Overview
The Slieve Felim Mountains are the sort of range you walk through rather than up. Straddling County Limerick and County Tipperary, they are a run of heather-topped ridges and forestry rather than dramatic peaks, and the walking route that crosses them is deliberately routed to avoid the summits. That is the appeal and the honest caveat in one: this is a quiet, gentle, largely uncrowded landscape, not a place for a big mountain day. Come for the emptiness and the long views, not for a hard climb.
Historically ‘Slieve Felim’ covered far more ground than the modern range, taking in the Silvermine Mountains and Mauherslieve and stretching from Murroe across to Silvermines, Borrisoleigh and Dundrum. The wider Slievefelim to Silvermines area is now a Special Protection Area for birds.
The Slieve Felim Way
The main draw is the Slieve Felim Way, a linear, moderately graded National Waymarked Trail from Murroe in Limerick to Silvermines village in Tipperary. It has about 870m of ascent and most walkers split it over two days; dogs are allowed. Sources don’t agree on the length: the official trail listings give roughly 36km (23 miles), while Wikipedia, Sport Ireland and Discover Ireland put it at 43–44.5km, so plan for the longer figure and treat two days as sensible.
From Murroe the path passes the grounds of Glenstal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery, then climbs through forestry and open heath, keeping to the foothills around Slieve Felim (427m), Keeper Hill (694m) and the Silvermine Mountains (475m). It finishes at the car park in Silvermines village, in country still marked by the old lead and zinc workings the place is named for. On a clear stretch the higher ground opens views over four counties — Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Offaly.
Keeper Hill
If you want a summit rather than a foothill walk, Keeper Hill is the one. At 694m it is the highest mountain in the Shannon region and dominates the northern skyline, and its top gives the widest panorama in the area. It sits apart from the waymarked Way, so it is a separate outing rather than part of the through-route.
History and heritage
The Irish name Sliabh Eibhlinne means ‘the mountains of Ébliu’, an ancient goddess. In the medieval Lebor Gabála Érenn the invading Milesians meet the goddess Fódla on these hills — one of the encounters in which the land itself is given a woman’s name. The modern English form ‘Slieve Felim’ grew out of that older name over time.
Practical walking tips
- Maps and navigation: The trail is waymarked, but carry an Ordnance Survey map for side paths or poor visibility.
- Footwear and gear: Sturdy boots with ankle support. Sections in the valleys and near streams turn boggy after rain, so pack waterproofs and a warm layer whatever the season.
- Water: There are no shops on the trail itself and no reliable drinking water along the way, so carry your own.
- Dogs: Welcome on the Way, but keep them on a lead to protect livestock and wildlife.
- Leave no trace: Stick to the marked path, pack out all litter, and don’t cut across vegetation to shorten sections.
Getting there and nearby
The trailheads at Murroe and Silvermines are reached by car; the route finishes at a car park in Silvermines village. The area sits within Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, so a walk pairs easily with other outings: Glenstal Abbey runs guided tours, and boat trips on Lough Derg leave from Dromineer and Killaloe.
Start early to make the daylight last, check the forecast before heading out, and take the ridges slowly — the views over the Shannon valley are the reason to be up here, and there is no prize for rushing them.