Glanteenassig Loop Walk
Length: 0.8 km/0.5 mi, allow 30 minutes Blue Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 0.4 km/0.25 mi, allow 15 minutes Orange Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.8 km/1.1 mi, allow 1-1.5 hours Red Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Terrain: wooded areas, footpaths
Gear: Comfortable walking shoes/boots, raingear, mobile phone, snacks and fluids
Ascent: N/A
When to go: All year round
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Family Friendly: Yes
Dog Friendly: Yes but dogs must be kept on a leash.
Stopping Points: No set points but some interesting things to see are listed in description below.
Nearest Services: Castlegregory
Car Parking: Yes, there is a car park at the start of the trailhead.
Ordnance Survey Map No: 70
Disclaimer: Gems Publishing Ltd. do not accept responsibility for injury, loss or inconvenience caused while walking these trails. Common sense should prevail at all times.
Before you start: Glanteenassig is to be found 4kms off the R560 road between Tralee and Dingle. It is approximately 24 kms from Tralee at the hermitage of Aughacashla. Approaching the Seven Hogs restaurant on the right coming from Tralee, 200m ahead prepare to take the next left at a small crossroads. GPS – N 52 degrees 14.1900 W 009 degrees 58.8890. Follow this minor road for 4 kms, through some small farmsteads, to reach the main car park. You can choose to leave your car here for the day and walk to each site or follow the forest road up hill to the first trailhead at the River Walk.
History to know: The first opportunity to experience the beauty of the Glanteenassig Loop Walk is about 1.2 km from the car park. Just after crossing a wooden bridge, take a left along the trail to the shore of Lough Slat. This quiet lake lies below dramatic cliffs of Carrigaspanaig. This scene can be even more dramatic after heavy rain when “a thousand wild fountains rush down to that lake from their home in the mountains.” (J.J. Callinan). It is easy to understand the origin of the name Glanteenassig or Gleann Ti an Easaigh which translates to the Valley of the Waterfalls.
A to B: The River Walk begins at the timber bridge car park. It takes you along the banks of the Owencashla River as it runs through the forest.
B to C: Continue uphill to Lough Slat. This is a short linear trail to its shores. But it is idyllic and worth exploring and make sure you remember the camera.
C to D: Lough Caum Boardwalk loop is found at the uppermost car park via a left turn at the T-junction on the forest road, marked ‘to the lakes’. You are experiencing the remnants of an ice age era as your walk takes you along the shores of deep lough Caum, a lake bed which the melting glacier left behind.
D back to A: Glanteenassig Vista, as you leave the Lough Caum car park your return route takes you turning to the left, marked -viewing point 200m – here Tralee Bay & the Stack’s Mountains open up before you. Continue your journey (by car or on foot) following the winding forest road downhill until you meet your original route at the T-junction for the lakes.
Finish: We hope you have enjoyed the walk and found the information here useful. As always, if you have any comments to make please contact us at info@kerrygems.com.
