The Sherwood Forest of Munster

Route: This loop walk starts at Bernard Collins Memorial car park. It is a Moderate walk with a climb of 130m. We follow the purple/red trail way markings. We reach a height of 273m with glorious vistas of Carrantuohill, Ireland’s highest mountain, the Gap of Dunloe and Mount Brandon. This is a place where football Munster finals were played.
This walk can also be made shorter (2 hours)

Duration: 3.5 hours (includes a break with tea and cake)
Grade/Pace: Easy/Moderate at an easy/moderate pace
Distance: 9.5km
Gear: Hiking boots or a good walking shoe, waterproof jacket.

History/Myth: Once this valley was covered in oak wood and sheltered many famous Irish heroes, during the Desmond Rebellion and the Irish Civil War. Gerald the last Earl of Desmond, hid here until one of his own men betrayed him for a handful of silver and he was beheaded in 1583 after months of hiding in dense woods – a plaque now marks the spot where his blood stained the earth. The loop takes us by the site of Desmond Castle; the Ravens Glen waterfall; and on to the ruins of Sean Thaigh Og’s cabin where, in 1916 Robert Monteith evaded his enemies after the unsuccessful landing of arms at Banna Strand.

This route and the hideaway was taken by Stephen Fuller in March1923 when he was sole survivor of the Ballyseedy massacre.

John Lenihan, World Champion Irish Mountain Runner, trained here on this route.

The Dan Ahern Bridge
In 1964, Ballymacelligott cyclist Dan Ahern took America by storm and in doing so was awarded the Cyclist of the Year in America. However, he was not an American and could not represent America in The Tokyo Olympics.