Skibbereen a Walking Town
The town boasts several walking groups, loop walks within the town itself and its own walking festival in September.
Walking Groups
Skibbereen Walking Group is a walking club catering for a wide range of member capabilities ranging from Easy Walks to demanding Hill Walks.
https://www.skibbereenwalkinggroup.com/
http://www.baltimore.ie/event/walking-in-aid-of-the-irish-heart-foundation/
Walking Festival
All roads lead to and from Skibbereen the last weekend in September when the Walking Festival takes place with guided walks through quiet country roads (with some off-road sections) for walkers of all abilities.
The meeting point for most walks is Skibbereen Heritage Centre with bus transport provided to and from out of town walks. Great company, expert guides, all levels catered for and free tea and scones on all walks.
For this year’s festival dates, programme and tickets visit skibbereen.ie
Walking Itineraries & Maps
ABBEY LOOP WALK
Moderate Loop Walk • Distance: 4.3bm
Total Climb: 60m • Time: 1 to Ihr 15min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, public part?, quiet roads & riverside walk.
Description: from trailhead at Skibbereen Heritage Centre towards West Cork? Hotel on Ilen Street, crossing Kennedy Bridge through O’Donovan Rossa Memorial Park to Marsh Road. Through Glencurragh and Curragh Road with gradual rise to high point with panoramic view of Skibbereen and lien Estuary before descending along a quiet country road to Abbeystrowry Burial Ground, site of an old Cistercian abbey and famine burial pits. Crossing the N71 and Newbridge to riverside wall? back towards the Heritage Centre.
ROCK LOOP WALK
Easy Loop Walk • Distance: 4.5hm
Total Climb: 30m • Time: 1 to 1hr 15min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, public roads, off road path and town streets.
Description: from trailhead at Skibbereen Heritage Centre towards Bridge Street and through the old Railway Cutting to Mardyke. Onto the Baltimore Road and back towards Market Street before rising up the Gortnaclohy Road onto Chapel Lane. Passing two old burial grounds to High Street and then off road to Windmill Rock, site of the famine memorial with view over town. Continue down to North Street past the cathedral and the courthouse to the Relief Road and back to the Heritage Centre via Ilen Street.
COMPASS LOOP WALK
Moderate Loop Walk • Distance: 5.1bm
Total Climb: 50m • Time: 1hr 15min to 1hr 30min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, quiet public roads & town streets.
Description: from trailhead at Skibbereen Heritage Centre onto Upper Bridge Street and continuing as far as St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Turning up the country road towards Compass Hill with panoramic views towards Baltimore and Lough Hyne before descending onto Baltimore Road and going back towards the town centre along Market Street. Passing the Town Hall and Maid of Erin Statue through Main Street to Bridge Street past the Canon Goodman Memorial and Abbeystrewry Parish Church and back to the Heritage Centre.
See Slí na Sláinte brochure
SKIBBEREEN SLI NA SLAINTE
Easy Loop Walk • Distance: 4.7hm
Total Climb: 20m
Time: 1 to 1hr 15min
Terrain: roadside footpaths, riverside walk & town streets.
Caution: All walks are on public roads or paths. All walkers are responsible for their own safety.
Please be mindful of traffic and obey the rules of the road.
CORK COUNTY COUNCIL
Skibbereen Walks are developed by Skibbereen Tidy Towns with grant aid from Cork County Council and West Cork Development Partnership
Three interlinked loop walks around the historic market town of Skibbereen. Beginning at the Skibbereen Heritage Centre you visit the town’s historic sites, climb the surrounding hills and are rewarded with panoramic views of the town and lien River estuary
