Walking in Waterville Ireland: Local walks

Waterville – Golf Links ‐ Waterville

Leaving Waterville Village follow the road to the left at the Huntsman Restaurant. This brings you
along the cliff road. It is a very spectacular, pleasant walk on a fine summer’s day. You have a view
of the whole of Ballinskelligs Bay and Carraig Eanna, a reef of rocks less than a mile from the shore.
Continue to the end of the road until you come to the Inny Beach, a long sandy beach alongside the
Golf Course.

Return Distance – 2 Miles

Waterville – Waterlily Bay – Waterville

Leave Waterville Village, heading south. Pass a bridge and turn left at signpost for Waterville Lake
Hotel. Pass the hotel on your left and a wood on your right. This wood (Ballybrack Wood) is one of
tour few remaining native woods and reminds us of what the whole area was like in a previous age.
Continue walking, with the lake on your left hand side. You can see some of the lakes, Rabbit Island,
Oven Island and the historic Church Island. At Waterlily Bay the road runs alongside the lake. You
can walk along the shore and in season you can see an impressive display of water lilies in bloom.
You may even be lucky and see a trout being hauled in!

Return Distance – 5 Miles

Waterville – Baslicon – Waterville

Using Waterville as a starting point, head towards Caherdaniel. Continue for about 1.25 miles until
you pass a bridge on a dangerous right hand bend. After another 200 yards (approx.) turn right on
to an old green road. The green road which is walled on both sides by beautifully built dry stone
walls, continue for about .75 of a mile. You will be able to see across Ballinskelligs Bay and Lough
Currane. When the green road crosses a tarred road turn right and continue past a bridge until you
again meet the Waterville/Caherdaniel road. Turn left here and return to Waterville.

Return Distance – 3 Miles

Waterville – Hogs Head ‐ Waterville

Leave Waterville heading towards Caherdaniel. Turn right at a Petrol Station about 0.25 miles
beyond the village. After about 1 mile you will be walking within sight of Ballinskelligs Bay. About
3.5 miles from Waterville you pass a small pier (Rineen Pier) used by the local fishermen. The road
continues alongside the Bay and climbs through a gap in the mountain. On the other side you will
see Derrynane Bay dotted by its varied islands, Scariff, Deenish, etc. As you pass through this
mountain gap you can see, standing stark and impressive on top of the mountain on your left, a
bleak ruin of a building which is locally known as “the lighthouse”. It is in fact a military barracks,
which served as a lookout station during the Napoleonic Wars. A similar structure can be seen,
across the bay on Bolus Head. The road ends about half a mile from the mountain pass.

Return Distance – 9 Miles.