Along the lovely Lee

WALK:This delightful walk ends with a panoramic view of Cork city and Shandon Steeple.

OVER A LONG number of years, Cork City Council have been stitching together existing short public walks along the Banks of the River Lee and its tributaries to create an off-road path from the edge of the western suburbs right into the heart of the city.

The path starts beside the Twopot River and enters the grounds of Bishopstown House, which was built in 1720 as the summer residence of the Protestant Bishops of Cork. Much of it was demolished in the 19th century. After some hundred metres you’ll come to the remains of the ornamental lake that graced the estate and even though now untended, it is still an attractive spot at the centre of which is the ruins of a circular limestone hut which the bishop used as a retreat.

The path along here was known as the Bishop’s Walk.

Further along, the river is spanned by two small triple-arched stone bridges leading on to a stone-walled grassy patch. From the confluence of the Twopot and Curaheen rivers the path runs along the edge of some pitches. The river bank retains its wildness and as the channel has a gentle gradient the flowing stream emits a soothing resonance.

Next there is a short urban stretch as the route runs through the small Ross Brook estate to bring you on to the Model Farm Road. Cross here and head down past Eden Hall to pick up the Curaheen River path again as it winds its way through its wildest section. There are steep wooded limestone cliffs on your right while on the left, the forested floodplain is home to a variety of wildlife.

A nip across the N22 finally brings you to the banks of the River Lee, which is an impressive sight when it plunges in full flood over the weir by the old water works. A new pedestrian bridge has liked this section with the riverside walk that leads into Fitzgerald’s Park. Leave the Park by the main gate and turn left down the Mardyke until you reach the main road. Go left here again over another new bridge and on to the last section of the riverside walk, which brings you out on to the North Mall. Ahead you will see Cork’s most iconic landmark, Shandon Steeple, and I would strongly recommend a visit to finish the day.

While the comprehensive view of Cork city and its environs makes the ascent a worthy ending to the walk; it also gives to it an historical completeness as it was Bishop Peter Brown, who built Bishopstown House in 1720, who also built St Ann’s Shandon in 1722.

There is a line in Cork’s famous anthem that goes: “The maid with her lover, the wild daisies pressed, On the banks of My Own Lovely Lee” With the increasing popularity of this walk, the maid and her lover will have to go further afield in search of more private pastures in which to press the daisies.

River Lee Walk, Cork city

Map: Ordnance Survey. Cork Street Map. 4th Edition. New Pedestrian Bridges not marked

Start: The Twopot River Path. Curaheen Road. Grid Reference: Square P2.

Finish: Shandon Steeple. Grid Reference: Square H 11

How to get there: Take the Bishopstown Bus, Route 208, from the city centre to its penultimate stop opposite the University Technology Centre on Curraheen Road.

Time: Two Hours to six hours depending on how much exploring you do

Distance: 8 Km Total

Ascent: 30m

Suitability: Easy. No special gear needed

Food & Accommodation: Cork City