At 694 m, Keeper Hill (Sliabh Coimeálta) is the highest mountain in the Shannon area, and its forested slopes above the River Doonane hide waterfalls, a stone sweathouse and wide summit views.
A strenuous 8.2 km trek, allow about 3 hours with some 550 m of ascent, follows red arrows up to the 694 m summit, the highest point in the Shannon area. Gullies and waterfalls line the way, including one known locally as the Spout.
A moderate 8.3 km loop (about 3 hours, 410 m of ascent) on forestry tracks and woodland trails around the lower shoulders of the hill, waymarked with purple arrows. On the descent through the townland of Boolatin you pass a stone sweat house.
A section of this 43 km long-distance waymarked way from Murroe to Silvermines village passes through the Doonane and Ballyhourigan woods, so the loop can be extended into a longer day out.
The woods lie within a Special Protection Area for the hen harrier; scan the uplands for silver-grey males with black wingtips and brown females with a white rump. Look too for the mixed woodland of beech, larch, spruce, ash and pine.
A stone sweat house sits close to the forest road and other archaeological features lie just off the trail; a signposted mass rock is only a few minutes' detour from the loop.
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