Dromore
Overview
Nestled on the northern slopes of the Kenmare River, Dromore Wood offers a unique blend of coastal and woodland scenery. The landscape here was shaped over 10,000 years ago when rising sea levels flooded the valley, creating what is known as a Ria, “a drowned river valley”. Today, visitors can enjoy this dramatic glacial landscape while exploring a forest rich in history, culture, and biodiversity.
The woodland lies along both the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way, with the renowned Kerry Way long-distance walking route passing through its full length. Few places on this trail offer the same combination of sheltered woodland paths and sweeping coastal views.
Dromore Wood, “An Drom Mór”, meaning the big ridge, was planted in the 1930s by the Forestry and Wildlife Service, now Coillte. Historically, the land was part of the O’Sullivan Mór estate linked to nearby Cappanacush Castle before later being held by the Mahony family, who built Dromore Castle in the 1830s (now privately owned).
Looking south from the trails, you’ll see clear signs of ancient glaciation on the Caha Mountains, whose Old Red Sandstone slopes bear distinctive striations carved by passing ice sheets.
Things to do
Trails
Kenmare Bay Loop (Cliff Walk)
Trail start/finish Point: Lackeen Car Park
Length: 3.7 Km
Time: 2 hours
Trail grade: Moderate
Meters climbed: 120 m
Trail type: Loop
Arrow Colour: Purple
Dromore Woods Loop
Trail start/finish Point: Lackeen Car Park
Length: 1.3 Km
Time: 1 hours
Trail grade: Moderate
Meters climbed: 120 m
Trail type: Loop
Arrow Colour: Orange
The Kerry Way
The well-known Kerry Way long-distance walking trail runs through this forest as part of a 200 km challenge route. As one of the longest and most renowned waymarked trails in Ireland, the Kerry Way begins and ends in Killarney, winding around the Iveragh Peninsula. Walkers are guided through some of County Kerry’s remotest, wildest, and most stunning landscapes. The trail is designed to quickly immerse visitors in a variety of scenery, highlighting the region’s mix of coastal, woodland, and upland environments.
Arrow Colour: Yellow
Points of Interest
Holy Well (Tobar an Ghrathaigh)
Named “McGrath’s Well,” this historic site is linked to the O’Sullivan McGillacuddy Craith descendants who once lived in Cappanacush Castle. Traditionally, it was a place of pilgrimage during June and on September 7th and 8th, and the well was believed to hold curative powers.
Killeen Burial Ground (Cillín / Ceallúnach)
From late medieval times until the middle of the twentieth century non baptised infants were often buried in unsanctified ground reflecting the doctrine of the time.
A Cillin or Ceallunach were often associated with abandoned early medieval ecclesiastical sites. A small number of non -ecclesiastical sites such as ringforts and stone monuments were also used as children’s burial grounds ‘possibly because of their associations with mythological or supernatural beings ‘(The Iveragh Penninsula, Ann O Sullivan/John Sheehan). In this case the Cillin is associated with a souterrain.
Kenmare River (Kenmare Bay)
The Kenmare Bay Trail follows the northern shoreline of this 55‑km‑long tidal inlet, designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Visitors can experience a variety of protected coastal habitats, including saltmarsh, vegetated shingle, sand dunes, and sea cliffs.