Introduction
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.
Section 1: Road to Forest Trail
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.
Section 2: Forest Trail
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.
Section 3: Forest Trail
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 occurs 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 1m wide. At 161m mark the trail narrows again to approx. 1ft wide. The trail widens up a little bit at the 255m mark when you enter the forest. At the 404m 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 418m 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 421m mark there is a metal footbridge. It is quite narrow (about 1m wide) and it has handrails, bridge ends at the 436m 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 465m mark. Toilet facilities at the 472m mark, there is a steep ramp up to the toilet and only one grab rail. There are sheltered picnic benches just after the toilet.
Section 4: Road back to Carpark
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 2m wide in most places. This section ends back at the main road, where the trail starts
Conclusion
Overall, Lisseycasey 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/canes etc. 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.