Knocklong: Walking, Landscapes and History

Knocklong combines a short walking trail with scenic views and historic landmarks. The 2.7 km Knocklong Slí na Sláinte provides a clearly defined walking route for planning your trip; on Knocklong Hill, views and birdlife are the main attractions. The railway station, railway bridge, castle and cemetery add further aspects of local history to these perspectives.

Walking the Knocklong Slí na Sláinte

The Knocklong Slí na Sláinte walking trail is 2.7 km long and starts and ends at the Knocklong Community Centre. From there, it heads left onto Church Road, passes St. Joseph’s Church and also goes by the old schoolhouse, the quarry, the old cemetery and castle ruins. These waypoints give the route a distinct local character. The trail also offers sweeping views across County Limerick. The Knocklong Slí na Sláinte is an initiative developed by the Irish Heart Foundation to encourage health-focused recreational walking. Trail conditions and information about the starting point may change, so check the latest notices before setting out.

Scenery on Knocklong Hill

The walk on Knocklong Hill offers views of the Galtees, Slievereagh and the surrounding countryside. Birds seen along the walk include jays, sparrows and finches. The Mitchelstowndown Road also offers an unobstructed view of the Galtees and Slievereagh. The two viewpoints offer different perspectives: the hill walk also takes in birdlife and the surrounding countryside, while the roadside view highlights the two landscapes mentioned. Road conditions may change, so check them if you plan to stop for this view. The Drumcamoge is the river in Knocklong and adds a water feature to the area’s other scenic landmarks.

History and landmarks

Knocklong’s architectural and local history is reflected in several distinct landmarks. Knocklong railway station has been closed since 1977. In the 2016 Record of Protected Structures, O’Hurley’s Castle in Knocklong East is listed as a medieval site; the Knocklong railway bridge is also listed there as industrial railway heritage. A survey at The Hill of Knocklong cemetery counted 153 headstones.

Limerick as a wider destination

In the wider destination of Limerick, the Limerick Greenway offers a different scale: the car-free route is 40 km long and designed for walking and cycling. It connects the landscapes of West Limerick with Rathkeale, Ardagh, Newcastle West, Templeglantine and Abbeyfeale. Compared with the 2.7 km Knocklong Slí na Sláinte, the Greenway is considerably longer and caters for cycling as well as walking. The Greenway also features the 115 m-long Barnagh Tunnel and Ferguson’s Viaduct, a cast-iron viaduct. By contrast, the Knocklong railway bridge is listed as industrial railway heritage.

Discover more destinations: Cill Mocheailóg, Ardpatrick, Ballyorgan, Pallasgreen, An Ghleann, Croagh, Caherconlish, Templeglantine

For the wider travel overview: Limerick.