Ballyvaughan - Black Head Loop

Walking
County Clare
4.2/5
11 reviews
Grade Strenuous
Length 24.1 km
Time 7 hours
Format Loop
Ascent 480 m
Dogs Allowed No
Waymarking Purple arrow on white background
Start Point
Fanore Beach mapboard
Finish Point
Fanore Beach mapboard
Nearest Town to Start Ballyvaughan
Lat. and Long. 53.11837, -9.28206

This loop is a mix of Burren hill and coast, following green laneways, tracks, and mountain paths and taking in Fanore Beach, the Caher Valley and part of Gleninagh Mountain with some wonderful views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. It is also rich in the Burren wildflowers.

Maps and other information

Facilities

Car park

Trekking shoes, raingear and fluids are recommended

OSI Maps

OSI Maps

Discovery Series Sheet 51
11 trail reviews
4.2/5
Write your own review of this trail
5/5
09/15/2012

Mary from Wicklow

Without question, this is one of the best walks in Ireland, particularly during the wild flower season from April to July. For those who do not need a punishing 26k circuit on rocky ground, it can be broken into two walks, using the short cut back through the Caher valley to convert the loop to a figure of 8 which produces two excellent all-day walks of about equal length, the northern one (via Black Head) containing the best of both scenery and botanical interest. The green road over Black Head offers constant visual challenge between the distant views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands and the delights of the wildflowers and the Burren geology at closer range.

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