Cranny Walk

Cranny Walk is a short point-to-point woodland outing in County Leitrim, covering 2.1 km / 1.3 mi with 58 m / 190 ft of climbing and 66 m / 217 ft of descent. It takes about 30 minutes, and the medium grading suggests a route with enough ups and downs to feel more like a brisk forest ramble than a flat stroll. The walk reaches a highest point of 130 m / 426 ft and links two minor roads near Leitrim.

The route

From the western start on the L4134, the trail heads into a broad block of woodland and trends generally eastwards before finishing on the L2136. The line shown for the route suggests a winding path through the forest rather than a direct track, with a few bends and a gentle rise to its high point before descending again toward the end. Because this is a point-to-point walk, it is worth arranging a lift, a second car, or a return on foot if needed.

Terrain and difficulty

This is a short walk, but the medium rating and the amount of ascent packed into a small distance point to uneven ground and short climbs. Walkers should expect forest paths and tracks that may be soft, damp, or slippery after wet weather, with sturdy footwear the sensible choice even for such a brief outing.

Getting there

The walk lies close to Leitrim, which sits on the Shannon waterway south of Drumshanbo and north of Carrick-on-Shannon. Public transport to the village is available on TFI Local Link route 567, which serves Leitrim Village on the corridor between Carrick-on-Shannon, Drumshanbo and Manorhamilton. For drivers, Leitrim is a practical base for reaching the trailheads on the local roads around the forest.

Local setting

This part of Leitrim is shaped by its waterways. Leitrim stands at the southern end of the Shannon-Erne Waterway, which runs to Upper Lough Erne, and the wider area is closely tied to the Shannon corridor. Nearby walking country mixes managed woodland, quiet back roads and waterway landscapes, giving this short route a distinctly rural northwest character.

Practical preparation

As the walk starts and ends at different roadside points, it is best treated as a one-way outing unless transport is arranged in advance. Carry the route in HiiKER, and be prepared for muddy patches under tree cover. On a short trail like this, the main planning point is logistics rather than endurance: knowing exactly where to leave the car or where to be collected will make the outing much smoother.