Tipperary · Moderate · There and back

Lough Muskry from the Glen of Aherlow

From the Glen of Aherlow up a forest track and a moorland path to Lough Muskry, a corrie lake under the cliffs of the Galtee ridge.

Distance
8.7 km (5.4 mi)
Ascent
353 m
Time
About 3 h
High point
501 m
Grade
Moderate

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

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Lough Muskry from the Glen of Aherlow
Colin Park · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From the trail car park at the forest edge south-east of Rossadrehid, follow the forest track signed Lake Muskry Trail up through the trees, keeping straight on at the junctions. Above the trees a path climbs steadily south up Derry Glen across open moorland to the north shore of Lough Muskry, set under the cliffs of the Galtee ridge. The smaller Lough Farbreaga lies just beyond its east end. Return the same way.

It is 8.7 km there and back with 353 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Moderate: a forest track, then a rocky path that is muddy and boggy in places.

The walk is waymarked and promoted by the Glen of Aherlow Fáilte Society. Above the forest it crosses mountain grazing land, by the landowners' goodwill. No dogs are allowed, not even on a lead. The corrie walls above the lake are steep: stay by the north shore. Mist comes down quickly on the Galtees, and there are no facilities.

The trail car park is free. Aherlow Fáilte's own route starts in Rossadrehid village, about 1 km further down the lane. There is no bus to the start: Bus Éireann's Limerick to Waterford route 55 stops in Bansha, about 5 km away.

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.

Good to know

  • Lough Muskry fills an ice-carved corrie at about 520 m below the main Galtee ridge.
  • Its old name was Lough Beal Sead, the lake of the jewel mouth, from a legend of maidens turned into birds.
  • The rock tor of O'Loughnan's Castle on the ridge above is a nunatak, a peak that stood above the glaciers.
  • The Galtees here are Old Red Sandstone; botanists come to the lake for St Patrick's cabbage, saxifrages and roseroot.

Getting there

Start: Glen of Aherlow, Lough Muskry trail car park · Free parking. 52.40615, -8.12210

Directions to the start

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Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Glen of Aherlow: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →

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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.