West Cork · Ireland
Healy Pass
R574Adrigole to Lauragh
A zig-zag of hairpins across the Beara Peninsula.
The R574 Healy Pass crosses the spine of the Beara Peninsula between Adrigole and Lauragh in a tight zig-zag of hairpins, the border of Cork and Kerry running over the top at around 300 m. Narrow and dramatic with huge views over Bantry Bay; take the bends slowly and watch for sheep and oncoming traffic.
Scenery
MountainValley
Best seasons
SpringSummerAutumn
In these collections
In these Grand Tours
Where it runs7.0 mi · point to point
AdrigoleStart · West Cork
LauraghEnd · West Cork
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners34bends
Tightness7of 10
Max gradient10%≈ 1-in-10
Hairpins4tight bends
Climb285 mtotal ascent
Summit294.7 mhighest point of the line · 967 ft
The most hairpins in Ireland, by our count in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 3Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%10.2 – 294.7 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- Healy PassViewpoint4.1 mi in
- StokeennalackarehaViewpoint5.5 mi in
- KnockastumpaViewpoint6.4 mi in
Hazards
- Tight hairpins, single-track
- Sheep on the road
- Oncoming traffic
Sources
“The road is truly wild, extremely bendy with hairpin turns and narrow parts through mountainous terrain.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Healy Pass: quick answers
How long does it take to drive the Healy Pass?
Healy Pass runs 7.0 miles (11.3 km) and takes about 15 min to drive without stops.
How difficult is the Healy Pass to drive?
We rate it demanding: 34 corners including 4 hairpins, a maximum gradient of 10%, and a tightness of 7 out of 10.
When is the best time to drive the Healy Pass?
Spring and Summer and Autumn are best.
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Healy Pass.
Healy Pass
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