Overview
Slievenamuck is the ridge you are standing on when you photograph the Galtees. It forms the low northern wall of the Glen of Aherlow, a 369 m (1,211 ft) spine of Old Red Sandstone running east to west, and while it never competes with the Galtee peaks across the valley, that is rather the appeal: gentler climbs, better parking and far fewer walkers. Its Irish name, Sliabh Muic, means “mountain of the pig”, a nod to the feral swine that once rooted through the glen below. If you have time for one loop, make it the Dolmen route to Shrough, the only confirmed passage tomb in County Tipperary; the ridge views are the reason to keep going past it.
Geology and landscape
The ridge is built from the Slievenamuck Conglomerate Formation, a hard, purple-red rock that shrugs off erosion and gives the hill its colour, most vivid in the hour after rain. The stone was worked in its day: the local sandstone was quarried for high-quality flags, the flat paving slabs that once floored yards and kitchens across the district. The older name for the range, Sliabh gCrot, “the hump mountains”, describes the rounded, undulating skyline exactly. From the grassy summit ridge the ground falls away east to the Galtees, south to the River Aherlow threading the valley floor, and on a clear day the Knockmealdowns show in the far distance.
History and folklore
The pig in the name points to a wild, pastoral past, when swine ran loose in the Glen of Aherlow. The wider Galtee range turns up often in early Irish story. One enduring tale has Saint Patrick banishing a serpent that had been savaging livestock and pinning it beneath a corrie lake, from which it surfaces every Easter Monday to ask, “Is it the Monday morning yet, Patrick?” Told it is not, it sinks back for another year. The story is usually attached to Lough Dihneen, though local versions spread it across the valley’s glacial lakes. Belief in the beast ran deep enough that a 19th-century landlord once set about draining Lough Dihneen to kill it, and gave up only when the community objected.
Walking routes
Slievenamuck is threaded with several signposted loop walks, all graded moderate and joining sections of the Ballyhoura Way, a long-distance route. Each April the Glen of Aherlow Society runs a walking festival with guided routes across the ridge, a good way in if you would rather not navigate alone.
| Walk | Distance | Approx. Time | Elevation Gain | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisvarriane Dolmen Loop | 9–13 km | 3 hours | 271 m | Shrough passage tomb, ridge views, Ballyhoura Way link |
| Millennium Stone Loop | 14 km | 4–5 hours | 191 m | 13.5-tonne Millennium Stone, red-sandstone outcrops |
| Dolmen Loop (Lisvarrinane) | 14 km | 4–5 hours | 283 m | Shrough passage tomb, summit panorama |
The Lisvarriane Dolmen Loop starts at the Lisvarrinane Village Trail Head, a small car park off the R639 near the village. The Millennium Stone Loop and the Dolmen Loop both begin at the Christ the King Trail Head, beside the statue that looks out over the glen.
Key stops along the trails
- Shrough passage tomb – Known locally as the Shrough Dolmen, this is the only confirmed passage tomb in County Tipperary, dating to around 3000 BC. It sits on a low spur of the ridge and reads clearly against the sky from the main trail.
- Millennium Stone – A 13.5-tonne boulder carved by a local artist with scenes from the life of Christ, set on a rise beside the ridge. It doubles as the natural rest and photo stop on its loop.
- Christ the King Statue – Erected in 1950, this bronze figure watches the valley and marks the western trailhead for several walks. The Glen of Aherlow Visitor Centre is close by for maps and route information.
- Summit ridge – A grassy high point with a wide sweep over the glen. The ridge is exposed in a wind, so keep to the marked path near the top.
Practical information
Slievenamuck is freely accessible, with no admission fee and free parking at the main trailheads, both reached off the R639 between Bansha and Galbally.
- Difficulty and terrain: Moderate. Mostly well-trodden ground, with a few short scrambles over stone steps near the tomb. The lower stretches of the Lisvarriane Loop suit strollers; the steeper Millennium Stone climbs are better for older children and adults.
- Dogs: Dog-friendly, but keep them on a lead on the exposed summit and near livestock on the lower slopes.
- Navigation: Phone coverage is generally good along the ridge, but carry a paper map or GPS in poor weather. Downloadable GPX files and route maps are on the ActiveME guides:
- Getting there: From Limerick, take the N24 east to Bansha and follow the R639 towards Lisvarrinane. From Dublin, the M7 and N24 take roughly two hours. Public transport is thin; the nearest bus stop is in Bansha, then a short taxi to the trailhead.
- Safety: The ridge is exposed in high winds and slick after rain. Watch children near the summit and the ridge edges.
Nearby attractions
- Arra Hills – A run of low, rounded hills with gentle walks and long views over the River Shannon.
- Devil’s Bit – A limestone peak with its notched “bit” and a good trail network, a short drive south.
- Duntryleague – A Neolithic passage tomb of about 3500–3000 BC, just over the border in County Limerick and close to the far end of the glen.
- Aherlow House Hotel and Lodges – Built in 1928 as a hunting lodge on the slopes of Slievenamuck, and still the handiest base if you want to stay put and walk the ridge over a couple of days.
Come in the early morning for the light on the red sandstone, and time the Dolmen loop so the tomb is your turning point rather than an afterthought at the end, when tired legs tend to hurry past it.