Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk
Walking Trail · Cork
Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk is a 9.8 km strenuous waymarked loop in Cork, starting near Dunmanway.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 3 hours 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Sam Maguire Plaza, Dunmanway, near Dunmanway.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 51.72158, -9.1143
- Irish Grid reference
- W 23056 52681
- 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.
Public transport
Bus Eireann 236, West Cork Connect 229
About the trail
From the trailhead the route goes up St Mary’s Road and follows the local road for about 2.65 Km until the route leaves the road right and enters open mountain. This route goes eastwards over marshy land and rocky outcrops climbing gradually until the route turns northwards and then westwards to reach the summit of Mount Gunnery (known locally as The Yew Tree Hill) at 231 metres. This point offers panoramic views over the town of Dunmanway and of West Cork. To the north can be seen the homestead of Sam Maguire, and to the west Nowen Hill, the source of the Bandon River. The walk then descends north-westwards to reach the grotto on a quite local road. At the grotto, cross the road and continue westwards over rough terrain, noting the stone causeway, until you reach the summit of this section of the route, all the time enjoying the scenic beauty of the countryside with Nowen Hill to the far west. The route then descends into plantations of deciduous and evergreen woodland to reach another local road. The route turns left at this point to meet the local road on which you came from Dunmanway Town. Follow this road back to the finish point.
- Waymarking
- White arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
Dunmanway Trails Management Committee
Dunmanway Trails Management Committee
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Carrigfadda - Carrigfadda Hill Walk 11 km away · 2.4 km trail
- Sheep's Head - St. Finbarr's Way (Drimoleague) 12 km away · 39.7 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Top of the Rock Walk (Drimoleague) 12 km away · 2 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Deelish Cascades Walk (Drimoleague) 12 km away · 3.1 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Glounaclohy Walk (Drimoleague) 12 km away · 5.4 km trail
- Sheep's Head - Drimoleague Heritage Trail 12 km away · 5.1 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk?
9.8 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 3 hours 30 minutes.
How hard is the Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk?
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 Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk start?
Starts at Sam Maguire Plaza, Dunmanway, near Dunmanway. The trailhead is at 51.72158, -9.1143 (Irish Grid W 23056 52681).
Can you bring a dog on the Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Can you get to the Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk without a car?
Bus Eireann 236, West Cork Connect 229.
Who manages the Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk?
Dunmanway Trails Management Committee. 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.