The Colligan is a fast river – Wikipedia goes so far as to call it one of the fastest in Europe – that runs down from the Monavullagh Mountains through a wooded valley and out to the sea at Dungarvan Bay, 24 km in all. For visitors it really comes in two parts: a Coillte forest with a pair of easy waymarked walks, and a short, serious kayaking gorge. The two rarely overlap. Colligan means ‘hazel-abounding place’, and the Irish for the river is Abhainn Choilligeáin.
If you are here to walk, the call is simple: do the Inchidrisla Loop for an easy family stroll, the Greenane Loop if you want the view. Both leave from the same car park by the wooden bridge.
Walking in Colligan Wood
Colligan Wood sits on both sides of the river valley about 8 km north of Dungarvan, and it is a genuinely well-loved local spot – there is usually a steady trickle of dog-walkers and joggers rather than tourists. The trees are labelled, so it doubles as a free lesson in what grows here: Norway spruce, Sitka spruce, Japanese larch and Western hemlock among the conifers, with oak, ash, beech, maple and birch in the mix.
The Inchidrisla Loop is the short one – 3.5 km, about an hour and a quarter, graded easy, with 80 m of climb. It follows the left bank of the river before swinging uphill through Inchidrisla Wood and looping back to the picnic area, and it is well suited to families. Follow the green arrows from the mapboard.
The Greenane Loop (purple arrows) is longer at 6 km, around an hour and forty, and takes in the woods on both sides of the river. It is worth the extra distance for the viewpoints out over Dungarvan Harbour with Helvick Head in the distance. Sit on one of the riverside seats for a few minutes and you will likely see dippers bobbing on the rocks; kingfishers are here too, if you are lucky.
Fox, badger, otter, stoat, red squirrel, hares and fallow deer are all about, though most keep out of sight. During Heritage Week in August, the council biodiversity team runs an evening Bankside Bat Walk along the river (roughly 7.30pm to 9.30pm), wading into the freshwater habitat first and then handing out bat detectors – a good one for older children.
Kayaking the gorge
Paddlers know the Colligan for a short technical gorge in the middle of an otherwise easy run. The full descent from Lackandarra Bridge is about 9.5 km at grade 3-4, but most of that is gentle; the interest is a 450 m gorge studded with five drops, the last and largest being the Salmon Leap at five or six feet, which washes onto a flat rock wall and may need a safety set. The most enjoyable option is the short lap from the top of the gorge down to the stone bridge, with a ten-minute walk back to do it again.
Two honest warnings. First, the flow gauge at the bridge washed away and was never replaced, so paddlers judge the level by eye from the car park opposite the wooden bridge – go after rain, as it is shallow and bony in low water. Second, there is a real access problem: the landowner around the gorge, a Mr Keane, has objected to paddlers crossing his land, so the local advice is to leave cars at the get-out, avoid the riverside paths beyond the bends above the road, and introduce yourself at the Colligan Falls guest house rather than chance it. Watch for electric cattle fences on the lower half too.
Fishing
The Colligan is a noted salmon and sea-trout river. Sea trout and grilse run through June and July, with larger summer salmon coming in September. The fishing is controlled by the local angling club and you need to ask permission and hold a permit – enquire locally before you cast.
Getting there, parking and facilities
From Dungarvan, take the R672/N72 towards Clonmel and Lismore. At the Master McGrath Monument – the memorial to the famous racing greyhound – turn right onto the R672 for Clonmel, then after 1 km turn right for Colligan; the trailhead and car park are on the left after another kilometre.
Parking is free, at both the wooden bridge (opposite the main car park) and the stone bridge. There are picnic tables and benches but no toilets on site, so sort that in Dungarvan first. Dogs are welcome; keep them close near the river and any grazing stock.
Nearby
Dungarvan is only ten minutes back down the road, with King John’s Norman castle guarding the harbour at the river mouth and plenty of places to eat. From there the Copper Coast Geopark runs west along the shore with its old mining coves and cliffs, and the 46 km Waterford Greenway starts in the town if you want a longer, flatter cycle. Pick the Colligan for a quiet hour or two in the trees, and save the bigger day out for the coast.