Old Kenmare Road Walk

Start at Torc Upper car park, which is separate from the better-known Torc Waterfall lot beside the N71. This route doesn’t loop back: it finishes by Derrycunnihy Church at the N71. Arrange a ride back to your car before starting, and make sure everyone knows which car park you mean. No food or water facilities were identified along the walk, so take what you’ll need. The route continues west toward Kenmare as part of the Kerry Way, but that longer journey is a different outing with different transport needs.

The first stretch stays close to the Owengarriff River. After the wooden bridge, take the immediate left; the woodland path has a few short, sharp climbs. As the trees thin, Torc’s southern face rises to your right and the river valley opens below on your left. The route then crosses wet upland on boardwalk, with muddy, uneven ground between the firmer sections. Cores Cascade sits in a flat green opening; it can be a trickle in drier weather. Farther on, stony paths and small wooden bridges lead through oak woodland toward the road. The park describes river stepping stones on this walk, so expect to watch your footing near the water.

This was once the main road between Killarney and Kenmare, known as the Glanerought Road and built by subscription in the 18th century. It later became a neglected bridle path, and old field boundaries and abandoned settlement remains still hint at life along the route. About 3.5 km from the start, look on the right for a rock slab scratched with an 1815 inscription, read as “James Neill Tippy Rgt.” The identity behind it is uncertain, so don’t take the popular Waterloo connection as fact.

The open section gives you a good frame of Torc above the river valley; include some of the valley rather than photographing only the hillside. Dogs are allowed but must stay on lead. The boggy tread can be slow after wet weather, and stepping-stone crossings can become difficult or impassable after heavy rain. Winter flooding is a known pattern here, so check conditions before committing to the one-way walk.