Toormore to Schull Walk

At the Toormore Trailhead follow the track to the right of Altar Church through the grassy woodland trail. The walk follows a minor road with views of Dunmanus Bay to your left. Continue to the juncture at Drinagh Co-op and on to Lowertown.  The walk will take you towards an early 19^th C. Signal Sation with views down on Croagh Bay. Part way down you have a choice of joining the Gubbeen Loop Walk or continuing past Gubbeen Farm and into Schull Village.

Walk Guide
Toormore to Schull Walk

The route is marked with yellow arrows which you need to look out for. 

From the trailhead (9) at Altar Church walk up beside the stream with burial ground on your left. After a few winding bends and a steep rise, look out for a small gate to the LEFT. Through the gate follow the grassy path across the field and up a lovely valley beside the stream. After ten minutes you will reach a farm gate onto the road (8) where you need to turn RIGHT. 

The road rises quite steeply for a while but eventually levels out and after passing a few houses on your right you reach a junction (7) where you go STRAIGHT ON. 

Descend steadily past a farmhouse and a burial ground on your left and you will see the Drinagh Coop yard and buildings on your left. At the road junction (6) turn RIGHT, leaving the Coop behind, and walk down to the main road at Lowertown (5) where you need to turn LEFT and walk as far as the Church where you turn RIGHT up a small road opposite the church. 

The road rises steadily, over a cross roads, continuing steadily uphill for about one kilometre until the road levels off and the Fastnet Lighthouse comes into view. On your right is one of a series of Signal Towers built in 1804 to warn of a French invasion. You pass three water tanks which feed the local water mains and descend steadily, with splendid views, to a junction (4) where you turn sharp LEFT. 

The road now descends steadily for over a kilometre to reach the junction (3) known locally as “five cross roads” where the stream enters Croagh Bay. 

Continuing forwards round a bend, cross the stream and keep STRAIGHT ON up the hill ignoring the left turn. 

Soon you pass through farm buildings, the road narrows a bit and then widens out as you pass the entrance to Gubbeen Farm where the famous cheeses and meats are made. Continue up the hill passing a number of houses and as the road starts to level out there are side roads left and right which can be ignored. Finally you start to descend with views of Mount Gabriel and Schull Harbour ahead then pass through a farm yard where tractors are often lined up along the road. You reach a junction with a major road (2) and bear RIGHT to walk past Copper Point development and down Air Hill until you pass the library and Bunratty Arms. 

You are now in the main street where you can find refreshment and at the far end you will find the Trailhead almost opposite the Harbour View Hotel.