Lough Hyne & Knockomagh Trail 👣 Cork Day Hikes / May 12, 2026 by ellie berry

Overview

Distance: 2km
Time: 1 hour or so, depending on how long you want to explore!
Parking: There is roadside parking for approx. 8 cars
Trail difficulty: Easy
This trail is well built and hugs the hillside as it switchbacks its way up to the summit. This is a steep climb, with several well placed view points for a break if you need.
Read how we rate trails here.
Trail quality: 5/5
I really liked how well the trail was built. The infrastructure blends well with the natural environment.
Views: 5/5
A really lovely spot, with impressive views for a smaller hill.
Buggy/Wheelchair friendly: No
Dogs allowed: Yes
When was I here: March 2026
External links:
- Our long-form video on YouTube
- Knockomagh Wood Nature Trail Leaflet (PDF)

Recently I was down in Cork visiting The Wandering Goldsmith to work on our Slí Signet. Having driven to the other end of the country, it felt only right to go and see some places that have been on my to do list for a long time. The first stop was to see the Baltimore Beacon, one of Ireland’s most iconic maritime beacons.

Windswept and speckled with sea foam, I then headed east along the rugged coast to see the special SAC of Lough Hyne, and to climb Knockomagh Hill behind it.

Parking along the small roadside car park, the signage clearly points out the start of the trail. It’s one of those lovely moments where you step off the road and are immediately greeted with a lovely path underfoot.

The trail wastes no time, with the climb beginning from the offset and not really stopping until you get to the top of the hill. There are plenty of switchbacks, with benches and viewpoints out dotted along as rest points.

A few minutes into the climb you’ll pass the ruins of McCarthy’s Cottage - once the home of wood ranger McCarthy, who worked for the local large estate. The only remnants of their family garden is the large yew tree growing in the remains of the lean-to building.

In my eyes, part of the charm of this woods is found in the sessile oak, our national tree and one that grows somewhat twisted - making any woods it’s part of immediately feel old to me. This small woodland became a nature reserve in 1989, eight years after Lough Hyne was designated as Ireland's (and indeed Europe’s) first Marine Nature Reserve in 1981.

It’s estimated that Lough Hyne became a saltwater lake about 4,000 years ago - and is still fed by the sea when the tide comes in and floods down Barloge Creek, a stretch known as “the rapids”. Because the lake itself is small, the salt water is kept warmer than anywhere else in Ireland, creating a habitat you’ll find nowhere else. It’s uniqueness was first recognised in 1886, and since then scientist from all over the world have come to study the lough. It is now one of the most-studied sites of its size in the world.

Because of its Special Area of Conservation status, I didn’t swim in the lake. However, apparently it is a popular dipping and kayaking site in summer.

There’s something about nature reserves developed in the ‘80's. I think because this area was busy (both with scientific laboratories and general tourism), that the reserve had strong paths built throughout that feel inspired by the way the national parks in the USA were built into the landscapes. The stone steps are shaped to feel like they almost grew out of the ground. Another example of this in Ireland is Gougane Barra Forest Park, which is from the same era. I personally love this kind of design, and treasure it whenever I find it.