STEP INTO the WILD the WILD Céad Míle Fáilte Céad Míle Fáilte a GUIDE to WALKING a GUIDE to WALKING in NORTH MAYO in NORTH MAYO
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STEP INTO STEP INTO THE WILD THE WILD Céad Míle Fáilte Céad Míle Fáilte A GUIDE TO WALKING A GUIDE TO WALKING IN NORTH MAYO IN NORTH MAYO Featuring CEATHRÚ THAIDHG - BENWEE HEAD KEENAGH - CROSSMOLINA ENNISCOE - LETTERKEEN - BONNICONLON STEP INTO THE WILD A GUIDE TO WALKING IN NORTH MAYO BANGOR TRAIL - LACKEN TRAILS Volume 2 BELLEEK WOODS - FOXFORD - BALLYCASTLE www.mayotrails.ie - www.mayo.ie CROSS - KILCUMMIN - BELLACORRICK MOYGOWNAGH - GEESALA - LAHARDANE Volume 2 STEP INTO THE WILD A Guide to Walking in North Mayo Benwee Head Ceathrú Thaidhg Ballycastle Loop Kilcummin Loops Ballycastle Belmullet Cross Loops Killala Lacken Trails Geesala Bangor Erris Bellacorrick Loop Crossmolina Loops Belleek Woods Doohoma Crossmolina Bonniconlon Loops Knockmore Loop Ballina Lahardane Loops Doogort Foxford Loops MAYO Killasser Loop MAYOBangor Trail Letterkeen Loop Keenagh Loop Keem Keel R319 N59 Pontoon Achill Sound Nephin Mountains Swinford Achill Island R319 Mulranny Charlestown N59 R317 N59 Corraun NewportR311 Cloughmore N59 Castlebar Kiltimagh Clare Island CLEW BAY N59 Balla Westport N5 Knock R330 Roonagh R335 R335 Murrisk Ballyhaunis Louisburgh N59 Ballintubber R335 Croagh Patrick Derry Belfast Inish Turk CEATHRÚ THAIDHG 2 FOXFORD 16 Claremorris BENWEE HEAD 5 BALLYCASTLE 18 Sligo MOYGOWNAGH 6 KILCUMMIN 19 Partry KEENAGH LOOP 7 CROSS 20 MAYO Dublin R335 CROSSMOLINA 8 MOUNT JUBILEE 21 Galway ENNISCOE 9 N59 DOOHOMA 22 Limerick LETTERKEEN 10 GEESALA 23 Waterford Wexford BANGOR TRAIL 11 BELLACORRICKTourmakeady24 Tralee LACKEN TRAILS 12 KILLASSER 25 Cork BELLEEK WOODS 13 KNOCKMORE 26 Killary BONNICONLON 14 LAHARDANE 27 Ballinrobe Leenaun Step into the Wild A guide to walking in North Mayo Cong Hag Island Hag Island CeathrúBenwee Thaidhg Head CeathrúBenwee Thaidhg Head Children of Lir Loop Walk The Black Ditch Loop Walk Portacloy Portacloy Carrownaglogh Carrownaglogh Kid Island Kid Island Rinnaglana Rinnaglana Start / Finish Start / Finish Kilgalligan Kilgalligan Carrowteige Carrowteige Curraunboy Curraunboy Rinroe Point Rinroe Point Children of Lir Loop The Black Ditch Loop Walk Distance : 10 km Distance : 13 km Highest Point : 180 metres Highest Point : 270 metres Terrain : Laneways, grassy tracks, coastal/cliff, bog roads Terrain : Laneways, grassy tracks, coastal/cliff, bog roads Difficulty : Moderate Difficulty : Moderate Duration : 2 hours – 2.5 hours Duration : 2.5 hours – 3 hours Trailhead : The Seanscoil, Ceathrú Thaidhg village Trailhead : The Seanscoil, Ceathrú Thaidhg village GPS 54.313060 -9.812956 GPS 54.313060 -9.812956 Services : Ceathrú Thaidhg Services : Ceathrú Thaidhg Min Gear : Walking boots, raingear, snack and fluid Min Gear : Walking boots, raingear, snack and fluid To Suit : People with good levels of fitness To Suit : People with good levels of fitness To Note : No Dogs Allowed To Note : No Dogs Allowed Directions to Ceathrú Thaidhg Description Start from the village of Glenamoy on the R314 between The trail direc[ons are similar to those for the Children of Lir Belmullet and Ballycastle. Follow the R314 in the direction of Loop. From the actual Sculpture follow the red arrows east Belmullet for approximately 2km to reacha road junction on wards. A5er a fairly demanding ascent you will reach a stream your right (signposted Ross Port). Turn right and follow this called An Fiodán Dubh. road for approximately 12km (continuing straight at the turn- off for Ross Port) to reach the village of Carrowteigue (An Turn right here and continue along the edge of the stream Ceathru Tadhg). The trailhead is located beside the shop on to its source. Following the arrows, cross a short section of your right as you enter the village. bogland to join the head of a bog road. Follow this to where it joins the tarmac road, turn left and continue on straight back Description to the Seanscoil. Starting from the car park at the Seanscoil information centre in Ceathrú Thaidhg travel westwards following the blue arrow along An Bóthar Íochtair. Continue to follow the blue arrows downhill, past Cill a’ Ghallagáin graveyard, onto a sandy track to where it meets a tarmac road. Turn right here, continue uphill for approximately 200m and turn left at a fence. Follow a track along the fence and through two gates to join the black ditch. Follow this feature as it runs parallel to the coastline and then turns northwards as far as the clifftop at Alt Breac. Continue along the ditch past Bun an Ghleanna, An Láir Bhán and Lag Fliuch as far the Children of Lir Sculpture at Na Príosúin. From here follow the blue arrows southwards along Bóthar na bPríosún for approximately 1km and turn left at the junction. Continue along the road straight on through the village of Ceathrú na gCloch back to the Seanscoil. 2 Children of Lir Loop The Black Ditch Loop 3 Ceathrú Thaidhg Benwee Head Loop Ceathrú Thaidhg Slí Binn Bhuí Head Loop Ceathrú Thaidhg Slí - 3km 135m Barr na Rinne Na Stácaí An Bodach An Dúna Uaigh a’ Phriosáin Teachaín a’ Watch 164m An Spiorán Mór Gob a’ Ceathrú na gCloch Chóthra Pointe an An Márla Tárrthaidh Oig a' Phoist Strapa na gCailleach Dhubh /Post Oce Cill Na Fóide Gorma An Fiodán Mór Leac a' Ghallagáin An tSeanscoil Start / Finish Mhackey An Chailleach Teachaín a’ tSalainn An Scoil/School Chrom 255m An Bhinn Bhuí Teach a' Phobail Barr a’ Bhaill Bháin An tSeanchéibh Caochán Church Trá Phort An Poll Bradach a’ Chlóidh Sculpture Cruinneoc 164m Cnoc a' Lag a’ Bhréid Ghairtéil An Reilig Na Priosúin Cairn Graveyard An Fiodán Dubh Port a’ and Grotto Chlóidh Promontory Sculpture Tower An tSí Fort Ruaidh Ceathrú na gCloch Track 182m Clis An Corrán Buí Ceathrú Thaidhg Slí 3km Cill a’ Trá Start / Finish Rinn Rua Beach Slí 5.8km (unmarked alternate route) Ghallagáin Garraí na Slat An /Beach Rinn Rua An tSeanscoil Scale 1km Ceathrú Thaidhg Cuan an Inbhir Mhóir Gleann a' Ghad The Binn Bhuí (Benwee) Head Loop Ceathrú Thaidhg Slí Sandhill Settlement Distance : 12.5 km Distance : 3 km Highest Point : 383 metres Terrain : Country roads Terrain : Laneways, coastal/cliff, bog roads Difficulty : Easy Difficulty : Hard to difficult Duration : 30 mins Duration : 5 hours Trailhead : The Seanscoil, Ceathrú Thaidhg village Trailhead : The Seanscoil, Carrowteigue village GPS 54.313060 -9.812956 GPS 54.313060 -9.812956 Services : Ceathrú Thaidhg To Suit : Good levels of fitness Min Gear : Walking Boots, Raingear, Mobile Phone Snacks and Fluid Trail Description Trail Description This spectacular trail mainly follows bog track, open bogland and The Ceathrú Thaidhg Slí na Sláinte is 3km. in length and affords sheep paths to access dramatically high cliffs, stunning ocean stunning views over the landscape of County Mayo. Starting at the and expansive bog views. Underfoot is relatively dry and robust junction near the Seanscoil, the route continues westwards towards peat though a little soft in places. There are many sites of cultural, the village of Ceathrú an gCloch, past the National School, the historical and environmental interest in the area and around Ceathrú Caochán sculpture and Teach Chonghóile, the local pub. Thaidhg is a living Gaeltacht. Turning left at the first junction, continue downhill taking in the panoramic views of Glengad, Broadhaven Bay, the Mullet Peninsula and Achill Island to the south west. At crossroads, turn left and follow the route for over 1 km, back to the starting point near the Seanscoil. 4 Ceathrú Thaidhg Slí Benwee Head Loop Walk 5 Moygownagh Loops Keenagh Loop Walk R315 Carn Tower Blanemore Forest Garrynagran Bog Archaelogical Park Lough Naweela Start / Finish Start / Finish Moygownagh Site of St. Daria’s Monastery R315 Owenmore House Moygownagh Blue Loop Distance : 6 km Terrain : Minor Roads / lanes, Forest tracks Difficulty : Easy Duration : 1.5 hours Trailhead : Car parking area in front of the church GPS 54,16032, -9.3467 Min Gear : Trekking Shoes, Raingear, Fluid, Mobile Phone. Moygownagh Red Loop Distance : 15.9 km Terrain : Minor Roads / lanes, Forest tracks Difficulty : Moderate/Hard Duration : 3-4 hours Trailhead : Car parking area in front of the church GPS 54,16032, -9.3467 Min Gear : Trekking Shoes, Raingear, Fluid, Mobile Phone. Keenagh Loop Walk Distance : 12 km Location Highest Point : 250 metres Moygownagh is a village on the R315, located 8km north of Crossmolina Terrain : Country lanes, green roadways, riverbank & open mountain Difficulty : Hard Duration : 3 hours – 4 hours Trailhead : Bellanaderg Bridge, Keenagh GPS 54.002228 -9.423449 Services : Crossmolina (15km) Min Gear : Hiking boots, raingear, snack and fluid To Suit : People with good levels of fitness Trail Description This loop combines spectacular scenery, remote wilderness, and a variety of terrain that includes panoramic views of high mountains, a heavenly valley, wild vegetation and crystal clear rivers and streams. On the outward journey the walker has wonderful views towards Glenhest and Newport to the South and, on the return section, panoramic views of North Mayo all the way to the Atlantic. Starting from Bellanderg Bridge west of Nephin, the walker follows the old road towards Newport, starting on a surfaced lane, then onto a wide grass covered track. A section along riverbank takes the walker into the remote and stunning Glendorragha Valley. The route then ascends to a mountain pass by Knockaffertagh and descends to meet a farm track and minor road back to the trailhead. 6 Moygownagh Loops Keenagh Loop Walk 7 CrossmolinaCrossmolina Loops Enniscoe Loop Walk R315 Deel River N59 Knockagarravaun Tooreen Knockglass Deelcastle Garraunard Abbeytown Glebe Gortnalyer Grange N59 Crossmolina Start / Finish Start / Finish A R315 Lough Conn Mullenmore Gortnor Abbey (White Walk) Distance : 4 km Terrain : Multi – access, trails includes side roads & country lanes Difficulty : Shortest / easiest Enniscoe Loop Walk Duration : Allow 1 hour Trailhead : Crossmolina Playground Distance : 3 km GPS 54.095905, -9.314205 Terrain : Woodland trails Services : Crossmolina Town Difficulty : Easy Min Gear : Trekking Shoes, Raingear & Fluid Duration : 1 hour To Suit : All levels of fitness Trailhead : Visitors Car Park, Enniscoe House, Co.