Sheepshead Way Ltd

Amenity/Activity in Bantry

The Sheep’s Head Way, known as Slí Mhuintir Bhaire in Irish, is a long distance walking route of over 150km encompassing the Sheep’s Head Peninsula and the general Bantry area. Whiddy Island, in Bantry Bay, has a Walk and is connected by ferry to the mainland. From Drimoleague to the east, the Mealagh valley and Kealkil, Carriganass Castle with links to the Beara Breifne Way and which leads to Gougane Barra; local communities in these areas have all developed their own walks which are linked with The Sheep’s Head Way. The walker can experience spectacular views from various ridges, shoreline, cliff tops, and lake sides. As well as our native wildlife and rare wildflowers and plants, one can often observe dolphins and seals, sometimes whales, at sea. The walks also include the numerous monastic, archaeological and historical sites in the area where possible. 

Starting in Bantry, the route follows the ridge of Bantry Bay west along the Goat’s Path Road, all the way to Sheep’s Head—the end of the Peninsula. It then turns south and follows the contours of Dunmanus Bay through Kilcrohane, Ahakista and Durrus before returning to Bantry. The total length of the ring is around 180km and it can be completed in about four days walking. There are several very accessible loop walks of shorter distances, in addition to ten Fáilte Ireland Loop Walks with trail heads at Carriganass, Mealagh, Drimoleague, Bantry, Ahakista, Kilcrohane, the Blackgate and Sheep’s Head. These trails are colour coded and afford the self guided walker a wide variety of walking experiences from one to seven hours duration. Consult the guide to the Sheep’s Head Way which is available from numerous local outlets and for the Eastern routes, consult the Drimoleague Heritage Walkway booklet.

updates

There are no updates at the present time