Rathgormack lies at the foot of the Comeragh Mountains and brings together waymarked walks and local stories of history. Routes range from circular walks on roads around the village to road, forest and mountain walks; some routes also offer connections to film and military history. For travellers looking to combine accommodation with nature and cultural experiences, Rathgormack offers several distinct points of interest.
Accommodation and planning
Rathgormack Hostel offers accommodation for 20 people. If you are considering it as a base for your stay, check availability directly with the hostel before travelling.
Walking routes and access conditions
Rathgormack Walks is a series of waymarked road, forest and mountain walks in north County Waterford. The local community has also developed circular walks on roads around Rathgormack village. The village loops stay on the roads around Rathgormack; the series adds forest and mountain walks to this perspective. When choosing a route, you can first consider which type of walk interests you.
Near Rathgormack, the Rathgormack Boolas Loop has its own access requirement: access is by permission of the landowners. Each year, the route is closed for one day on the third Thursday in December. Take both points into account when planning to include this loop.
An Rathbeag passes close to Carrigsheegowna, a distinctive sandstone knoll prominently featured in the 1975 film Barry Lyndon. The Glenpatrick Bridge Walk partly follows the old military road from Clonmel to Kilmeaden, built after the 1798 Rebellion. The area therefore offers both a connection to film history and a historic road route.
Local history and legends
Cloch na gCeann is a stone near the barracks in Rathgormack. Tradition links it to beheadings during the Penal Times. Another local tale is the legend of William Crotty, which connects Rathgormack with Crotty’s Rock in the Comeragh Mountains. The stone and the legend offer different ways into the area’s history: one is tied to a specific place, the other to a story linking the area to the mountains.
Waterford in a wider context
In the wider destination of Waterford, the Comeragh Mountains offer walking experiences among glacial lakes, misty cliffs and high ridges with sweeping coastal views. Rathgormack lies at the foot of these mountains; these landscape features describe the wider setting of the Comeragh Mountains in County Waterford.
Another route option in the wider destination of Waterford is the 46-kilometre Waterford Greenway: a traffic-free walking and cycling trail from Waterford City to Dungarvan along the former Great Southern and Western Railway line. The route crosses eleven bridges and three viaducts and passes through a 400-metre-long tunnel. This offers another option in the wider Waterford area, linking two cities, while Rathgormack has its own focus on varied walks and local connections.
Discover more destinations: Dungarvan, Ringville, Bunmahon, Tramore, Cappoquin, Ballymacarbry, Waterford, Lismore.
Back to the wider travel overview: Waterford.
