Ballyhoura Way – guide, accommodation and stages
- Christian Sommer
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
The Ballyhoura Way is a quiet insider tip among Ireland's long-distance hiking trails – a route that takes you through the gently rolling borderlands of Counties Limerick, Cork and Tipperary. From the charming village of John's Bridge near Kanturk to Limerick Junction, the trail runs through green pastures, sparse deciduous forests, flowering heathland and past ancient moorlands where time seems to stand still. You hike on well-marked paths – sometimes on old trade routes, sometimes on narrow forest trails – climb through the quiet seclusion of the Ballyhoura Mountains and pass through villages where Irish hospitality is still alive and well.
Content
1. Journey
2. Route
3. Accommodation
4. Weather and best time to travel
5. Further information
6. Recommended stages
7. Packing list
8. GPX and map information
9. Conclusion
Ballyhoura Way
The Ballyhoura Way stretches for around 90 kilometres through the rolling, lush green hills of southern Ireland, connecting the counties of Limerick, Cork and Tipperary. The trail is rated as moderate in difficulty, with easily walkable paths and only occasional but longer climbs. Without a tent, some stages can be longer, so you should bring some stamina with you. You should plan around 4 days for the entire route. The peaceful, rural atmosphere that accompanies the trail is particularly appealing – with sweeping views over fields, moors and forests and few encounters along the way.
Info: The Ballyhoura Way is part of the 1,000 km Ireland Way (Ireland's longest long-distance hiking trail) and is one of Ireland's more hidden long-distance hiking trails. It was created to open up the lesser-known but equally scenic regions of the interior to hikers.
Ballyhoura Way getting there
The Ballyhoura Way traditionally starts in the small village of Johnsbridge near the town of Kanturk. The region is easily accessible by public transport.
By plane: The nearest major airport is Shannon Airport – from there you can reach Kanturk in about 33 hours by bus or 1 hour by taxi. Alternatively, you can fly to Dublin Airport, but you'll need to allow for a train journey of around 3.5 hours. To find cheap flights, I highly recommend Skyscanner – a first-class app that gives you a quick overview of the best flight deals.
The OMIO app is ideal for finding suitable bus and train connections. You can also buy your ticket directly in the app.
Ballyhoura Way route
The Ballyhoura Way route is 90 kilometres long and is generally easy to walk, making it ideal for peaceful, nature-oriented long-distance hiking. The Ballyhoura Way is also suitable for beginners. The trail runs mainly on well-marked forest roads, woodland paths and old connecting roads – through secluded moorland, rural expanses and the gently rolling Ballyhoura Hills. There are no exposed sections!
Despite the trail markings, it is advisable to take a GPS device or an offline map with you – especially in foggy conditions, in remote areas or if you are travelling in the off-season. This will help you stay on track, even if a marking fades or the route becomes temporarily unclear.
Waymarking: The Ballyhoura Way is marked with yellow arrows on a black background and the official National Waymarked Trails symbol. You will find the markings on wooden posts and boards along the entire route.
Remember to insure your trip well – because a fall or other typical hiking injury can quickly result in high rescue costs. Auras Insurance offers you worldwide hiking and trekking insurance, specially designed for active travellers.
Use the discount code HIKINGFEX to get 10% off your insurance.
Ballyhoura Way stages
The Ballyhoura Way takes you through the quiet, rural hilly landscape of southern Ireland in four stages. The stages are mostly easy to moderate – the difficulty depends mainly on the length of the daily route and the weather.
Classic:
Stage 1: Johnsbridge – Ballyhoura 21 km | 270 m ascent
Stage 2: Ballyhoura – Kilfinane 30 km | 690 m ascent
Stage 3: Kilfinane – Lisvernane 25 km | 440 m ascent
Stage 4: Lisvernane – Tipperary 14 km | 200 m ascent
Ballyhoura Way accommodation
There is also a good selection of accommodation along the Ballyhoura Way – from small B&Bs to charming country hotels and family-run guesthouses. You can book your accommodation directly through my partner platform Booking.com using the links below – it won't cost you any more.
I have also put together a selection of other accommodation and (where available) campsites along the route – ideal if you are travelling independently or want to stay spontaneous.
Startpunkt: Kanturk
Etappe 1: Ballyhoura/Ballyhea
Etappe 2: Ballyorgan/Kilfinane
Etappe 3: Lisvernane
Etappe 4: Tipperary
Ballyhoura Way best time to visit
The best time to visit the Ballyhoura Way is between May and October, with the most stable weather conditions between June and August. During this period, you can expect mild temperatures, long days and the best chance of dry paths through the rolling hills of the Golden Vale and the Ballyhoura Mountains.
May and June are ideal for those who want to experience the route at a leisurely pace. Nature is ablaze with fresh green colours – wildflowers bloom along the edges of the path, dog roses and foxgloves shine from the embankments, and with a little luck you can hear the larks singing high above the pastures.
From September onwards, the trail becomes quieter – the forests take on autumnal colours, the light becomes more golden, and the landscape around Slievenamuck or the Glen of Aherlow is particularly atmospheric. A wonderful time to experience the rural side of Ireland in all its intensity.
If you want to assess the weather more accurately, it's worth taking a look at historical data for places like Limerick, Kilfinane or Tipperary. This will help you to better estimate the temperature, probability of rain and hours of sunshine – and plan your equipment accordingly.
Don't forget to take an emergency bivouac with you. It consists of an emergency blanket that is cold-resistant, a whistle and a mini compass. It should be in your backpack on every hike anyway.
As the old Scottish saying goes: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!"
Ballyhoura Way packing list
Here I recommend the most important hiking equipment that I own, have tested myself and have also bought myself. I pay a lot of attention to the weight and quality of my equipment. The equipment should simply feel good on longer tours and also be light. I can recommend the equipment for women because my wife uses it and it is basically the same as the equipment for men.
Note: Please keep in mind that the packing list is general and you will have to adapt it depending on the season and your needs!
Advertising note: These product links are affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission without you having to pay more. This is for the maintenance of my blog and you support me with my project, for which I am very grateful. Thank you very much!
Clothes
Hiking boots
Hiking shorts
Long hiking pants
Functional shirt
Hybridjacket
Fleece-jacket
Rain jacket
Functional underwear
Hiking socks
Other hiking equipment:
• Sun cap
Hiking backback (approx. 60 litres or as required)
by EXPED - unfortunately not available on Amazon.
• Backback - Ospray (was my old one and is also good)
Technology and orientation:
• Compass
• Headlamp
• GPS device or GPS watch if necessary
• Binoculars if necessary
Catering:
• Sweets to keep up morale :)
Health & first Aid:
• First Aid (small and light)
• Tape
• Bivouac
• Toilet paper
Other:
• Passport/Insurance certificate
• cash
• Gas cartridge
Film equipment:
• Camera
• Drone
• Tripod
• Clip
To prepare yourself optimally for your hikes, I recommend the workouts on my YouTube channel.
Long-distance hiking trails in Europe: 90 routes, all countries
Safety advice
Ballyhoura Way GPX
Here you can find the GPX files for the Ballyhoura Way. For detailed planning, I would recommend the maps from Outdooractive and Komoot.
Outdooractive: https://out.ac/3wsNmk
Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/collection/3765227/-ballyhoura-way-kultur-und-natur-im-herzen-irlands
Ballyhoura Way
The Ballyhoura Way is a 90-kilometre-long long-distance hiking trail in the south of Ireland that takes you through some of the gentlest and most unspoilt landscapes on the Emerald Isle. You can expect an impressive mix of open moors, sparse forests, green pastures and quiet country roads – criss-crossed by historic paths, small villages and sweeping views over the Ballyhoura Mountains and Glen of Aherlow.
The trail is well marked and ideal for anyone who wants to experience Ireland off the beaten track – with moderate requirements in terms of fitness and sure-footedness. The stages can be flexibly adapted depending on your pace, the weather and accommodation options.
Look forward to a relaxing hike through Ireland's rural south – full of nature, history and wide open spaces. Good luck and enjoy your tour!
As always, I would be very happy to receive feedback via one of my channels.
You are also welcome to leave me a comment here.
Hello, I am Christian, the chief globetrotter of this Site and an enthusiastic adventurer, hiker and filmmaker. I love to explore new paths and inspire people with them, and I love to share my hiking knowledge with you! You can also find my videos on YouTube! On my blog you can find tips for beginners and professionals on the greatest and most beautiful hiking tours there are. I want to encourage people to explore the world as a hiker, whether in the countryside, through the forest or in the mountains. True to the motto: If you haven't hiked, you haven't seen the world,
On my blog, I also write about hiking gear, the right summit training and nature conservation, as well as tips and information about hiking.