Walking through Mayo
in the West of Ireland
Walking in Achill |
North Mayo Guide Book |
Achill Island Walking Tours |
|
Dún
Caocháin Walks
The Great Western Greenway
The 42km Great Western Greenway, Irelands' longest off road cycling and walking facility, follows the line of the old Westport to Achill railway which closed in 1937.
Articles on Walking in Mayo - by Brian Hoban
Historical Walking Tour of Castlebar
A Guided Historical Walking Tour of Castlebar takes place every Tuesday and Thursday during the months of July and August. The tours commence each evening at 7pm from The Imperial Hotel, The Mall, Castlebar. Guide is Brian Hoban, Local Historian & Bord Failte Approved Tour Guide.
Group tours may be arranged at other times by appointment. For details phone Brian at Tel +353 (0) 94 9021738 or Email: bhoban81@hotmail.com
General Information on walking in Mayo
The natural and diverse landscape of County Mayo makes it a haven for walkers, from those who take the occasional stroll, to experienced hikers looking for a fresh challenge.
Across the west of Ireland, hikers are spoilt for choice with an almost endless supply of routes and walkways that combine natural beauty, fresh air and the chance to get some enjoyable exercise.
From winding pathways through green fields and dense forestry, to steep inclines on isolated hills, Mayo has something to offer everyone.
Achill Island
There are a total of 14 paths marked out and charted by which a walker can explore the beautiful Achill Island. Again the diversity of walkways in the west of Ireland can be seen as the routes are classified into three sections; easy, average or difficult. The experienced hiker will relish taking the trails which are excursions into the mountains of the island.
The Bangor Trail
Starting at Newport and passing the mountain Nephin Beg, this trail covers an impressive 48km. Finishing at Bangor, in the barrony of Erris, this walk shows Mayo at its wild, unspoilt best.
Croagh Patrick
Climbing Croagh Patrick, or ‘The Reek’, is a tradiitional pilgrimage that sees thousands converge on the holy mountain each year. At 765m the mountain-top provides spectacular views of the surrounding Mayo countryside.
To the north west is Clare Island, while Clew Bay, with an island for every day of the year, can be seen to the north. The islands of Inishurk and Inishbofin, which are surrounded by the wild North Atlantic Ocean, are also visible. Croagh Patrick can be enjoyed by walkers of all ages, however those looking to reach the summit will need to have experience and a good pair of walking shoes.
The Foxford Way
At just over 90 km, The Foxford Way is a long distance loop walk that goes through Kilsheshnan to Straide to Derryhick and back to Foxford again. The trail extends The Western Way southwards, through the Ox Mountains, from Foxford to Staide and around Lough Cullin. The Foxford Way completes a circular route around North East Mayo.
The Western Way
This famous trail starts on the shores of Lough Corrib and takes in the breathtaking beauty of Connemara’s Highlands including the fjord at Killary Harbour. All of the scenery that makes the west of Ireland special can be seen including views of mountains, lakes and the coastline. The trail brings the walker into County Mayo, around Croagh Patrick and offers the stunning Clew Bay as scenery en route to the charming town of Westport. The walkway then follows th old bog road to the north Mayo Coast before taking an easward turn and finishing in Ballina.
These are examples of some of the main trails and walks in Mayo. There are guides indexing all the marked out paths and these can be otained from your nearest tourist information centre.
