A-B. From the trailhead at Ionad Siúil follow the red (and blue) arrows onto a minor road with signposts for Tobar Cholmcille. The blue arrows are for the shorter Lúb an Túir. After 100m turn left at a T-junction and after another 400m turn left at a 3-way junction. Continue to follow the red and blue arrows as the loop takes you away from the village in the direction of Beefan Mountain. After approx 2km the loops leave surfaced roadways and join a stony mountain road at a metal gate. It is a short detour here for Tobar Cholmcille (St Columba’s Well) - the loop continues straight and uphill.
B-C. Continue to follow the red and blue arrows as the mountain road ascends. After approx 2km you reach a point where you have a chance to take a spur (left) to the Túr (a Signal Tower). The trip will add about 40mins to your walk - but it’s well worth it for the spectacular views. The loops continue to follow (sometimes faint) mountain roads across a summit and then descend to reach a surfaced roadway. Here the Lúb an Túir (blue arrows) turns right and downhill – but you turn left and uphill.
C-D. Now follow the red arrows as the loop ascends for 1km to reach a mast where you leave the surfaced roadway and turn right onto a bog road. This road sweeps around the shoulder of Drum Hill and then desends to join a surfaced road and turn right. After 1km you rejoin the Lúb an Túir at a sharp left bend.
D-A. Continue to follow the blue and red arrows as the loops descend via minor roads to return to the trailhead.
Trail details
- Type:
- Walking Trail
- Location:
- Glencolmcille Loops
- Grade:
- Strenuous
- Format:
- Loop
- Length:
- 6.90km
- Ascent:
- 440m
- Dogs allowed:
- No
No services at trailhead. Public toilets at train station in Banteer.