Sheep's Head Lighthouse Loop from Tooreen

From the Tooreen car park at the end of the Sheep's Head road, follow the blue loop arrows south-west on the Dunmanus Bay side, past rocky outcrops and Lough Akeen, to the tip of the peninsula, where concrete steps lead to the lighthouse. The loop then turns back along the Bantry Bay side, where the path runs close to sea cliffs with wide views, and returns to the car park. The loop goes clockwise.

It is 4.2 km round with 102 m of ascent; allow about 1¼ hours. The grade is Hard: a narrow, rocky path on steep ground, with about 1.5 km of it marked in OpenStreetMap as demanding mountain hiking along the cliffs.

The Sheep's Head Way committee warns of unprotected dangerous cliffs and cut-away peat bog along the loop, tells walkers to be aware of the weather and asks them to keep to the marked trail: do not leave it. Stay well back from the cliff edges, above all in wind. The steps and rock near the tip need care when wet. No dogs are allowed on the Sheep's Head Way. The lighthouse is run by the Commissioners of Irish Lights: stay on the waymarked route.

The Tooreen car park at the end of the road, with a tea shop and toilets beside it, has about 15 spaces and is tagged free in OpenStreetMap. No railway station is near.

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.