Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk

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.