Black Head and Gleninagh Mountain, The Burren
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 9.08 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,302 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,365 ft
- Max elevation
- 1,049 ft
- TrailRank
-
49
5
- Min elevation
- 87 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Coordinates
- 499
- Uploaded
- August 9, 2008
- Recorded
- August 2008
near Murroogh, Galway (Ireland)
Viewed 29056 times, downloaded 563 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This great walk gives you a fine impression of The Burren landscape. You climb Carnsefin and Gleninagh mountains above Blackhead. Splendid views over the surrounding hills, Galway Bay, Aran Islands and the Atlantic. Once you leave the green road and climb up along the wall the going gets pretty rough. From here the stretch is totally devoid of paths until you arrive on the country lane. The final stretch is a relaxed stroll upon a quiet valley road along the Caher river. The walk starts from the carpark at St. Patrick's Church near Fanore bridge.
Alternatives: The ringfort can also be reached by leaving the green road earlier where it turns west (N53 08.241 W9 16.180), and follow a guide wall NE which leads all the way up to the ringfort (ignore any side walls). This is a much gentler ascent and the views are better.
Update 2011: The church carpark has a locked gate nowadays which is usually closed. You can try to park nearby along the Caher valley road. Other option is to park at Fanore beach.
Credits go to Kevin Corcoran who describes this classic walk in his book West of Ireland Walks.
Alternatives: The ringfort can also be reached by leaving the green road earlier where it turns west (N53 08.241 W9 16.180), and follow a guide wall NE which leads all the way up to the ringfort (ignore any side walls). This is a much gentler ascent and the views are better.
Update 2011: The church carpark has a locked gate nowadays which is usually closed. You can try to park nearby along the Caher valley road. Other option is to park at Fanore beach.
Credits go to Kevin Corcoran who describes this classic walk in his book West of Ireland Walks.
Waypoints
Hiking
1,040 ft
CARNSEFIN TOP
09-AUG-08 11:39:26 - Top of Carnsein Mountain
Hiking
659 ft
CATHAIR DHUN IORAIS
09-AUG-08 11:09:20 - The Iron Age ring fort of Cathair Dhún Iorais
Hiking
0 ft
COUNTRY LANE
End of pathless stretch
Hiking
991 ft
GLENINAGH SOUTH TOP
09-AUG-08 13:00:49 - Lower south top of Gleninagh Mountain
Hiking
1,037 ft
GLENINAGH TOP
09-AUG-08 12:40:58 - Top of Gleninagh Mountain
Hiking
112 ft
GREEN ROAD
09-AUG-08 10:13:09 - Start of the Green Road
Hiking
397 ft
VALLEY ROAD
09-AUG-08 13:47:52 - The country lane ends at the valley road, which leads you back to the starting point.
Hiking
351 ft
WALL
09-AUG-08 10:47:26 - Leave the green road and follow the wall up to the ring fort.
Comments (3)
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Hi love this was the ramble we went on last sunday enjoyed it very much. xx
I have followed this trail verified View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
We did this walk in revrerse which was probably a good thing as we had all the beautiful sea views at the end . It was very warm but there was a lovely breeze at the top. Different from the norm but nicer for that . Highly recommended.
I have followed this trail verified View more
Information
Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Thank you for making this trail. We followed in reversed to get the road out of the way first and savour the coast views at the end. The church car park was open today, it may not be all year round