The highlight of running in Cork is to combine the paths along the River Lee with the lovely Fitzgerald’s Park and a dip over to the campus of University College, Cork. Use our mapped route as a guideline — there are lots of add-ons and variations!
Fitzgerald’s Park. Sebastian “sebrem” B
One can run west along the River Lee starting at Patrick’s Quay in the Victorian Quarter. Run on the north bank — the first 0.7 miles are on a sidewalk along the main road. Then, join the Banks of the Lee Walkway, and continue for 1/2 mile, cross the pedestrian Mardyke Bridge to the south bank, and enjoy the section of path through Fitzgerald’s Park. There’s a running track adjacent to the path at Mardyke Sports Ground. A path (some gravel, some paved) continues along the river for another 1.2 miles, through The Lee Fields.
Add-Ons: Additional paths in the beautifully landscaped gardens of Fitzgerald’s Park. Also, we recommend taking a running tour of the lovely campus of University College, Cork. To access from this route, use the path off Mardyke Walk. Another add-on is ~1 miles of paths along the Curragheen River. Access from Lee Fields. Another good place to run in Cork is Glen River Park, site of weekly parkrun.
The highlight of running in Cork is to combine the paths along the River Lee with the lovely Fitzgerald’s Park and a dip over to the campus of University College, Cork. Use our mapped route as a guideline — there are lots of add-ons and variations!
Fitzgerald’s Park. Sebastian “sebrem” B
One can run west along the River Lee starting at Patrick’s Quay in the Victorian Quarter. Run on the north bank — the first 0.7 miles are on a sidewalk along the main road. Then, join the Banks of the Lee Walkway, and continue for 1/2 mile, cross the pedestrian Mardyke Bridge to the south bank, and enjoy the section of path through Fitzgerald’s Park. There’s a running track adjacent to the path at Mardyke Sports Ground. A path (some gravel, some paved) continues along the river for another 1.2 miles, through The Lee Fields.
Add-Ons: Additional paths in the beautifully landscaped gardens of Fitzgerald’s Park. Also, we recommend taking a running tour of the lovely campus of University College, Cork. To access from this route, use the path off Mardyke Walk. Another add-on is ~1 miles of paths along the Curragheen River. Access from Lee Fields. Another good place to run in Cork is Glen River Park, site of weekly parkrun.
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Essentials
Up to 3.3 miles one-way along the River Lee. Good add-on options
Another great run in Cork and one of our favorites in county Cork! This is a gorgeous 10.5k loop combining the scenic Blackrock Castle with several miles along the water, a multi-use trail along a former rail line, and the Marina Greenway.
Ballincollig Regional Park is another nice running spot in the area of the the city of Cork. Located 10km west of the city, this park features a nice combination of paths through fields, woodland, and a section along the River Lee. A full loop of the trails is 7.5 km.
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A pleasant 8.5 km out and back run along a tidal estuary following the former rail line between Timoleague and Courtmacsherry. Combination of some wooded sections and some water views. Some good additional running options in the area.
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Quiet waterfront path and road in this picturesque harbour town on the peninsula that ends in Mizen Head. Nice views of the water and Mount Gabriel on this 4.75 mile out and back. Can add with some quiet country roads in the area.
Run at the scenic spot where some of the most recent Star Wars movies were filmed! There's 1-2 miles of well-developed paths and some more rugged paths on one of the most spectacular headlands on Ireland's Atlantic Coast.
A 740-acre old oak woodland opening out into Glengarriff Harbour. There are 7-8 km of scenic walking trails that are lovely for running. It's a mix of woodland, a River Walk, and some grassland. For a climb, take the the steep footpath to Lady Bantry’s Lookout.
There are many trail running options on Sheep's Head Peninsula -- one of the most scenic spots in County Cork. A popular trail run is the 4 km Lighthouse Loop, which leads to the tip of the peninsula. Good add-on options.
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Essentials
Up to 3.3 miles one-way along the River Lee. Good add-on options
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