Big Meadow Walk

The Big Meadow Trail, located in Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve, is an easy, fairly level 3km walk along a footpath and forest track to a place called Big Meadow, an area of old grassland that has not been fertilised or ploughed in living memory. There are hundreds of anthills, swathes of wild flowers and several stately oaks. In winter the meadow is grazed by cattle to help stop scrub invading the grassland. After passing through the meadow, you come to an area where conifers have been felled in recent years. These clear-felled areas will be converted into broad-leaved woodland over time.

Like other walks in Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve, the Big Meadow Walk is well signposted. Take the River Walk until you reach a footbridge. Cross this bridge, keep left and cross a second bridge. Turn right to reach the Big Meadow. At the end of the meadow turn left through Beech trees and along a forest track. At the end of the forest track turn left onto the tarred public road and follow the road for 1.3km until you reach the sign to Lady Bantry�s Lookout. Turn left to get back to the carpark (or right if you still have the energy to climb up to the viewing point).

A detailed map and brochure of the walks of Glengarriff Woods Nature Reserve can be found at the Glengariff Tourist Office or in a box at the trailhead.