Loop 1.7 km away · 3.9 km trail
- Ridge of Capard - Viewing Platform Loop 1.7 km away · 0.3 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Slieve Bloom Way?
71.4 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 1,275 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 3.75 days.
How hard is the Slieve Bloom Way?
Sport Ireland grades it Strenuous, with an overall difficulty of Challenging. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Slieve Bloom Way start?
Starts at Glenbarrow, near Clonaslee. The trailhead is at 53.12221, -7.45025 (Irish Grid N 368 081).
Can you bring a dog on the Slieve Bloom Way?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Slieve Bloom Way without a car?
At Start: None.At End: None.
Who manages the Slieve Bloom Way?
Slieve Bloom Outdoor Recreation Partnership. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Laois and 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.