Discover Kilcrohane

Kilcrohane offers several very different ways to shape your stay: a medieval church in the cemetery, a circular walk that starts and ends in the village, and trails on the Sheep’s Head Way. The Sheep’s Head Cycle Route also passes through Kilcrohane. Families who enjoy alternating between culture, walking and cycling will find specific ideas here for different days of their holiday.

Church and local tradition

The stone walls of an old church with no roof stand in Kilcrohane’s cemetery. Old and modern graves surround the building. The church dates from the Middle Ages and may stand on the site of St Crohan’s original cell. This possible connection is part of the village’s history; it should not be treated as certain. According to local tradition, Kilcrohane is named after Saint Crohane, also known as Crócháin. The church, cemetery and story behind the name give the village a historical dimension that differs from the active pursuits available on the trails.

Circular walk and regional trails

The Funeral Path Loop starts and ends in Kilcrohane. The circular walk is 3.5 km long, is rated moderate and has an estimated walking time of 1.5 hours. This gives you the distance, difficulty and time frame before you add the walk to your day’s plans. The return leg leads back to the starting point; no other start or end point is specified for this loop.

The Sheep’s Head Cycle Route is also connected to Kilcrohane: along the Goat’s Path, it heads west to the village and then continues to Tooreen. This is a different way to include the village in a tour than on the circular walk. The organisation behind the long-distance Sheep’s Head Way is based in the village. All the walks on the Sheep’s Head Way are waymarked in the wider region. This lets you distinguish between a loop that starts and ends in Kilcrohane and the waymarked trails of the longer-distance route.

Seefin Viewpoint and Carbery Island

Seefin Viewpoint lies between Glanlough and Kilcrohane and consists of two informal pull-ins. The ascent of Mount Seefin can start from there; the viewpoint is also a starting point for a walk on the Sheep’s Head Way. If you plan to take advantage of these options, you can consider the viewpoint as a separate point of interest alongside the trails that start directly in Kilcrohane or pass through the village.

Boat access to Carbery Island is available from Kilcrohane; there are many seals on the island. This adds an excursion centred on the water and wildlife to the options available. A visit to the island is quite different from the historical traces in the cemetery or a walk on the loop. Families who want to include different interests in their holiday plans can weigh up whether walking, cycling, history or the island should take centre stage.

A suitable base for your trip

If you are considering Kilcrohane as a base for your holiday apartment, make your choice according to the experiences that matter for your trip. The Funeral Path Loop starts and ends in the village; the Sheep’s Head Cycle Route also passes through it. The church and the base of the organisation behind the Sheep’s Head Way are also in Kilcrohane. For Seefin Viewpoint and Carbery Island, however, bear in mind that they are outside or in the surrounding area of the village.

More places to discover: Charleville, Ovens, Ringaskiddy, Farnanes, Castletownroche, Cloyne, Schull and Ahakista.

For the wider travel overview: Cork.