Overview
The East Clare Way is a National Waymarked Trail that loops 168.8 km around the eastern side of County Clare, starting and finishing at the ‘Between the Waters’ car park in Killaloe. (Clare County Council lists it slightly longer, at 172 km; the 168.8 km figure is Sport Ireland’s official measurement.) It is built to be walked over eight days, with stages of roughly 20 to 30 km. Follow the yellow arrow on a black background – some older yellow-on-black Discover Ireland markers survive along the way too. Entry is free, there’s parking at every trailhead, and the path is open year-round.
Be clear about what kind of walk this is before you commit a week to it. Around 53% of the route runs on quiet local roads rather than open ground, so it rewards walkers who enjoy history, birdsong and empty country lanes more than those chasing dramatic mountain scenery. If that’s your thing, few Irish trails are quieter.
Trail route and terrain
The route links nine trailheads: Killaloe, Broadford, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Tulla, Feakle, Flagmount, Whitegate, Mountshannon and Scarriff. Roughly half follows local roads – expect the odd car near the larger villages – with the rest on forestry tracks, bog roads and open field paths. Total ascent is around 3,060 m, which keeps the grade moderate rather than tough. The highest point, Cragnamurragh, rises to 1,729 ft (527 m) and opens up a clear view across the lakelands.
History and heritage
This is a landscape thick with early Christian and medieval sites. Many connect to Brian Boru, the High King who built his stronghold overlooking Killaloe around the turn of the 11th century. In Tuamgraney the trail passes St Cronan’s Church, a 10th-century stone building in continuous use for over a thousand years, which also houses the East Clare Heritage Centre. Killaloe adds the ruins of St Flannan’s Cathedral, and out on Lough Derg the monastic island of Inis Cealtra – reachable by boat from Mountshannon – anchors the route’s older history. Scattered dolmens, ring forts and holy wells turn up along the way, the sort of thing you’d walk past without a map to tell you it was there.
What to See Along the Way
Lakes and Mountains
The loop skirts Lough Graney before climbing into the rugged boglands of the Slieve Aughty Mountains. From there, it descends toward the expansive waters of Lough Derg. The Slieve Bernagh range runs parallel to parts of the route, offering sweeping panoramas of the surrounding countryside.
Wildlife
The Slieve Aughty uplands the trail crosses are among Ireland’s strongholds for the hen harrier, a protected bird of prey you may see quartering low over the bog. The wetland margins fill with wildflowers in the warmer months. It’s a walk for quiet, patient looking rather than guaranteed sightings.
Seasonal conditions and trail updates
The trail is open year-round, but the ground changes a lot with the seasons: spring raises water levels and softens the bog tracks, autumn brings colour to the forestry sections. Storms occasionally bring down trees or wash out short stretches, so check the current trail status on the Sport Ireland website before you set out – temporary diversions and closures do happen for safety and maintenance.
Tips for Walkers
- Dog policy: Dogs are not permitted on any section of the trail.
- Footwear: Waterproof walking boots are essential. Bog paths become deeply saturated after rain, and uneven ground is common on off-road sections.
- Navigation: Carry a printed map or load the official GPX file onto your device. Waymarks can be sparse on forest tracks and bog roads.
- Supplies: Stock up on food and water in the villages. Remote stretches have limited services, though most trailheads are within easy reach of a shop or café.
- Safety: Let someone know your planned stages and expected arrival times, particularly when walking the isolated bog sections or tackling the trail in winter.
Practical information
Getting there
There is no railway station in Killaloe, so don’t plan on arriving by train to the trailhead – the nearest stations are at Limerick or Birdhill, and you’ll need a bus or lift onward. Bus Éireann services and Local Link route C2 (Scarriff–Killaloe) serve the area. Drivers reach it via the M18, with Shannon Airport roughly 30 km to the north.
Maps and navigation
Sport Ireland provides eight downloadable PDF stage maps and a full GPX file for GPS devices on the official trail page. Load the GPX before you go: waymarks can be sparse on the forest tracks and bog roads, and it’s an easy route to stray off in poor light.
Accommodation & Services
Each of the nine villages along the route offers B&Bs, guesthouses, and small hotels. Grocery stores, pubs, and cafés are located near most trailheads, making it straightforward to resupply between stages. Free car and coach parking is provided at every official trailhead.
Contact
The route is run by East & Mid Clare Way Limited and the East Clare Way Committee, with day-to-day support from Clare Walks. For enquiries or updates, email info@clarewalks.ie, call +353 65 683 5912, or visit www.clarewalks.ie.
Nearby Attractions
If your itinerary allows for extra time, several major Clare landmarks sit within easy reach of the trail:
- Bunratty Castle – a fully restored medieval fortress paired with a traditional folk park.
- Cliffs of Moher – dramatic coastal cliffs with dedicated visitor trails and viewing platforms.
- Burren Way – a long-distance trail that crosses the distinctive limestone karst landscape of north Clare.
- Clare Museum – located in Ennis, this museum covers everything from prehistoric settlements to modern Irish history.
One last piece of planning that pays off: book your accommodation stage by stage before you start, and work out where each day’s shop or pub falls. The remote bog stretches have nothing on them for miles, so a full water bottle and a packed lunch out of the last village make the difference between a good day and a long one.