Overview
Three waymarked loops start from the middle of Lisvarrinane, beside the church, and the one worth the drive is the red Dolmen Loop – a 9.8 km circuit that climbs onto the flank of Slievenamuck and passes the Shrough Dolmen, a Neolithic portal tomb older than the Egyptian pyramids. The village itself (Irish: Lios Fearnain, usually read as “the fort of the fairies”) is tiny; it’s the trailhead that brings people here, in the Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary. All three routes are free, signposted, and open to dogs on a lead.
The walking loops
The loops share a start at the trailboard in the village centre, then split as they climb. One thing to get straight before you set off: the “short” loop is not a quick stroll.
- Carroll’s Loop (Green) – 4.4 km with about 110 m of climb, graded easy, but budget close to 1 hour 45 minutes rather than the half-hour the name suggests. It follows quiet lanes and the edge of the woodland, and it’s the gentlest of the three.
- Pádraig’s Loop (Blue) – the middle option, sharing the early sections before branching off. Distances for it aren’t well documented, so check the trailboard on the day.
- The Dolmen Loop (Red) – the long one, 9.8 km with around 320 m of ascent, roughly three to three and a half hours at a walking pace. It climbs steadily up Slievenamuck for open views over the Glen, and takes in the Shrough Dolmen on the way.
All three link into the long-distance Ballyhoura Way, so stronger walkers can stitch them into a bigger day. The arrows are painted on wayposts and trees, so navigation is straightforward. A separate set of loops starts a little away at the Christ the King car park on Slievenamuck, if you want more.
History and monuments
The Irish name points to a ringfort that once stood here, and the surrounding hills carry the low, circular banks that get called fairy forts locally – early-medieval enclosures used as farmsteads or field boundaries. The pick of the archaeology, though, is the Shrough Dolmen on the red loop: a portal tomb whose massive capstone has sat on its uprights since the late Stone Age, built by the first farming communities in the valley for burial and ritual. It’s a quiet spot to stop and take in a skyline that hasn’t changed much in five thousand years.
Wildlife and seasons
The trails cross a mix of oak and birch woodland, open heath and upland grass. Spring brings bluebells and wild garlic to the shaded stretches; late summer turns the higher slopes purple with heather; autumn is the pick for colour, when the woodland goes bronze and morning mist pools in the Glen. Buzzards work the open ridges, and the streams feeding the Aherlow hold trout.
Practical information
- Trailhead and parking: The trailboard is in the centre of Lisvarrinane, with free, limited parking nearby that fills on sunny weekends, so start early.
- Access and cost: Free. Dogs are welcome on all routes but should be on a lead around livestock and through the bird-nesting season (roughly March to July).
- Facilities: There are none on the trails, so carry water.
- Getting there: The nearest town is Tipperary Town, reached on the R664. Come by car, as public transport into the Glen is limited.
- Information: The Glen of Aherlow Fáilte Society (062 56331) can help with trail queries.
- Timing: Roughly 1 hour 45 for the green loop and three to three and a half hours for the red. Check the forecast, as the higher ground on Slievenamuck turns windy and wet fast; bring a waterproof and proper footwear.
Nearby attractions
If your legs want more, the Ballyhourigan Loop and Woods is another woodland circuit a short drive off, with ancient oak stands and well-kept paths. For a change of scene, head north to Cahir Castle, a well-kept medieval fortress on the River Suir with guided tours, exhibitions and a riverside café.