Bluestack Way | |
---|---|
Length | 65 km (40 mi) [1] |
Location | County Donegal, Ireland |
Designation | National Waymarked Trail [1] |
Trailheads | County Donegal, Ardara [1] |
Use | Hiking |
Elevation gain/loss | +1,230 m (4,035 ft) [1] |
Difficulty | Moderate [1] |
Season | Any |
Surface | Bog roads, moorland, tarmac roads |
The Bluestack Way (Irish : Bealach na gCruach) [2] is a long-distance trail through the Bluestack Mountains in County Donegal, Ireland. It is 65 kilometres (40 miles) long and begins in Donegal and ends in Ardara. It is typically completed in three days. [1] It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Bluestack Way Management Committee. [3]
The trail was first proposed by a local environmental group, the Bluestack Environmental Group, and was opened in 2000. [4] It was partly funded by the EU Peace and Reconciliation Fund and construction was carried out by workers on a FÁS Community Employment Scheme. [4] A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 considered that the trail was suitable to be upgraded to a National Long Distance Trail, a proposed new standard of trail in Ireland intended to meet international standards for outstanding trails, and also recommended that the development of looped walks off the main route should be considered. [5]
Starting in Donegal Town, the trail heads north to reach Lough Eske before crossing the Bluestack Mountains to the village of Glenties. [6] From Glenties, it follows the course of the Owenea River to the end of the trail at Ardara. [6]
The Bluestack Way is proposed to be included in the Irish leg of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT), an extension of the Appalachian Trail through Canada to Newfoundland, to all terrain that formed part of the Appalachian Mountains of Pangaea, including Ireland. [7]
These are lists of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland, and include recognised and maintained walking trails, pilgrim trails, cycling greenways, boardwalk-mountain trails, and interconnected national and international trail systems.
Glenties is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. It is situated where two glens meet, north-west of the Bluestack Mountains, near the confluence of two rivers. Glenties is the largest centre of population in the parish of Iniskeel. Glenties has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition five times in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962 and 1995 and has won a medal many other times. As of 2016, the population is 805.
The Western Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 179 kilometres long and begins in Oughterard, County Galway and ends in Ballycastle, County Mayo. It is typically completed in seven days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Coillte, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council, South Mayo Development Company and Mayo North & East Development Company.
The Kerry Way is a long-distance trail in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a 214-kilometre (133-mile) long circular trail that begins and ends in Killarney. It is typically completed in 8 to 10 days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Kerry County Council, South Kerry Development Partnership and the Kerry Way Committee. The Way circles the Iveragh Peninsula and forms a walkers' version of the Ring of Kerry road tour. It is the longest of Ireland's National Waymarked Trails.
The Beara Way is a long-distance trail in the southwest of Ireland. It is a 206-kilometre (128-mile) long circular trail around the Beara Peninsula that begins and ends in Glengarriff, County Cork, also passing through parts of County Kerry. It is typically completed in nine days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Beara Tourism and Development Association.
The Ballyhoura Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 89 kilometres long and begins at St John’s Bridge, near Kanturk, County Cork and ends at Limerick Junction, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in four days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Ballyhoura Fáilte. The trail was opened in April 1994 by President Mary Robinson.
The Barrow Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 100 kilometres long and begins in Robertstown, County Kildare and ends in St Mullin's, County Carlow, following the course of the River Barrow and the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal through counties Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny and Laois. It is typically completed in four days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Waterways Ireland.
The Blackwater Way is a long-distance trail that follows the valley of the River Blackwater in Ireland. It is 168 kilometres long and begins in Clogheen, County Tipperary and ends in Shrone, County Kerry. It is typically completed in ten days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Avondhu Tourism and IRD Duhallow. It consists of two trails – the Avondhu Way between Clogheen and Bweeng, County Cork and the Duhallow Way between Bween and Shrone – which have been combined to form the Blackwater Way.
The Burren Way is a long-distance trail in County Clare, Ireland. It is 114 kilometres long, begins in Lahinch and ends in Corofin, crossing The Burren, one of the largest karst limestone landscapes in Europe.
The Dingle Way is a long-distance trail around the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a 162-kilometre (101-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Tralee and is typically completed in eight days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Dingle Way Committee and Kerry County Council.
The East Clare Way is a long-distance trail in County Clare, Ireland. It is a 180-kilometre (112-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Killaloe. It is typically completed in eight days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by East & Mid Clare Way Limited and the East Clare Way Committee.
The East Munster Way, formerly known as the Munster Way, is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 75 kilometres long and begins in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary and ends in Clogheen, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in three days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Tipperary County Council, Coillte and Waterford County Council. The trail was opened by Frank Fahey, Minister of State for Youth and Sport in July 1988.
The Mid Clare Way is a long-distance trail in County Clare, Ireland. It is a 148-kilometre (92-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Newmarket-on-Fergus. It is typically completed in six days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by East & Mid Clare Way Limited and the Mid Clare Way Committee. The trail was developed over a six-year period and opened on 31 May 1999 by Síle de Valera, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
The Slieve Bloom Way is a long-distance trail around the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Ireland. It is an 70-kilometre (43-mile) long circular route that can be accessed from any of the trailheads at Glenbarrow near the village of Rosenallis, County Laois.Cadamstown, County Offaly Kinnitty, County Offaly. It is typically completed in three days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Laois County Council, Offaly County Council, Laois Integrated Development Company, Coillte and the Slieve Bloom Rural Development Society. The route was devised by a local man, Tom Joyce, and opened in 1987. The route was developed as part of the designation of the Slieve Bloom area as a European Environment Park in the European Year of the Environment.
The Slieve Felim way is a long-distance trail through the Slieve Felim Mountains in Ireland. It is 43 kilometres long and begins in Murroe, County Limerick and ends in Silvermines, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Shannon Development and Coillte.
The South Leinster Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 104 kilometres long and begins in Kildavin, County Carlow and runs through County Kilkenny before ending in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in five days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is jointly managed by Carlow County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Tipperary County Council, Carlow Local Sports Partnership, Kilkenny Trails and Coillte. It was opened on 30 November 1985 by Donal Creed, Minister of State for Sport.
The Táin Way is a long-distance trail around the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth, Ireland. It is a 40-kilometre (25-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Carlingford. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Louth County Council, Coillte and the Walks Partnership Group.
Bealach na Gaeltachta, Dún na nGall comprises four circular long-distance trails in the Gaeltacht areas of County Donegal Republic of Ireland. All four trails are designated as a National Waymarked Trails by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and managed by Donegal County Council and Údaras na Gaeltachta.
The North Kerry Way is a long-distance trail in County Kerry, Ireland. It is 45 kilometres long and begins in Tralee and ends in Ballyheigue. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by North Kerry Walks Limited.
The Tipperary Heritage Way is a long-distance trail in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is 56 kilometres long and begins at the Vee Gap, near Clogheen, and ends in Cashel. It is typically completed in two days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Tipperary County Council, South Tipperary Integrated Development Company and the Tipperary Heritage Way Committee. The trail was opened on 7 September 2002 by Michael Smith, Minister for Defence.