The Colligan runs down from the Monavullagh Mountains through a wooded valley and out to the sea at Dungarvan Bay, 24 km in all. For visitors it is mostly about Coillte’s forest on the valley sides, with a pair of waymarked walks. Colligan means ‘hazel-abounding place’, and the Irish for the river is Abhainn Choilligeáin.
If you are here to walk, the call is simple: do the Inchadrisla Loop for the shorter outing, the Greenane Loop if you want the views. Coillte’s Colligan Wood guide lists both from the forest access.
Walking in Colligan Wood
Colligan Wood sits on both sides of the river valley about 8 km north of Dungarvan, and it is a well-loved local spot, with a steady trickle of dog-walkers and joggers rather than tourists. The trees are labelled, so it doubles as a free lesson in what grows here: Norway spruce, Sitka spruce, Japanese larch and Western hemlock among the conifers, with oak, ash, beech, maple and birch in the mix.
The Inchadrisla Loop is the short one, 3.5 km on river and woodland paths, and Coillte grades it easy. Follow the marked route from the mapboard.
The Greenane Loop is longer at 6 km and visits both sides of the river, with views towards Dungarvan Harbour. Coillte grades it easy too. Sit on one of the riverside spots for a few minutes and you may see dippers bobbing on the rocks; kingfishers are here too, if you are lucky.
Fox, badger, otter, stoat, red squirrel, hares and fallow deer all live in the area, though most keep out of sight. Follow the marked route, check local notices at the forest access and keep back from the bank if the river is high.
Fishing
Inland Fisheries Ireland lists the Colligan as closed for salmon angling in 2026. The river has long been known for salmon and sea trout, but confirm the current rules and local permission before fishing for any other species.
Getting there, parking and facilities
From Dungarvan, take the R672/N72 towards Clonmel and Lismore. At the Master McGrath Monument, the memorial to the famous racing greyhound, turn right onto the R672 for Clonmel, then after 1 km turn right for Colligan; the trailhead and car park are on the left after another kilometre.
Use the forest car park and keep local roads and gateways clear. Check Coillte’s Colligan Wood page for current facilities, and do not assume access to the river gorge or across private land. If you bring a dog, keep it close near the river and any grazing stock.
Nearby
Dungarvan is only a short drive back down the road, with King John’s Norman castle guarding the harbour at the river mouth and plenty of places to eat. From there the Copper Coast Geopark runs west along the shore with its old mining coves and cliffs, and the 46 km Waterford Greenway starts in the town if you want a longer, flatter cycle. Pick the Colligan for a quiet hour or two in the trees, and save the bigger day out for the coast.