The walk
The East Munster Way runs 69 km from Carrick-on-Suir to Clogheen – Sport Ireland’s own signage rounds it up to 70 – and it’s really two walks bolted together. The first half hugs the River Suir on flat towpath and quiet road. The second climbs into forestry and open moorland along the northern edge of the Comeragh and Knockmealdown ranges. Most people take three days over it. It starts at the gates of the 16th-century Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir, is waymarked with a yellow arrow on a black background, and forms part of the European E8, which runs, eventually, to Istanbul. If you’re stitching a longer route together, it links the South Leinster Way to the Blackwater Way.
The trail was opened in July 1988 by the then minister Frank Fahey, and it’s managed jointly by Tipperary County Council, Coillte and Waterford County Council. That matters on the ground: the surface changes with the landowner – Coillte forestry track one hour, riverside towpath the next, quiet tarmac after that, and the odd off-road path that’s overgrown by late summer. Total ascent over the full route is 1,375 m, and the highest point is the Holy Year Cross at Glenary, at 350 m.
If you only have a day, walk the first one. Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel along the Suir is flat, it’s the prettiest water on the route, and it’s the easiest stretch to reach by public transport at both ends.
Following the trail
Walkers commonly break the route into five stages, though the split isn’t official – it’s the shape that comes out of how far you can comfortably get between towns.
Carrick-on-Suir to Kilsheelan The opening section stays close to the Suir on a mix of towpath and quiet road. This is the best stretch for river wildlife: the Suir here is slow and majestic, and otters and herons are regular early-morning sightings. Gentle, flat walking that sets an easy tone for the first day.
Kilsheelan to Clonmel The trail moves inland into the Coillte-managed Gurteen Wood, shifting to forestry track and gentle climbs, with views opening toward the Comeragh foothills. It leads into Clonmel, a good place to rest and restock before the hillier second half.
Clonmel to Fourmilewater Leaving the town, the trail climbs toward the Holy Year Cross, visible from much of the Suir valley. This is the section to watch: waymarking between Clonmel and Fourmilewater is poor, and people get lost here. Carry the OSI Discovery sheets or a GPS track and don’t rely on the yellow arrows alone. The path alternates between footpaths and quiet lanes.
Fourmilewater to Goatenbridge The most demanding stage, up onto the ridge lines near the Knockmealdowns for wide views toward Slievenamon. Open moorland with short, steep climbs, and weather that turns fast on the exposed ground – waterproofs and a wind layer year-round. The good news: from Fourmilewater on, the waymarking is reliable again.
Goatenbridge to Clogheen A gradual descent back to the valley floor, largely on quiet roads and tracks, finishing in Clogheen.
On the ground
One honest warning about the riverside sections: the Suir is a low-lying floodplain here, and after heavy rain the towpath floods and stays flooded. Check conditions before you set out, and have an alternative for the first day if it’s been a wet week.
Dogs are not permitted on the privately owned sections of the trail; on the forestry and open sections they’re allowed but must be kept under close control near livestock and nesting birds. Otherwise, the usual: the route crosses public footpaths, Coillte land and some private fields, so stick to a Leave No Trace approach throughout.
Planning your walk
Maps and navigation The printed EastWest Mapping guide to the route is out of print, so don’t count on picking one up. PDF maps are available free from Sport Ireland, and the route is on the Hiiker app; for paper, carry the OSI Discovery Series sheets 74 and 75. Given the waymarking gap above Clonmel, a map or GPS is not optional on this trail.
Accommodation and supplies The trail is linear, so book lodging ahead in the towns along it – Carrick-on-Suir, Kilsheelan, Clonmel, Fourmilewater and Clogheen all have B&Bs and guesthouses. Water refills are easy along the Suir, and Clonmel and Clogheen have shops and cafés. Carry a day’s food for the hilly middle, where services thin out.
Transport Carrick-on-Suir has Expressway coach links from Cork, Dublin, Galway and Waterford, plus a limited local bus that doesn’t run on Sundays. Clogheen has some Expressway services and a very limited local bus – plan the finish carefully. The nearest railway stations are Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel, both on the Dublin–Waterford line, which makes a train-and-walk trip straightforward at the start. Parking at Carrick-on-Suir is on-street; space near the start and finish points is limited, so don’t assume a dedicated car park at either end.
Pack layers for the exposed ridge, check the Suir isn’t in flood before day one, and carry OSI sheets 74 and 75 – the stretch above Clonmel is where the arrows run out and walkers go wrong.