Overview
Knockacur Hill (Irish: Cnoc an Choir) is the low rise that the town of Doneraile sits on, in the farming country of north County Cork. It climbs gently from the River Awbeg, and it is an honest, unshowy walk rather than a mountain. If you have come this far, the real reason to stop is at its foot, where Doneraile Court and its old deer park take up most of a good half-day.
The walk
A quiet loop runs up from a roadside parking spot near the base, over farm tracks and field paths with no steep pitches, which makes it manageable for children and dogs. A small stone cairn marks the top, with an open view over Doneraile, the Awbeg valley and the north Cork farmland beyond. The tracks cross private, working farmland, so keep to the paths, close gates behind you and give livestock room. The ground is natural surface throughout, and after rain it turns muddy, so wear boots.
Doneraile Court and Wildlife Park
This is what most people are really here for. Doneraile Wildlife Park is a 166-hectare landscaped park in the ‘Capability Brown’ style – laid out in the 18th century in that manner rather than by Brown himself – with mature groves of deciduous trees, restored water features and herds of red, fallow and sika deer, plus a herd of native Kerry cattle. It is free to walk and open daily: 08:00 to 20:00 in summer, 08:00 to 17:00 in winter.
Doneraile Court, the former St Leger family home, stands within the park. It opens by guided tour, on the hour from 10am to 4pm, March to October:
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | €8 |
| Senior | €6 |
| Student / child | €4 |
| Family | €20 |
| Under 12 | Free |
The parkland around it is free to roam. About 7.7 km away, Annes Grove Gardens is an Office of Public Works garden of exotic shrubs and trees, with a historic glasshouse and formal beds – an easy add-on for anyone who likes a garden.
Doneraile itself
Doneraile has an outsized history for a small north Cork town. The first recorded steeplechase was run from Buttevant to Doneraile in 1752, riders racing cross-country toward the visible church steeple, which is where the sport got its name. In 1829 the Doneraile Conspiracy trials saw Daniel O’Connell ride through the night to defend local men accused of plotting murder. And in 1889 the country’s first successful agricultural co-operative and creamery was set up here, a small revolution in how Irish farming was organised.
Practical
- Access: by public roads to the townland of Knockacur; signage is minimal, so bring a map or GPS.
- Parking: limited roadside space near the base – park without blocking farm gates. There is proper car parking at Doneraile Wildlife Park.
- Facilities: none on the hill. Toilets, food and information are in Doneraile town and at the wildlife park, which has a tearoom.
- Dogs: welcome on the tracks but kept on a lead near livestock; note dogs may be restricted in parts of the deer park.
Come on a fine morning, walk the hill for the view, then spend the afternoon in the park among the deer – that is the day this corner of Cork does best.