An Rathbeag, Rathgormack

The ‘An Rathbeag’ National Looped Walk is the shorter of the two looped walks in Glenpatrick Woods. An Rathbeag is Waterford’s smallest ring fort. The trail passes close to Carrigsheegowna, a striking sandstone knob which figured prominently in the 1975 film, Barry Lyndon. The trail leads you parallel to the Comeragh Mountains’ striking Knockanaffrin Ridge and if you look just beyond it you can make out “the Asses`Ears”, the twin pinnacles of Crotty`s Rock, named after William Crotty, the raparee hanged in Ballybricken in 1742. Under Knockanaffrin lies Lough Mohra, the longer loop in these woods.

Directions

From the village of Rathgormack on the R678 (Distance from Clonmel: 12 miles, Waterford: 25 miles, Carrick on Suir: 6 miles, Dungarvan: 18 miles), follow the R678 in the direction of Clonmel. After a 5km straight stretch, the road swings left and reaches a downhill roadway on your right. Shortly afterwards the road turns right at a 4-roadway junction – turn left onto a forestry roadway. Travel for 500m to reach the trailhead.