Saturday 30Th April Walk a Maamtrasna
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Saturday 30th April Walk A Maamtrasna – OS Map 37 & 38 This is a good hard walk in the heart of the mountains. The drop off is at the eastern end of the Lough Nafooey. The first leg of the journey goes via Skeltia. It continues in a North Westerly direction to the Mammtrasna summit at 673m (approx 6 – 7km) From the summit the route heads south west to 681m and on to 617 before turning true west to reach Knocklaur at 596m. By now you are following the county boundary between Galway & Mayo so you will have a foot in each county. After Knocklaur there is a gradual drop in height to around 400m before setting off to climb to the summit of the Devils Mother at 648m. Fron here you will get a glimpse of Killary Fjord and the way back to Leenane. Distance: c. 19km. Duration: c. 7 hours. Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheets 38. Walk B The Sheeffry Hills - OS Map 37 The drop off for this walk will be at Barnaderg on the Sheeffry Pass Rd. This is a good strenuous walk going East/West from Branaderg to Barrclashcame and finishing at Doolough. Once height is gained at 752m, one can relax into the joy of the hills and enjoy the surrounding landscapes - Ben Creggan, Ben Charragain & Ben Gorm to the South, with the Devils Mother in the distance. To the North one is looking over a vast area of moorland, lakes, forestry & farmland. From the summit at 762m, the descent goes a little south west before following a steep shoulder going south to Doolough. Before the start of the decent the mighty Mweelrea will loom over Doolough Pass. Distance: c. 13km. Duration: c. 5 + hours. Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheets 37 Walk C Tawnyard to Aasleagh Falls. This is a particularly beautiful section of the Western Way. The walk goes through the townlands of Tawnyard, Derrintin, Glennacally and Srahatloe. The route begins at the “Viewpoint” over Tawnyard Lake on the L1825 and heads south through forest and grassland tracks to the head of the Great Killary. Shortly after exiting the 3km forested section at Houston's Bridge, the route crosses the salmonoid Erriff River and follows the angler's path downstream along the left bank. This section of the trail is through well-tended grassland used for fattening Blackface sheep and is where lambs are born in the Spring. The striking run of Maumtrasna Mountain with its many glaciated corries lies to the east. At Aasleagh, the Erriff thunders over the Falls and flows onwards to head of the Killary. The fight scene in “The Field” film was shot under the Falls.Houston was Yorkshire-man who, shortly after the Great Famine, leased 40,000 acres stretching from the Killary towards Louisburgh and ran a huge sheep farm. His wife, Matilda, wrote a book describing their experiences - “Twenty Years in the Wild West” - a must-read for anyone with an interest in the social history of our area. Walking boots are a must ! Distance: c. 9km. Duration: c. 4 hours. Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheets 37 & 38. Geology Fieldtrip This walk will take a look at the geology along the pilgrim track over Maumeen Hill. This will be a slow paced walk with track on most of the route but there will be some uphill sections. Sunday 1st May A Walk Mweelrea Mountain Mweelrea is the highest mountain in Connaught with dramatic sea, island & upland views on every side. This festival walk will set out from the southern end of Doolough (north of Bald's Bridge in the Delphi Valley), follows the airy cliff- edge to Ben Bury & then on to the 814m high summit before dropping steeply down to the Killary shore for transport back to Leenane by Rib & bus OS Map 37 B Walk Leenane & Derrynacleigh – Circuit of NW Maumturks. This walk is a circuit of the NW end of the Maumturk Mountains and overlooks the Great Killary. The walk is in the townlands of Leenane and Derrynacleigh. From Leenane village, the route follows the N59 westward for about 1.5km before turning onto the Western Way track. After about 3km along the Western Way track, the route turns east and moves onto steep ground. After a stiff climb to point 556m, the route traverses some rough ground to point 578m which overlooks Glencraff Valley, the range of the Maumturk Mountains and a dramatic panorama of Kylemore and its environs. From 578m the route turns north to point 556m and onto Leenane Lake at 390m – the perfect resting point. From the lake, the route continues north along the ridge before dropping down west to reach the Laghtyfahaghaun River and on down to the Western Way track leading back to Leenane village. The Laghtyfahaghaun River is on the border between the Joyce Country to the east & Connemara to the west. Distance: c. 15km. Duration: c. 5 hours. Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheet 37. C Walk Delphi to Bundorragha This low-level walk is an interesting blend of the very new and the very old. The walk is in the townlands of Bundorragha and Letteeragh. To begin, the route follows a circuitous, metalled trail through the woodlands of the Delphi Adventure Resort – sensitively laid out and well signposted – this is the new ! To move onto open ground and the old, the route goes along the R335, across the Bundorragha River below Fin Lough over “Bald's Bridge” and onto the Seanbóthar (old road) that runs along the eastern side of the Bundorragha River. The route follows south by the left bank of the river along the Seanbóthar track through open heath under the heights of Ben Gorm to the east. Some 3km later, the end is reached on the R335 a little to the north-east of Bundorragha Pier on the Great Killary. Walking boots are a must ! William Bald was a well regarded Engineer who was born in Scotland in around 1790 and came to Ireland in 1809. He spent many years engaged in mapping and in civil engineering - building roads, railways, bridges and harbours throughout Ireland. Distance: c. 9km. Duration: c. 4 hours. Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheet 37. Archaeology fieldtrip - WALKING WITH HISTORY This walk will bring you through Gleannlaoise valley and northwest to Glencroft ridge. Lots of archaeological interest along the way - O Flarerty booleys, bronze age cooking sites fulachta fiadha, white quartz standing stones, an early christian fort & children burial grounds to name a few. This walk will be off road & will contain some uphill sections. .