Ballyvaughan Wood Loop

01 Aug 2009)
Download a PDF map of the trail here, and refer to the letters as you follow the route.
Loop: Ballyvaghan Wood Loop

Trailhead: Ballyvaghan, Co. Clare

Services: Ballyvaghan village

Dist/Time: 8kn / 2hrs-2hrs 30 mins

Difficulty: Easy

Terrain: Surfaced roadway, green roads, tracks, cross country

To suit: Medium level of fitness

Min Gear: Trekking Shoes, waterproofs, fluid, snacks, mobile phone


Directions to the Trailhead:
Start from the village of Ballyvaughan which is located on the R477 and is a one hour drive north of Ennis. The trailhead is located in the village, at the car park on the coast road to Fanore.

A - B. Start frin tge trailhead directly opposite the entrance to the road which takes you past the primary school, which is also part of the Burren Way. Follow the various purplearrows across a series of stone stiles and wooden sections to exit into a field which takes you on to a surfaced roadway where the loop turns left and leaves the Burren way, which turns right.

B - C. Follow the surfaced roadway for approximately 300m to reach the N69 - turn left, and almost immediately, turn right again onto a minor road. Follow this road to its conclusion at a metal gate into a field. Cross the stile and follow the purple arrows across the fields, and through a path cut through a wooden area, and sandy roadways to exit close to the entrance to Aillwee Cave where you turn left.

C - D. Now follow the roadway for approximately 2km to reach a T-junction where you turn left. Pass through a gateway and join a green road. Follow this green road for approximately 300m to exit at a double gate. Continue straight as the green roadway changes to a surfaced roadway and eventually reaches a T-junstion where you turn left to a minor surfaced road.

D - A. After approximately 400m on this surfaced road you join the N69 Galway road where you turn left for the last trek back through the village of Ballyvaghan to the trailhead.