Keel Uphill Downhill Loop Walk

Walking
County Kerry
4.7/5
5 reviews
Grade Easy
Length 13 km
Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Format Loop
Ascent 0100 m
Dogs Allowed No
Waymarking Red arrow on white background
Start Point
Opposite the Church in Boolteens
Finish Point
Opposite the Church in Boolteens
Nearest Town to Start Boolteens
Grid Ref. Q 7989 04147
Lat. and Long. 52.17637, -9.75669

If you are lucky you might see otters, natterjack toads, curlew, sea bass sea trout and salmon as well as sheep, foxes, hares and wild goats on this walk. It brings you through fields, along river banks and a mountain path with some old bóithríns, quiet roads and a short section on the R56, passing an old thatched cottage and close to an interesting old graveyard. There are great views north to the Slieve Mish Mountains and south over Castlemaine Harbour and towards Carrauntoohil (Ireland's highest mountain).

Trail Management

Concubhair Lyne, Rural Recreation Officer, South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd, Library Place, Killorglin, Co Kerry
Tel: 087 2601140
Email: clyne@skdp.net

Map Guides

Map Guides

EastWest Mapping - Dingle Way 1:40,000 | Email: info@eastwestmapping.ie

OSI Maps

OSI Maps

Discovery Series Sheet 71
5 trail reviews
4.7/5
Write your own review of this trail
5/5
06/05/2018

Kathy from Kerry

This was one of the most tranquil, beautiful days we've spent this Spring. This trail was glorious along the water, thru the marsh, up the hill and across the fields. We saw sheep, cows, donkeys, horses, dogs, birds, a natterjack and one cat as we finished up! Very well marked going clockwise. Lovely shade now and then, easily navigated after a stretch of dry weather. The descent thru the field would have been very tricky if we'd had recent rain. Four of us, 55-72 finished in 3.5 hrs with stops for photos, lunch and soaking in the sights!

We will do this again and add the 3.9 km loop at the slip.
4/5
07/20/2017

Winfried from Netherlands

wonderful trail with great variety of landscapes. well marked route if you walk it clockwise.

beautifull stretch over a grass dike along the stream/river. lesse stretch on a tarred road to get from the river to the hills.
06/17/2017

Jann from Netherlands

We liked this walk very much! Walking through different types of landscape. The trail is very good marked. Thanks to the landowners for allowing the trail on their land, that makes it very special, passing cows and sheeps!
02/20/2015

Aindriú from Limerick

We completed this loop walk on a fresh February morning. Facing the church we set out right (east) then north east out of the village of Boolteens, completing the loop in an anti clockwise direction which turned out to be backwards (it is sign posted for one direction only). But the loop is completed relatively easily either way (we took one wrong turn but found our way again reasonably quickly). The views on this hike are immense, the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks echoing in the distance with the mighty Carrauntoohill looming mythically amongst the snow capped peaks. We descended southwards, crossing the main road leading on down to the Maine River estuary her waters shimmering in the spring sunshine accompanying us as we cut our way back inland. The trail meandered onto a riverside pathway which routed us back to a road which in turn led us back to the village and the start point with the feeling of a morning well spent and talk of reviewing the walk for this website as it was such a good find.



The going on this walk is relatively easy, with integrated steel steps over walls and some well situated picnic benches for a flask of tea\sandwich break if the mood takes you. Two Tí Tábhairne are situated in the village at the start\end point both of which were closed when we finished around 1pm, but looked cosy and we passed a nice farm house B&B which looked lovely if you were thinking of making a night of it.



All in all a well planned, well facilitated and well maintained trail - highly recommended.

5/5
04/10/2014

Peter from Kerry

An excellent well waymarked and furnished walk through a variety of countryside with magnificant views. We are a mature couple in our late sixties and managed to complete the walk in 3 hours, enjoying every minute. Congratulations to all who were involved in preparing this trail.

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