Location:

12 O’Clock Hills
Unnamed Road, Co. Clare
https://goo.gl/maps/rMsghmGDknWrpZnr8

Parking and facilities:

There are two car parks depending on which trail you take. I parked at the Belvoir car park. There is an honesty box at the map. There are no toilets available. A coffee hut is set up but closed due to COVID.

What will I need?

It depends on which trail you do. Most trails will require decent hiking boots, water, snacks and a jacket.

Take a picture of the map before you go. The trails are very well signed but if you want to deviate, you’ll need a map.
I took an up and back Blue route.

My route started at the Belvoir car park where I followed the road to the Crag River entrance. Here I turned right and followed the path by the cascades. The sound of the rushing water is great but it was extremely muddy. It might not be the best for small children as there is no guard barrier.

The cascades are beautiful but the trail is muddy and a little dangerous.

This section is fairly short and when I came to the bridge, I turned left. This was a fairly unremarkable stretch of road but after a few minutes you come to a right hand turn. It is well signed here. Follow the blue arrow. Walk over the yellow barrier and continue. You will pass the sign for Mary Anne’s cottage. After this, you will see the arrows pointing right for Dysart Lyons cottage. This will bring you through a wooded area.

Although this section is beautiful and peaceful, it is deceptively steep. There are benches along the way which are ideal for a snack break. When you emerge from the woods, you go straight across the road and from here it is a climb.

View from the top of the first climb.

This section was challenging but worth it from the view at the top. You must stay going and another short climb later you arrive at the lower 12 o clock hills. Views here are outstanding so be sure to take it in before continuing. It is another short walk to the upper hill and trig pillar.

This picture does it no justice.

From here you can continue following the blue route or turn around and go back. I turned around and went back.

There is a nice combination of rivers , woodland and forest trail to make this an interesting walk but the views only get interesting in the later sections. As such I will leave returning until the weather gets good again.