A rugged Coillte woodland on the slopes of the Comeragh Mountains, Kilclooney is the gateway to Coumshingaun Lough — one of Ireland's finest glacial corrie lakes — with trails ranging from a gentle forest stroll to a genuinely demanding ridge scramble.
The bucket-list hike: a 6–7.5 km loop with 600–700 m of ascent, taking 3–5 hours. Climb steeply clockwise around the rim of a spectacular glacial corrie for heart-stopping views down to the dark lake hundreds of metres below. Exposed in places with some hands-on scrambling — not for the inexperienced or faint-hearted. Download a GPS map before you go; the trail is faint in sections.
If the full loop is too much, walk the 1.8 km (each way) path from the car park to the lakeshore. About 250 m of ascent and 1–1.5 hours return. You still get the dramatic cliff-walled setting — perfect for a picnic by the water.
Explore the coniferous forest itself — Sitka spruce, Scots pine, larch and hemlock with small pockets of broadleaf. Gentle forest tracks suitable for a shorter walk. Keep an eye out for red squirrels, fallow deer, foxes and badgers.
Just a 10-minute drive away near Mahon Falls: park at the bottom of a small hill, release the handbrake, and watch your car appear to roll backwards uphill — a classic optical illusion that delights kids and adults alike.
Bring binoculars: peregrine falcons, hen harriers, ravens and buzzards hunt the corrie, while feral goats work the high slopes and otters may be spotted at the water's edge. The area is a designated Special Area of Conservation.
A picnic site at the car park makes a fine base. Sit and admire the sweeping views of the Comeragh Mountains with the sound of the Uisce Solas (bright water) stream nearby.
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