Beara Peninsula – Allihies Copper Mine Looped Walk – easy – 2.5 hours

Allihies Copper Mine Museum

The Beach at Allihies

A disused mine shaft at Allihies

Below one of the copper mines at Allihies

Allihies. The climb up to some of the disused mines

A superb walk with stunning coastal views combined with views over old disused copper mines, shafts etc.  The walk won’t take you more than 3 hours so you will have plenty of time for either another walk or a car tour.

We parked at the Allihies Copper Mine Museum (a former Methodist Church), had some refreshments in the cafe at the museum and followed the looped walk.  We spent time in the copper mine museum at the end of our walk – The museum is very well laid out and is well worth the few euros to get in particularly having seen some of the derelict mines on the walk.  Pick up a leaflet for the mine trail at the museum.  Ordnance Survey map 84 also has the map outlined.  Otherwise download the mining trail from the museum’s website.

The trail leads down to the beach.  The sand itself was created during the copper mining days so be sure to read about this when you visit the museum.  From the beach we headed north along the coast past Allihies Point and Gariflan point before joning up with the R575 for a few metres heading back in the direction of Allihies but then veering off to the left up towards the disused mines. The trail is well marked.  The strenuous bit is once you turn off the R575 and climb up to the disused mines.  However, the stunning view compensates for the climb.

Beara Peninsula looped walk – The Pulleen loop – 1.5 hours and easy!

The Coosemore Caves

Dogs Point on the Pulleen Way

The Pulleen way between Bird Point and Dogs Point

We spent ages planning a few short easy-going yet scenic looped walks on the Beara peninsula as the Beara way itself is not looped, ie you need to be dropped at one end of a day’s walk and picked up at the other.  The looped walks enable you to leave the car and return to the same spot.

Our first adventure was along the Pulleen Way loop.  The rendez-vous point was at Ardgroom where there is a cafe, shop, post office and petrol station all combined.  After quick refreshments we headed to Bird Point (Ordnance Survey Map 84) which is about 5km from Ardgroom on the north coast of the Beara Peninsula.  Parking is in the small harbour next to the derelict lorry at Bird Point.  The grade is easy, the track is well signposted and the walk takes about 1.5 hours.

We actually followed the coast up to Dogs Point and retraced our steps back to Bird Point as the view over the ocean is so amazing.  The Coosemore Caves remind me of the very well known Hole in the Rock near Paihia on the Bay of Islands in New Zealand!

When you finish this walk and if you are heading in the direction of Eyeries,  be sure to take the narrow coastal road as it tracks the coast and the views are fabulous