All things wild; but available to the intrepid.
Located just 3 kilometres from the city centre, Tramore Valley park is Cork cities largest park at 150 acres and boasts an impressive array of walks, such as the 2.5 km Robert Hernan walk and sports ground, including the only international standard BMX Track in cork.
The Glen River Park is situated in a deep steep-sided glacial valley on the north side of the City, just off the North Ring Road. Once the place of Goulding’s factory in the 1850s, the site was donated to the people of Cork in the late 1960s and has since been repurposed, in part, as the Glen River amenity park.
Vernon Mount, locally referred to as the Bog or Bog Vernon is located in west Douglas, just south of the South Ring Road (N40). This site covers approximately 160,000 m2 and is the demesne of the original Vernon Mount house built in the 1700s. This area consists of a broad-leaved wooded valley to the east and some sparsely vegetated grassland to the west.
Parkowen, formally St. John’s cemetery, is located just off of Quaker Road on the south side of Douglas Street. Also known as St. John’s Park, this grassland habitat is afforded protection as a heritage site and has since been repurposed as a public amenity. Once neglected, this park has since been rewilded to its natural state as part of the Green Spaces for Health project, carried out by Cork City Council with advice from Cork Nature Network.
OverviewThis trail follows the River Lee from Christ Ring Bridge, on the banks of the lee walkway down to Fitzgerald Park. Otters can be spotted along this route at dawn and dusk. Cork Nature Network have a series of signs describing the diet, habitat, and life of otters along the route. Find out more about the Otter project.
John O’Callaghan Park is a medium sized park located near Riverstown, Glanmire. Bordered by the River Glashaboy and Butlerstown River and situated in an otherwise highly urbanised area, the park and adjacent woodland contain a wide diversity of habitats and wildlife.
This pocket-sized path is located at the heart of Hazelwood, Glanmire. Surrounded by housing estates and commercial properties, this little site is only 188 meters long, but shouldn’t be overshadowed by the larger woodlands located just over 300 meters left and right of the site in question.
Doman’s Woods is located along a tributary of the Douglas river in Donnybrook and Grange. Also sometimes known locally as Shelly’s Woods. It is considered a broadleaved woodland. Trees found in the woods include, Sycamore, Ash, Horse chestnut, Hawthorn, Oak, Alder, and Yew.
This walkway has long been established as an excellent resource for wildlife and people and in the summer of 2021 underwent extensive civil work to install street lighting and a cycle path along its entire route. Coming in just under 5km in length, the trail connects Curraheen Road, Bishopstown, all the way to River Lee field, Cork City.
Cork Lough is located in the south-west of Cork City. The Lough is a shallow, spring-fed lake and has been a designated wildlife sanctuary due to the presence of important waterfowl. The lough itself is relatively shallow with a maximum water depth of 1.6 metres and further muddy sediment of less than 1 metre.
