Glengarriff Nature Reserve: A Guide to the Walks + Waterfall

A morning spent rambling around Glengarriff Nature Reserve is one of my favourite things to do in West Cork

Glengarriff is surrounded by beautiful nature and what better way to enjoy it than by escaping to this nature reserve for a ramble through the woodlands at Glengarriff Nature Reserve.

The reserve covers a whopping 300 hectares of new and old oak and is a great place to stretch the legs on a walk. 

Visitor information for Glengarriff Nature Reserve 

Although a visit to Glengarriff Woods is pretty straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Glengarriff Nature Reserve is just 1km from Glengarriff village in County Cork on the Kenmare Road (N71).

2. Admission

Getting into the Glengarriff Woods is free of charge. There is a parking area, walking trails and picnic areas but no toilet facilities available.

3. Opening hours

I can’t for the life of me find information on the opening times for Glengarriff Nature Reserve. From what I can tell (this could be wrong!) the car park is open 24/7.

The history of Glengarriff Woods

In the 17th and 18th centuries the woodlands around Glengarriff were extensive and often used for the timber industry.

In 1751, much of the area became part of the estate of the White family, who also owned Bantry House. In the early 1800s, the White’s built a hunting lodge in the middle of the woodland and established a deer park.

During this time, the forestry was largely protected from exploitation with the White family even undertaking some planting of Scot’s pine imported from Scotland. 

In 1955, the state acquired 380 hectares of the woodland for commercial forestry. While this led to much of the oldest oak being felled, the importance of conservation for the remaining area was recognised in the 1970s. 

In 1991, the area known today as the Nature Reserve was designated and transferred to management by National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The different Glengarriff walks

The Glengarriff Nature Reserve walks are up there with the best walks in Cork, and for good reason!

There are several different walks to choose from, depending on how long you have and your fitness level. 

1. Waterfall Walk

There’s a lovely little trail to the waterfall that you can start from this little parking area (outlined on the map above). This is a grand and handy trail that follows a gentle forest path for 15 minutes before finishing up at Glengarriff waterfall.

It’s especially impressive after rain when it’s flowing heavily and is a great spot to have a picnic. You can head back to the car the same way or continue on the Esknamucky Trail.

• Distance: 0.5km
• Time: 15 minutes each way
• Difficulty: Easy

2. Esknamucky Walk

The Esknamucky Walk is a short but lively loop that gets the legs working and rewards you with cracking mountain views. Starting gently, it quickly pulls you up through dense woodland, where gaps in the trees offer sneaky glimpses of the wider landscape. As you climb, you’ll hit a handful of clear vantage points that really show off the area’s rugged beauty.

The trail eventually eases off, winding downhill towards a quieter stretch flanked by towering eucalyptus trees — a bit of an unexpected twist in the Irish woods. The loop finishes with a handy link to the River Walk.

• Distance: 2.8km
• Time: About 90 minutes
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Map: Find one here

3. Big Meadow Walk

This slightly longer walk in Glengarriff Woods takes you to the unique Big Meadow, an area of old grassland with anthills, wildflowers and stately oaks. The trail follows the River Walk at first until the footbridge. From there it crosses a second bridge and turns right to the meadow. 

You can turn left through the Beech, Eucalyptus and Scot’s Pine to a small lake. You’ll soon head towards the public road, but you need to turn left onto a track just before it to head back to the turnoff to the Lady Bantry’s Lookout. If you still have plenty of energy you can climb to the lookout, or simply head back to the carpark to complete the 3km walk. 

• Distance: 3km
• Time: 1.5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Map: Find one here

4. Lady Bantry’s Lookout

The ramble up to Lady Bantry’s Lookout is my favourite of the 4 Glengarriff Nature Reserve walks. It heads south from the main carpark across the footbridge and straight on the footpath which follows the line of an ancient road down the peninsula.

It then crosses the public road and begins the challenging ascent. The steep hike gets you to the top of a lookout which offers an incredible panoramic view over Glengarriff and Bantry Bay, including Garnish Island and Whiddy Island. 

• Distance: 1km
• Time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Map: Find one here

What to do nearby

While there are plenty of things to do in Glengarriff, the area is arguably best explored over the course of several days on the scenic Ring of Beara route.

You’ll explore the magnificent Beara Peninsula and visit the likes of Dursey Island, Healy Pass and many of Cork’s top attractions. Nearby, there’s also:

• Garnish Island: A 37-acre oasis of gardens and historical buildings, a short ferry ride from Glengarriff in Bantry Bay
• Whiddy Island: Travel by ferry from Bantry to explore its wild landscapes, rich birdlife, and military history
• Bantry House and Gardens: Offers stunning historic rooms, manicured gardens, and a charming tearoom