Castlemartyr between woodland trails and history

Castlemartyr Woods begin on the edge of the village. There is a picnic area here, as well as trails that vary in length and walking time. Other highlights include a castle with a history dating back to 1210, routes through the village and trails around the grounds of Castlemartyr Resort. This gives you a choice of nature, history and outdoor activity for your holiday, rather than limiting you to just one way of exploring.

Woodland trails and routes of varying lengths

The Pigeon’s Wood Loop is an easy 1 km walking trail, with a walking time of 20 minutes. Also rated easy, the Mitchell’s Wood Loop is 2.4 km long and takes 50 minutes. If you take distance and stated walking time into account when planning your day, it is easy to distinguish between these two woodland trails. There is also a picnic area in Castlemartyr Woods.

The Village Loop runs for 2 km through the local village. The Ladysbridge Loop offers a longer connection between two places: this easy trail links Castlemartyr and Ladysbridge, is 4.7 km long and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The walking times and distances give you a practical guide to which route suits your planned outing; the time given for the Ladysbridge Loop is approximate.

Other routes each have their own focus. The Lake View Walk follows a 1.7 km route around the lake at Castlemartyr Resort. The 2 km Walled Garden Loop takes you through the resort’s historic walled garden. The Mitchell’s Wood & Ballyoughtera Church Ruins route is 4 km long and leads to the ancient ruins of Ballyoughtera Church. The destinations range from a path around a lake to a route combining woodland and church ruins.

The castle and historic grounds

The castle after which the village of Castlemartyr is named was built by the Knights Templar in 1210. It gives the village’s name a specific historical connection. Today, the Manor House is the centrepiece of Castlemartyr Resort. It has been extensively restored to its former splendour. The resort also includes restored parterre gardens, and the Walled Garden Loop passes through a historic walled garden. If you are interested in history and landscaped gardens, you will find different aspects here that can also shape your choice of outings.

Golf as another holiday highlight

Castlemartyr Golf Course is an 18-hole inland links-style course. It measures 6,728 yards and is par 72. The course has a driving range, where private golf lessons are offered by PGA-qualified professionals; lessons are also available on the course. The Golf Course welcomes pay-and-play guests, golfers staying at the resort and golf societies. If golf is part of your travel plans, you can consider these details as a holiday highlight alongside the woodland and cultural routes.

Location and getting there

Castlemartyr lies along the N25 between the East Cork towns of Midleton and Youghal, and is about a 20-minute drive from Cork City. There is also a public transport connection to Castlemartyr Resort: a bus from Kent Station in Cork takes about 25 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a train from Kent Station to Midleton; the train journey takes about 20 minutes. From there, it is about 10 minutes by taxi to Castlemartyr Resort. These details relate to the resort and provide a guide for planning your journey.

Which holiday rental in Castlemartyr suits your plans depends on the experiences you would like to prioritise: woodland and village trails, historic grounds or the golf course. You can explore more destinations here: Doneraile, Rosscarbery, Ahakista, Glanmire, Cork, Schull, Carrigboy and Newmarket.

Go to the main travel overview: Cork.