Scarr & Loch Dan
Duration: About 3 hours
A lovely walk up to Scarr mountain returning via Lough Dan. In addition to the great views, Lough Dan is entirely car-free (the only “road” along the Lough is a dirt track) and so feels remarkably peaceful.
Route
- Take the road from Oldbridge towards Lough Dan and park about 200m outside Oldbridge village. Take the small road uphill to the left that runs beside a wood. After about a kilometre the track passes a farm and continues to the open side of Scarr mountain. The walk to the summit is the straightforward.
- From the summit of Scarr head north west along the path to Kanturk.
- Descend towards the western end of Lough Dan to join the unpaved road that runs along beside the path. No cars are allowed on this road, so the whole area is remarkable for its peace and solitude.
- Return along the road beside Lough Dan.
(5 votes, average: 3.80 out of 5)
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March 23rd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
I was wondering whether this walk takes you onto the estate as I know the Knocknacloghoge (Lough Dan) walk does and dogs aren’t allowed, which we only found out when we got there and saw the sign.
March 24th, 2010 at 11:48 am
This walk stays to the south of Lough Dan so far as I know it doesn’t go onto the Guinness estate between Lough Tay and Lough Dan (I assume that’s the estate you mean ?). I noticed a couple of weeks back when I redid this walk that the start of the walk at Oldbridge has changed a bit as there are some new houses being built, but its still easy enough to find your way up onto the hill.
March 27th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Hey, do you know what the walk from scarr south, to paddock hill/back onto wicklow way is like? Plan is to head up road at oldbridge, pass house, turn south at summit and down to laragh
March 28th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Sorry, haven’t been that way before. There’s a clear path marked on the map from Scarr to Paddock Hill, and what looks like plenty of bog in between
Do let me know how you get on.
April 12th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Did this walk at the weekend. Its a great round walk with great views to the sea and over the hills to turlough hill. The weather was fantastic too. And there is still some snow up there!
You need to specify on the map where the path leads up from the start. The walk to the mountain itself past the farm and houses is not that straight forward and only for someone gave us directions we probably would have wandered on to private land. There are no signs to mark the way.
May 3rd, 2010 at 8:26 am
Agreed. I did the walk again myself about a month ago and noticed that the start has changed quite a lot due to what looks like ground work for new houses (it was much simpler before). I need to go back and figure out some clear directions for the start at Oldbridge, but haven’t had a chance just yet.
May 19th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Got that walk done, only back online now. got lost on the up alright, we started to take the right near the top of the path as ahead looked like dead end. A biker pointed us in right direction. Nice walk though, weather was great and not much bog
June 7th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Just did Scar from Oldbridge again today. Although a lot of new houses have been built there lately, the route up to Scar is still accessible with some care and respect for the locals. Just keep following the road up and don’t take any right hand turns. The road will lead you to the left of the forest, exactly as described in ‘Best Irish Walks’ by Joss Lynam. Keep going until you get to a sharp left turn in the road. Don’t take this, but keep going straight on through the gate onto a grassy road with low walls on either side. This will bring you to the foot of the mountain.
March 18th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Wow, what a find this walk is. Did it yesterday on St. Patrick’s Day with 6 friends and we were spoilt as there were so few people up on the mountain. I heard there were half hour queues to get into the car park down at Glendalough.
Anyway after reading all the comments here I was so confused as to which turns to definitely take or definitely avoid. Even met some local hikers on their way down the lane way and after they described us what to do on approach to the last house we still went wrong! Still not sure which is the way we were supposed to go. But once up on the mountain it was all worth it. Stunning views all round and the feet weren’t too weary afterwards. Took us 3.5 hours with numerous diversions and a few breaks. We weren’t going too fast either.
April 28th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
Our walking club hope to do this walk next weekend – I did a ‘recce’ this week and ‘Julies’ tips on getting to the foot of the mountain are ‘spot on’. Does Kanturk (Kanturch) have a top? I couldn’t really one. Lovely walk. It took me just under 3 hours, with no breaks.
May 14th, 2011 at 8:20 am
Successfully completed walk with our walking club – no problems and a perfect days walking. Everyone raved about the walk – its spectacular scenery, solitude and peace – especially in comparison to the madness down in the Glendalough carparks on a Bank Holiday. Thanks again for telling us about the walk.
October 5th, 2011 at 9:55 am
http://www.loughdanhouse.com