A number of walking trails have been developed in the Doonbeg area in conjunction with Discover Ireland & Slí na Slainte.
Trail 1 – Doonbeg Loop
Description:
A-B. Starting from the mapboard, follow the green (and purple) arrow out of Doonbeg village. The purple arrows are for the longer Tullaher Loop. After 750m you reach a junction with a minor roadway on your left. Turn left here - leaving the purple loop as you do. Follow this roadway for almost 1km to reach a T-junction - turn left but almost immediately, turn right onto a sandy roadway.
B-C. The loop now follows a bog roadway for over 1km to reach a sharp left bend and, 700m later, a T-junction where you turn left and rejoin the purple loop for the rest of the trip back to the trailhead.
C-A. For the next 1km the loop follows the bog roadway past three tracks and crosses the Doonbeg River. Another 1km takes you back to the main road on the east of the village. Turn left and enjoy the last section back to the trailhead.
Trail 2 – Tullaher Loop
Description:
A-B. Starting from the mapboard, follow the purple (and green) arrow out of Doonbeg village. The green arrows are for the shorter Doonbeg Loop. After 750m the green loop turns left at a minor roadway on your left. You continue straight ahead here - leaving the green loop as you do. Follow the surfaced road for another 200m to reach a sandy roadway on your left - turn left here.
B-C. The loop follows the bog roadway for almost 1km to reach a sharp right bend - and continues for another 500m to reach a T-junction. Turn right but almost immediately turn left again. Follow this roadway for 1km to a 3-way junction where you turn left, walk 1km to a T-junction and turn left again and after another 1km reach a 5 road junction. Turn right here.
C-D. The loop follows a surfaced road for 200m before veering right onto a bog road which takes you through the townland of Tullaher. Follow it for 2km to reach a roadway where you turn left - another 1km takes you to a surfaced road where you turn right. Stay on this road for 1km to reach a road junction where you turn sharp left.
D-E. 2km trek takes you to a crossroads - go straight across and veer left at a Y-junction after 200m. 2km later you go straight on at another crossroads. After 250m you reach a 3-way junction with a roadway on your left - here you rejoin the Doonbeg Loop (green arrows) for the rest of the trip back to the trailhead.
E-A. For the next 1km the loop follows the bog roadway past three tracks and crosses the Doonbeg River. Another 1km takes you back to the main road on the east of the village. Turn left and enjoy the last section back to the trailhead
The Slí na Sláinte Map Board is located in the small park of Doonbeg Village. Your 8.6Km walk begins down the Kilrush Road. On your left is the 16th century Doonbeg Castle, overlooking the Doonbeg River. Turning right onto Poll á Cheoil Road you enter the bog area. Discover evidence of ancient forestry where the peat has been removed.
At the crossover on the main road, to your right is the local GAA Grounds with the Shanahan-McNamara Memorial. Across from this is the Doonmore Protestant Graveyard. Continuing up the hill on the right is a quarry.
Chambers Fort and Corry's Fort are in this area. At the T-junction, turn right. This stretch of road affords you a good view of the countryside and seascape.
At the next T-junction, you may deviate from the Slí route by turning left to visit the ruins of the Killard Church and graveyard built about 1000AD. Continue on to the swimming beach at the White Strand.
Remaining on the marked Slí route, the ruins of the 16th century Doonmore Castle and Doonbeg Pier are on your left and you will have reached the mouth of Doonbeg River. You can see Doughbeg Beach which is a well kept Sanctuary for waterfowl. Turn left at Doonbeg Church and return to your starting point.
We hope you have enjoyed your 8.6 Km walk.
Recommended as daytime walks only.
Remember that all routes can be walked in either direction - enjoy!