Belmullet Ballycastle Bangor Erris Crossmolina Ballina Achill Island Mulranny Kiltimagh Collanmore Clare Island Castlebar Island Westport Knock Claremorris 12 things to do around Nephin’s Haven (Crossmolina & surrounds) 1. Absorb the breath-taking 3. Stare at the stars in 5. Trace your ancestry at vista from Nephin Mór Letterkeen Enniscoe House The ultimate way to truly see North Make a wish upon a star in our Take a stroll in the heavenly gardens Mayo: Be captivated by the peace and International Dark Sky Park: Look at and relax with a coffee after: Enniscoe freshness of nature as you climb Nephin the stars, see how they shine for you at House is one of Crossmolina’s greatest Mór, Connacht’s most majestic mountain. Letterkeen Bothy in the Wild Nephin surprises. The old Georgian house has Soothe your soul, clear your mind and Wilderness Area, host to the most been in the same family since the 1790s, enjoy connecting to this, the earliest of exceptional of dark skies and stunning and is a busy, functioning guesthouse and landscapes. The Nephin Beg Range is also nightscapes. It has been designated as restaurant with a unique flower garden and a hikers’ delight with many other climbs a viewing site for astronomers following organic vegetable garden. The Mayo North of varying difficulty.Getting there: Travel the Ballycroy National Park’s ‘Gold Tier Heritage Centre is based in the grounds from Crossmolina to Lahardane on the International Dark Sky Park’ award. alongside a well-equipped museum of local R315. Turn right at the 50km sign. Continue artefacts. Why not relax with a cuppa in its ▶ www.ballycroynationalpark.ie for 4km to the parking spaces on the right. pretty café or savour a variety of organic Cross the road and continue towards the ▶ www.darksky.org/idsp/parks/mayo produce. forest for an enjoyable, challenging climb. ▶ Tel: +353 (0) 96 31112 ▶ Tel: +353 (0) 96 30935 4. Cast a line over lovely Lough www.enniscoe.com [email protected] Conn Or just relax and cast your eye over 6. Pause to reflect in the Titanic 2. Take a town or country walk this peaceful lake vista: Hire a boat and picnic on one of the many lake islands or Village Relax and stroll: Take a walk along the have fun on jet skis. Children can paddle Remember the lost in the tranquil Town Trail, River Bank, or one of the four contentedly at the pier, an ideal spot for mountainside memorial: Due to the country lane & woodland loop walks. The photography with a serviced toilet facility amazing efforts of the local community, Gortnor Abbey (White Arrow, 4km) Grange and two caravan parking bays. Marvel at Lahardane is rewarded with a permanent Walk (Blue Arrow, 6km), Deel Castle the preservation of the 7th century Errew monument to 14 locals who sailed on the ill- (Yellow Arrow, 11km), and the Enniscoe Abbey on the banks of the lake. Anglers of fated Titanic in 1912. 11 perished. A stop-off House Loop Walk (Purple Arrow 3km), all all abilities can fish on Lough Conn which to read their incredible story is a must. Give take you along tranquil farmlands, country is well-known for its brown trout, sea trout yourself time to visit the church where two lanes and woodlands. Be captivated by and salmon. Annual competitions attract stained-glass windows are dedicated to the spectacular scenery and remote wilderness national and international anglers. memory of the lost, and see the churchyard with panoramic views of heavenly valleys, bell that tolls every April 15th between 2am Hire a gillie via Cloonamoyne vegetation, and clear streams along the ▶ and 3am. 11.5km Keenagh Loop Walk. You can Fisheries: Tel: +353 (0) 9631928 also try the Letterkeen Forest Walk, the www.cloonamoynefishery.com ▶ www.addergoole-titanic.com Drumleen Loop Walk or the 25km Sheskin Walk (Western Way) towards Ballycastle. ▶ www.mayowalks.ie 12 things to do around Nephin’s Haven (Crossmolina & surrounds) 7. Tickle your Taste Buds 9. Savour a Craft Beer or visit 11. Follow the historic path of Refuel after a satisfying day on the trails, our Whiskey Distillery the River Deel or pack a picnic lunch: Enjoy a delicious, Tantalise your taste buds with a local Fish, amble or seek out its ancient ruins: hearty lunch or dinner in a local bar or brew: You can sample our local craft beers The River Deel is alive with rare species of restaurant, washed down with a local craft produced right in the town by the Reel freshwater crayfish and pearl mussels. It beer. Grab a light lunch in one of our tea Deel Brewing Company in a variety of pubs has amazing biodiversity, plant and bird rooms or cafés, or stop by the deli counters whilst listening to local artists, or try your life and flows - sometimes menacingly— in one of our local food shops and pick up luck at cards or darts. through the town from its source high in a tasty picnic. Nephin to the shore of Lough Conn. Many ▶ +353 (0) 86 077 9391 groups Kayak or paddle along, discovering ▶ http://crossmolina.ie/visitor- www.reeldeelbrewery.ie information/wine-dine- the excitement of the alternative view from the water. Along the river at the North end accommodation Visit the Nephin Whiskey Company at the of Lough Conn near Ardagh, you will find foot of Nephin Mountain on the shores the striking 16th-century Castle Gore and of Lough Conn in Lahardane village, 8km Deel Castle ruins. 8. Enjoy the excitement of a from Crossmolina. Meet the Nephin team football match who will be delighted to show you their ▶ www.crossmolina.ie distillery plans and guide you around the Watch a game of football of either code village to see the barley and the turf. in this sports-mad town: Football of all 12. Walk through 6,000 years sorts abounds in Crossmolina. Witness the ▶ www.nephinwhiskey.com passion and dedication long associated of history on Blanemore Forest with our native sport, Gaelic Football. A Archaeological Walk competitive GAA game in the home of 10. Soothe your soul with some Explore the sacred tombs and field walls Crossmolina Deel Rovers on the Ballina music of our first farmers: Walk among the Road can’t be missed! All games are “Music is to the Soul as Food is to the Stone Age cairns and mysterious standing advertised on-site, drop in and check out Body”: Enjoy a live session in Crossmolina’s stones of the Bronze Age and take in the the local talent and skills. Equally talented lively pubs, or take in a fantastic night of brooding dark beauty of mysterious Lough are the soccer teams; Crossmolina FC’s cultural entertainment at Atlantic Rhythm Naweela on this hidden gem of a walk near ground is located in Abbeytown and you Productions, just outside Crossmolina, Moygownagh. Guide books available at will receive a warm welcome there. where a young and energetic group Mitchell’s Shop or at ▶ www.crossmolinaafc.com performs a unique mix of all that is loved in ▶ www.blanemoreforest.com ▶ www.deelrovers.com our Irish heritage of traditional arts, song, dance, and drama. ▶ www.atlanticrhythm.com [email protected] [email protected] +353 (0) 96 70905 +353 (0) 96 30935 www.mayonorth.ie www.crossmolina.ie.