The Lissycasey Cascades Loop is a peaceful 46-minute nature walk in West Clare, Ireland, featuring the picturesque Abhain Sliabh cascades. The trail offers an easy, family-friendly path through forested areas, with only a 35m climb. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the waterfalls and relax in the surrounding woodland.
It's accessible for children, dogs, and buggies, with nearby facilities like parking and toilets. The trailhead is located near Lissycasey church, just off the N68 Ennis-Kilrush road.
There is change in altitude over a distance of approximately 450 meters, starting at around 70 meters and gradually increasing to about 90 meters. The terrain remains relatively flat until the 150-meter mark, where there is a noticeable incline. After that, there are some small dips and rises, with the steepest climb occurring near the 330-meter point. From 390 meters onward, the elevation levels off slightly, stabilizing near 90 meters. This suggests a gentle uphill hike with moderate inclines.
This section starts off at the side of the road in the hard shoulder with a tarmac surface. At the 154-meter point, it transitions onto a side road. The road is consistently at least 2 meters wide. This section concludes as the trail merges onto a gravel path, leading into the forest.
Video: https://youtu.be/oxMRpjf9qEc
This section has a gradual incline over a distance of approximately 460 meters. Starting at around 85 meters, the elevation increases steadily, with more steep climbs at the 54-meter and 189-meter marks. The slope becomes gentler beyond the 324-meter point, with a smoother ascent reaching about 145 meters at the highest point. The overall elevation gain is about 60 meters, indicating a moderate uphill route, with no sharp declines. The terrain offers a consistent challenge, gradually rising throughout the course.
At the start of this section, there is a narrow gateway that would be challenging for most wheelchairs to pass through. Exercise equipment is located at the 11-meter mark. The trail remains relatively narrow, about 1 meter wide, with a gravel surface. At the 124-meter point, the path widens. There is more outdoor exercise equipment available at the 292-meter mark. The trail narrows slightly again at the 458-meter point.
Video: https://youtu.be/NZ-daIbfDU4
This section has a steady decline over a distance of approximately 465 meters, starting at around 150 meters elevation and gradually descending to about 105 meters. The slope is gentle at first, with a more pronounced drop occurring between the 124-meter and 279-meter marks. There is a slight plateau between 310 and 370 meters, followed by a steeper descent near the 403-meter point. The elevation then stabilizes towards the end of the path.
The trail starts with a gravel surface and is about 1 meter wide but narrows significantly to about 1 foot at the 31-meter mark. At 74 meters, there's a narrow wooden footbridge approximately 1 meter wide. The trail widens a bit after the bridge, but remains around 1 meter wide. At the 161-meter mark the trail narrows again to approximately 1 foot wide.
The trail widens up a little bit at the 255-meter mark when you enter the forest. At the 404-meter mark there is a set of steps or a ramp. There are wooden handrails to hold onto. The ramp is quite steep. There are more steps at the 418-meter mark, there is a small kerb and a natural ramp for those who don’t wish to use the steps. No handrails at these steps/ramp.
At the 421-meter mark there is a metal footbridge. It is quite narrow (about 1 meter wide) and it has handrails; the bridge ends at the 436-meter mark. The trail enters an open gravel area with a variety of rest shelters, although they have steps up/down into them. The trail resumes at the 465-meter mark. Toilet facilities at the 472-meter mark, there is a steep ramp up to the toilet and only one grab rail. There are sheltered picnic benches just after the toilet.
Video: https://youtu.be/P24kOOGTldo
The last section of the trail has a gradual descent from around 105 meters to approximately 70 meters over a distance of 460 meters. The path begins with a slight decline until around the 135-meter mark, where the slope becomes more consistent. Small undulations occur between the 243-meter and 351-meter points, with brief flatter sections.
The most significant drop appears near the 378-meter mark, continuing steeply until around 432 meters, after which the descent levels off slightly toward the end of the trail. Trail surface is tarmac road and is more than 2 meters wide in most places. This section ends back at the main road, where the trail starts.
Video: https://youtu.be/ZJzSanNuFtM
Overall, Lissycasey Cascades walk is moderately challenging. With varying trail surfaces, widths and incline/declines it may not be suitable for all people, especially those who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs or canes. Steeper sections, narrow paths, and steps may pose difficulties for some, while the changing trail width and the presence of footbridges add to the challenge. Visitors should be prepared for these potential obstacles.
Lee’s Road or ‘Active Ennis Sports and Amenity Park Lee’s Road’ is a recreational complex located in Ennis, County Clare. The complex has a wide variety of facilities available to the public such as an athletics track, football and soccer pitches, tennis courts, skate park and a playground.
There are a selection of trails that go through the woodland. The trails generally have small changes in elevation and are predominantly gravel paths with some forest track in places. Lee’s Road is accessible to a wide audience. Smooth tarmac paths accommodate wheelchair users and strollers. Lee’s Road also has accessible parking and toilet facilities.
The first section of the trail, from the car park to the forest, spans 481 meters. The car park offers accessible parking bays and toilet facilities. Starting at an elevation of 21 meters and ending at 30 meters, the path is mostly smooth tarmac for the first 214 meters, with no significant elevation changes. The path is wide enough for wheelchair users, measuring over 2 meters in width.
At the 118-meter mark, the surface changes from tarmac to fine gravel, and by 180 meters, the trail narrows slightly. From the 210-meter point, the route follows a forest track with undulating terrain, uneven ground, and some narrow sections. At the 290-meter mark, the forest track ends, and the gravel path resumes. The elevation reaches 54 meters at the 350-meter point, followed by a downhill section that lowers to 20 meters by the 400-meter mark.
Video: https://youtu.be/SueRfqV41AE
The trail begins at an elevation of approximately 15 meters and ends at around 22 meters at the 465-meter mark. Early in the trail, there is a sharp incline, reaching a peak of about 35 meters between the 31 and 62-meter points. The elevation then fluctuates between 25 and 35 meters, with several smaller peaks and valleys between the 100 and 279-meter marks.
A significant drop occurs around the 341-meter mark, where the elevation falls sharply to approximately 10 meters. The trail then rises back to around 30 meters by the 403-meter mark before gradually descending towards the end. The trail is predominantly gravel with some sections of forest track, and overall, it remains level and relatively smooth. It maintains a width of 2 meters in most areas, though it narrows slightly in a few spots due to the natural terrain.
Along the trail, there is a bench with a backrest and armrests located at the 123-meter mark, and another similar bench can be found at the 360-meter mark.
Video: https://youtu.be/G91Ml2bVhV8
The elevation profile of the trail begins at around 15 meters and gradually increases, peaking at approximately 35 meters by the 62-meter mark. The elevation then fluctuates between 20 and 35 meters, with several minor rises and falls throughout the middle portion of the trail.
Around the 341-meter mark, there is a notable drop to just under 20 meters, followed by a steep incline, reaching another peak of about 35 meters around the 403-meter mark. The trail finishes with a gradual decline, settling at around 30 meters at the 466-meter point. Overall, the trail shows moderate elevation changes, with a few significant drops and rises, creating an undulating terrain.
The trail is generally 2 meters wide, with a surface primarily consisting of fine gravel and some sections of forest track. At the 62-meter mark, there is a narrow wooden bench without back or armrests. The trail surface changes from gravel to bark mulch at the 279-meter mark. Overall, the trail maintains a consistent width and surface, with a few natural variations.
Video: https://youtu.be/_s2A6YDnf6c
The trail begins at an elevation of approximately 20 meters. Early on, there is a steep incline, reaching a peak of around 32 meters between the 15 and 30-meter marks. After this point, the trail sharply descends back to about 22 meters by the 60-meter mark, followed by a series of smaller undulations.
From around 90 meters onwards, the elevation stabilizes, hovering between 22 and 26 meters, with only minor fluctuations. The trail maintains this relatively flat profile from the 150-meter mark through to the 270-meter mark, where it ends around 22 meters. This makes the majority of the trail fairly level after the initial incline and descent.
The path is generally smooth and made of gravel, maintaining a width of approximately 2 meters throughout. It joins the main path around the athletics track at the 90-meter mark. At the 187-meter mark, there are two picnic benches available for use. Accessible parking and toilet facilities are located at the end of this section.
Video: https://youtu.be/xjnre_5hCBU
Lee’s Road provides a well-rounded recreational experience for people of all abilities, with its variety of sports facilities and scenic walking trails. The paths, primarily made of gravel and forest track, offer an accessible and enjoyable experience, with minimal elevation changes, making them suitable for wheelchair users, strollers, and casual walkers alike.
The smooth tarmac sections and accessible amenities, including parking and restrooms, further enhance its appeal to a wide range of visitors. With benches strategically placed along the trail, and a mix of open and wooded areas, the trail provides a pleasant environment for both exercise and relaxation.
Overall, Lee’s Road is a valuable resource for the community and a welcoming destination for those looking to engage in outdoor activities or simply enjoy a peaceful walk in nature.