Two waymarked cliff loops around the tip of a quiet East Cork peninsula, where seabird cliffs, a Napoleonic signal tower and views to Capel Island pack into a couple of hours' walking.
The longer loop follows gravel track and minor road around the tip of the Knockadoon peninsula, passing the signal tower and thatched cottages. It is graded easy, takes about 1 hour 30 minutes with roughly 40 m of ascent, and is waymarked with a black arrow on an orange background; dogs must be on a lead.
An easy 30-minute circuit that starts and finishes at the same Knockadoon picnic area, tracking the coast past the signal tower. Waymarked with a green arrow on a black background.
Knockadoon Head is a haven for around 50 pairs of cormorants in summer, plus herring and great black-backed gulls, fulmars, choughs, ravens and peregrine falcons. Grey seals are the most commonly seen sea mammal offshore, though whales and dolphins sometimes pass. Knockadoon Head, Capel Island and the sea between form a national nature reserve.
The route passes a Napoleonic War lookout tower and a Second World War concrete lookout post, reminders of the peninsula's coastal-defence past.
Expect sea cliffs, maritime flowers right beside the path and long views across Ballycotton and Youghal bays to Capel Island. The approach roads down to the pier are narrow, so drive slowly and look out for walkers.
Both loops start and finish at the picnic area at Knockadoon, where the community project has added tables, seating, signage and a large map; there are more seats along the walk. From the pier you look straight across to Youghal and the mouth of the River Blackwater.
The Lobster Pot food truck sits on Knockadoon Pier, serving fresh fish and chips, prawns, squid rings, burgers, chips, coffee and snacks, generally opening at weekends.
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