Kealoge Mine Loop map

Walk Details

  • Starting point: Allihies Copper Mine Museum, Allihies, Co Cork
  • Difficulty:  Moderate/Experienced
  • Length: 10 Kilometres
  • Time: 3hrs – 4hrs
  • Terrain  Type: Minor roads, coastline, hillside tracks.
  • High/Ascent:  160m/220m
  • Grid Reference: OS Sheet 84, V586 448
  • Waymarker Colour:Blue

   Directions:

  • A-B. Leaving the Allihies Copper Mine Museum, follow the blue (and green and purple) arrows downhill along the surfaced road. The green and purple arrows are for other loops. After 200m pass a crossroads and 500m later reach a 4-way junction where you turn right onto the ‘beach road’. Note that you have now joined the long-distance Beara Way – waymarked with yellow arrows. Follow this road for 600m past the beach and public toilets and join a sandy roadway which takes you across a stile and onto the coastline.
  • B-C. Follow the blue (green, purple and yellow) arrows as the loop takes you along this superb coastline for 2km.
    Joining a surfaced road cross straight over and follow this road for 300m to reach a stile where you turn left. Follow the blue arrows as the loop takes you by farm buildings and uphill to a disused mine area. Joining a surfaced road, turn right and travel downhill for 200m to reach a narrow track on your right. The green loop turns right here – but you continue straight on following the blue (and purple) arrows.
  • C-D. Follow the roadway for 300m to reach a stile on your left. Cross this stile and follow the blue arrows past old mining buildings to join a minor roadway. After 500m you join a surfaced road and turn left. Follow this road for more than 1km to a junction where you rejoin the Beara Way (yellow arrows). Continue to follow roadway past Kealoge Mine (on your right) to reach a narrow laneway on your right where the purple loop goes straight – but you turn right following the blue (and yellow) arrows.
  • D-A. The surfaced laneway soon becomes a grassy laneway as it descends. Near the edge of the village you join the surfaced road on which you started out – turn right and enjoy the last 200m back to the trailhead.

  Features:

This walk takes you past Ballydonegan beach along the stunning  and rugged coastline as well as wandering the hillsides beyond Allihies and Ballydonegan. You’ll get to see many disused mines as well as the picturesque farm houses and even some wild mountain sheep on your way! It follows minor roads, coastline and hillside tracks with some great coastal scenery.

  • Never walk alone, tell people where you are going and when you’ll return.

  • Familiarize yourself as much as possible with the route in advance, bring an appropriate map with you, contact the Allihies Copper Mine Museum to get advice on the routes.

  • Always follow the correct way marker signs when on your route.

  • Come prepared, wear comfortable durable hiking boots or shoes,  a backpack  with rain gear , torch, blanket, socks, sufficient food, plenty of water or fluids , and an extra power-bank for your mobile phone.

  • Please consider the environment, don’t leave any rubbish lying around, leave as you found!

  • If there is an emergency please call 999 or 112, check the weather forecast before you plan your hike.