Around Coomhola Bridge, you can plan hiking, cycling and geology trips on very different scales. The Coorycommane Loop is a challenging 4.5-kilometre circular walk that takes about three hours; the Priest’s Leap Cycle Loop is 60 kilometres long. There are also rock outcrops at clearly identified locations and a local legend explaining the name Priest’s Leap. So when choosing a route, the names alone are not enough: distances, time required and elevation gains differ considerably.

Hiking, a mountain pass and a cycling route

The Coorycommane Loop starts and ends at Coomhola Bridge. The 4.5-kilometre route includes 160 metres of ascent, takes about three hours and is considered challenging. Blue arrows mark the route, and dogs are not permitted. Factor both the approximate duration and the difficulty into your day’s plans, and check trail conditions locally.

Priest’s Leap (Léim an tSagairt) is a steep, almost straight, single-lane mountain pass between Coomhola Bridge in County Cork and the village of Bonane in County Kerry. At 463 metres, it is the highest mountain pass in Munster. Located east of the winding N71 between Bantry and Kenmare, it should be distinguished as a separate mountain pass from this main road.

The Priest’s Leap Cycle Loop is on a different scale: the 60-kilometre route starts in Kenmare and, after a 16-kilometre descent through the scenic Borlin Valley, runs parallel to the Coomhola River to its junction at Coomhola Bridge. There, the signposted climb to Priest’s Leap begins along the Cycle Loop. The ascent to the summit is seven kilometres with 560 metres of elevation gain. So 60 kilometres refers to the entire cycling loop, while seven kilometres describes only the climb from the junction. For both the mountain pass and the cycling loop, road and weather conditions can change; check them before planning your trip.

Rocks and local folklore

The rock outcrops are also tied to specific locations. Rocks from the Old Head Sandstone Formation are exposed north of Coomhola Bridge. At the Coomhola site on the Coomhola River, a continuous stratigraphic sequence of Carboniferous rocks can be seen. Rocks from the Kinsale Formation occur between Coomhola Bridge and Snave Bridge; they are accessible there and include the Ardaturrish, Reenagough and Ardnamanagh members. These three members are subdivisions of the Kinsale Formation; the stratigraphic sequence by the river, in contrast, identifies a continuous succession of Carboniferous rocks. Take care when visiting roadside and riverside locations.

The history of the name is also tied to Priest’s Leap. According to local legend, a priest was pursued by British soldiers and is said to have made a miraculous leap on horseback near Kenmare in County Kerry. He is said to have landed several miles away at Knockboy in County Cork; the leap gave the pass its name. Those interested in cultural history and storytelling traditions will find here a legendary explanation of the name alongside the specific description of the pass.

Discover more destinations: Newmarket, Ballyvourney, Ballylickey, The Terrace, Tracarta, Skibbereen, Ballycotton, Gouladane

For the main travel overview: Cork.