Fastnet Trails Gubbeen Loop – 10km

Map of the Gubbeen Loop Walk

This walk is mostly along quiet country roads. It is about 10km long and it is an easy walk which takes about 2 hours depending on how long you linger over the sights and the coffee.

Fastnet Trails Gubbeen Loop – 10km

Walk Guide Read this guide in conjunction with the map above for best results. The route is marked with GREEN arrows which you need to look out for.

Starting at the trailhead (1) opposite the hotel, follow the road west through the village passing the Bunratty Arms and the library. Press on up Air Hill until you reach CopperPoint housing development and immediately after that a country road branches off at a y-junction (2).

Take the LEFT, climb steadily uphill past farmyard and tractors and as you gain height enjoy the views back to Mt Gabriel and Schull harbour. Soon you pass roads going off left and right but you should keep straight on and eventually start to descend enjoying fabulous views out to the west. Can you see the Fastnet Rock and Lighthouse? You’ll pass Gubbeen Farm on your left and about 3km from your start point you will cross a small stream and reach an ochre coloured house on a cross roads (3).

Here you turn LEFT and cross a bridge over a small stream. It’s worth a short detour to the right just to look back at the old clapper-style bridge constructed entirely from local stones. Continue alongside Croagh Bay with the water to your right and look out for wild birds, particularly in the winter months. Soon you reach a new house on the right hand side and see a junction opposite (4).

Turn LEFT up the hill and climb steadily for about 1km enjoying the views out to sea on your right. Admire the massive stone walls on your left and soon you see an old farmhouse and buildings above and to your left and a junction is reached (5).

Your route takes you RIGHT, down towards Colla Pier, although you could carry straight on to take a shorter route back to Schull. (not marked with arrows). Continue down the hill round a few bends and you’ll see Colla Pier (6). A great place to take pictures, watch the fishermen and the Long Island ferry.

Continuing on along the coast there is a road joins from the left (the old coffin road) and immediately opposite is an excellent open-air café which serves a selection of fresh pastries to accompany your coffee or other beverages. Linger here to enjoy the fabulous scenery perhaps. After refreshments continue to follow the coast road east taking care as the road is busier now and soon you’ll be walking alongside Long Island Sound. After about 1 km the road swings round Schull Point (aka Skull Point) and wanders through the fields till you reach the cemetery (7) on your right.

Now turn RIGHT and follow the path down through the edge of the burial ground, across the field and then alongside the water (recommended). Alternatively, you can stay on the road where a footpath (sidewalk) will bring you past the school and library to reach the main street where many pubs, cafés and restaurants abound to reward your efforts.

Fastnet Trails Gubbeen Loop – 10km Points of Interest

Work in Progress to be added later. Volunteers needed to find out some stuff and write a few words.

This page will be used to provide the walker with anecdotes, stories and pictures relevant to the walk.

Eg

• When was Schull founded – origins? • A bit about the cemetery/16th Century St

Mary’s Church at 7 • The old tramway running down to the

harbour. • Something about Ochre coloured House at 5

cross Roads and the clapper bridge • The Coffin Road – what’s that about? • Caherlusky – any stories or history here? • Colla Pier – a bit of history and links to the

ferry website etc • Anything interesting along the sound – the

story about the gold perhaps?

the ruins of St. Mary’s church, dating from the 16th century, stand in the local cemetery on the Colla road. This old section of the cemetery contains the famine burial area. The Great Famine of 1847-48 hit the Mizen Peninsula with devastating results and this graveyard doubled in size in a single year to receive the victims.

. Another fine building, which was the AIB bank from the 1930s until very recently, was built using stone from a dismantled church on Cape Clear Island known as Teampall Gallda.

Fastnet Trails Gubbeen Loop – 10km