While it would simply be impossible to list every single route that we do, here are a few that may be of interest to anyone looking for a few options or ideas.
1) Lee Road - Straight Road circuit on the western edge of Cork City...
In more detail...
Distance...Loop 6.3 miles / 10 kms
Parking...There are a number of options. There are large car parks near the county hall and the Lee Fields. There are spots to pull in on the Lee Road as well as a small car park at the Anglers Rest.
Description....Starting from near Victoria Cross, head towards the city and keep turning left. After the second bridge, you are on the Lee Road. You will have footpaths to run on up until about the two mile mark when it becomes road only.
At about 2.5 miles, there is a climb and drops down rapidly again about the three mile mark.
There are footpaths available from about 3.5 miles to the finish.
Notes...
a) The Cork BHAA use much the same route for their annual UCC 10k race.
b) The section between 2 miles and 3.5 miles can be very busy in the afternoon or evenings. As as result, it is more suitable as an early morning run on Saturday or Sunday.
c) The northern part of the loop...i.e. the Lee Road...is not suitable for running on at night. In contrast, the Carrigrohane Straight / Straight Road is well lit and is suitable for shorter out and back runs.
* * * * * * * * * *
2) Mahon - Blackrock loop...about 2 miles to the east of the Cork City centre.
Distance...5 miles / 8 kms
Parking...There are multiple parking options on or near the loop.
Description...Almost 75% of the above loop is on quiet walkways away from traffic which makes it a popular route for runners in Cork. The first section is on footpaths on the Marina which tends to have pretty low traffic levels. The only hill is a short section near the one mile mark. From Blackrock Castle, the route is on a public walkway alongside the harbour. At about 3.2 miles, you join the old Cork to Crosshaven railway line which is now a public walkway. From here, you turn right, cross over the South Ring Road and then continue straight until you complete the loop.
Notes...
a) The route is largely flat except for the small hill on the city side of Blackrock Castle.
b) From Mahon Point, you can run on a walkway alongside the South Ring Road which will take you to the loop by the pedestrian flyover. The loop plus this short section return is about 5.7 miles.
c) From Hartys Quay, it's about 0.47 miles to the loop. Total run distance including return is about 5.9 miles.
d) From the Rowing Club near Pairc Ui Chaoimh, the loop is 5.8 miles.
e) Most of the route is not lit up at night and is not suitable for running.
* * * * * * * * *
3) Hartys Quay - Raffeen Loop...a few miles to the south-east of Cork City.
In more detail...
Directions...Hartys Quay car park is located in Rochestown. From the South Ring Road, follow the signs for Passage West. Hartys Quay is about 300m beyond the Esso service station on the R610.
Distance...The loop as shown above is 9.17 miles.
Parking...There are multiple car parks along the route...Hartys Quay...Hop Island...on the walkway near Passage West...in Passage West...in Monkstown.
Description...From Hartys Quay, you run on a wide footpath until you reach the start of the public walkway near Hop Island. This is a very nice flat section of the route with views out over the inner harbour to Little Island and Fota. In Passage, you stay near the waters edge until you come out in the middle of the town and you're back onto footpaths again. Once you reach Glenbrook, you are alongside the waters edge here again until the far side of Monkstown.
The footpath ends at a point near Murphs Pub where you now have to run on the right hand side of the road. There is no hard shoulder here so you need to take care! This busy section is 540m in length until you reach the next junction where you turn right.
Note that there are two junctions here right alongside each other. Ignore the first one with the steep hill. The second junction is signposted as 'Rochestown 5 kms' and 'Raffeen Recycling Centre'.
This is now the start of a gradual 1.7 mile climb. The road is reasonably quiet but you need to take care at a few blind corners.
After a rapid descent around 8 miles, you come to the crossroads near Rochestown College where you turn left and continue downhill on a footpath towards Hartys Quay and the end of the loop.
Notes...
a) The section of road near Murphs Pub can be very busy after 4pm and isn't really suitable for running. Early mornings at the weekend are ideal.
b) The loop is relatively flat except for the 1.7 mile gradual climb near the Recycling Centre.
c) Not suitable for running in the dark. The section from Hartys Quay to Passage West is well lit up at night and is suitable for an out and back run although it can be quiet.
* * * * * * * * *
Additional options...Both the Blackrock - Mahon loop and the Hartys Quay - Raffeen loop can be joined up to make a variety of different length runs.
For example from the Rowing Club on the Marina near Pairc Ui Chaoimh...
a) Basic Mahon - Blackrock loop as shown above...5.8 miles
b) Straight down the walkway to Hartys Quay and on to Passage West and back...10 miles
c) Straight down the walkway to Hartys Quay, complete the loop and then come straight back the walkway...14.5 miles
d) As above but on the way back, take a right just after the bridge over Douglas River and do the loop past Blackrock Castle...16 miles
e) As above except use the Blackrock Castle section on the way out as well as returning that way...17.5 miles.
Needless to say, there are plenty of options with the routes shown above.
John Desmond
