Pulleen Loop

A-B. Starting from the trailhead at Cuas Quay follow the blue arrow onto the tarred road and turn left.

After 200m you reach a grassy track onto open ground on your left. Turn left here.

B-C. Follow the grassy track across open ground and join a line of old stone walls. Keeping close to the walls, watch out for a variety of walled holdings, sheep pens and ruins of homesteads as you make your way to Dogs Point.

C-D. From Dogs Point sweep left to join the return section along the coastline (reaching 50m above sea level) and enjoy the breathtaking views over Kenmare Bay. In the distance the coastline of County Kerry is visible. Continue to follow the purple arrows to reach Coosmore Caves - well worth a visit.

D-A. From the caves enjoy the 250m back to the trailhead

Eyeries - Creha Quay

A-B. Starting from the trailhead at  O Sullivans shop in the heart of the village follow the blue arrow onto the access road towards the beach. You are also on the long-distance Beara Way marked with yellow arrows and the familiar trekking man logo. After approximately 1km the loop (and the way) leaves the roadway at a metal gate and accesses Eyeries Point.

B-C. Follow the sandy roadway to reach the edge of the water and turn right to follow the rugged, rocky shoreline - with high quality scenic views of Coulagh Bay and, in the distance, the coast of Kerry. After 1km you will briefly rejoin a tarred roadway before accessing the shoreline again.

C-D. Now the loop traverses a large number of small farm holdings common to this area before reaching Creha Quay where the longer Coastguard Station Loop (red arrows) and Beara Way (yellow arrows) continue straight onto the coastline again. You turn right here following the blue arrow onto the tarred roadway.

D-E. Continue to follow the tarred roadway for 200m to where the Coastguard Station Loop (red arrows) rejoins it at a laneway on your left. Keep straight ahead here.

E-A. The loop ascends for 500m to enter the cheerfully painted village at its northern end. Turn right and enjoy the remaining 200m through the village and back to the trailhead.

Eyeries - Coastguard Station Loop

A-B. Starting from the trailhead at Sullivans shop in the heart of the village follow the red arrow onto the access road towards the beach. You are also on the long-distance Beara Way marked with yellow arrows and the familiar trekking man logo. The blue arrows are for the shorter Creha Quay Loop which will return to the village at an earlier point along the loop. After approximately 1km both loops (and the way) leaves the roadway at a metal gate and accesses Eyeries Point.

B-C. Follow the sandy roadway to reach the edge of the water and turn right to follow the rugged, rocky shoreline - with high quality scenic views of Coulagh Bay and, in the distance, the coast of Kerry. After 1km you will briefly rejoin a tarred roadway before accessing the shoreline again.

C-D. Now the loop traverses a large number of small farm holdings common to this area before reaching Creha Quay where the shorter Creha Loop (blue arrows) turns right onto the roadway and returns to the village. You continue straight here following the red arrows and the yellow arrows of the Beara Way.

D-E. Continue to follow the arrows along the coastline to reach a ruined coastguard station near Ballycrovane Harbour. At the boathouse, you leave the Beara Way as the loop turns sharply right and inland to join an old lane which after 500m joins a tarred roadway at a stile. Another 500m the loop turns right onto a tarred laneway.

E-F. The loop descends to reach a house and then enters an old laneway which takes you parallel to the shore back towards Creha Quay. The laneway exits onto a tarred roadway where it joins the Creha Loop (blue arrows). Turn left here.

F-A. The loop ascends for 500m to enter the cheerfully painted village at its northern end. Turn right and enjoy the remaining 200m through the village and back to the trailhead.

Dursey Island is located at the tip of the Beara Peninsula in Co. Cork. Access to the island is by the only cablecar in Ireland, which takes six people or one large animal at a time!  The island has very few inhabitants and no shops, pubs or restaurants – thus offering a unique experience of undisturbed tranquility. Dursey is famous for its magnificent selection of bird species and is a birdwatchers’ heaven. The island has a stark and appealing beauty, with rugged indented coastline, lofty cliffs, open bog and a patchwork of fields divided by dry stone walls and ditches. The landscape is almost treeless since few parts of the island are not exposed to strong winds and salt spray. The landscape is dotted with antiquities ranging from standing stones and early monastery to an impressive signal station from the Napoleonic era. [The cablecar operates only certain periods of the day – please check timetable and allow at least 5hrs for your trip.]

A-B. Starting from the cable car, follow the purple arrow along the roadway which travels the southern side of the island. You are also on the long-distance Beara Way marked with yellow arrows and the familiar trekking man logo. After 1km you reach Ballynacallagh the first of three villages on the island. Continue along the roadway.

 B-C. Follow the roadway for a further 1km to reach the village of Kilmichael where it is said that monks from Skellig Rock founded the ancient church - now a ruin. Stay on the roadway.

C-D. Continue along the roadway for a further 3kms – and enjoy the spectacular views of the Beara Peninsula on your left. To your right runs a range of steep hills along which you will return – the Signal Station is at the highest of 252m. Within 100m of the end of the roadway, you turn right at a stone wall onto the hillside section.

[Note: You may wish to consider the option of continuing from here to Dursey Head, the westernmost point of the island.

The out-and-back journey will add 1hr-1hr30mins to your trip.]   

D-E. Follow purple and yellow arrows along the well-worn track uphill – a 15min walk will take you to the impressive Signal Tower (ruins). From here you have fine views of the northern side of the island and of the west Cork coastline. Two distinctive islands to the West are named the Bull and Cow! Continue straight from the tower - careful to follow the direction of the waymarker.

E-F. The loop now begins to descend, crossing a stile and joining a ‘green’ road for approximately 500m. As you round a right bend, the loop takes a sharp left turn uphill again onto a grassy track.

E-F. The loop ascends briefly and then descends steeply to reach an old roadway where you turn left and after 200m cross a stile.

F-B-A. The loop follows a series of old green paths to exit via a gateway onto the roadway you traveled out on in the village of Ballynacallagh. Turn left here and enjoy the remaining 1km back to the trailhead.

Directions to Trailhead

Start from Castletownbere (or Castletown Berehaven) on the R572 on the southern side of the Bear Peninsula. Follow the R572 for 15km to reach a junction with the R575 near Bealbarnish Gap – turn left here following the signs for Dursey Island. Another 7km will take you to the Cable Car at Ballaghboy.

Bere Island Nature Walk

Please click on the above to enlarge