Bolus Head loop from Ducalla

From the small parking area by the US Navy Liberator memorial at Ducalla, follow the purple arrows south along a quiet lane for about 1.5 km and fork right at the junction. A path then runs west across the slopes high above the cliffs, over stiles and small streams, to a point above Ducalla Head facing the Skelligs. It turns back east and climbs steeply to the ruined signal tower on the crest, the highest point. An old green road drops north-east, and tracks and a lane lead back to the junction; retrace the lane to the start. The loop goes anticlockwise.

It is 7.3 km round with 243 m of ascent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Easy: a quiet lane for about half the way, then a hillside path that is wet and boggy in places, and one steep climb.

The loop is waymarked and crosses private farmland by permission of the landowners: keep to the marked route, use the stiles and leave gates as you find them. No dogs are allowed, and livestock graze the fields. The cliffs below the path are high and unfenced, so keep well back, above all in wind.

Parking by the memorial is free but small. We found no public transport to Ducalla; Ballinskelligs village is a few kilometres north by road.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.