Western Way

Last updated

Western Way
Western Way in Lettershanbally forest - geograph.org.uk - 967422.jpg
The Western Way in Lettershanbally forest
Length179 kilometres (111 miles) [1] [2]
LocationCounties Galway & Mayo, Ireland
DesignationNational Waymarked Trail [1] [2]
Trailheads Oughterard, Ballycastle
UseHiking
DifficultyModerate [1] [2]
SeasonAny

The Western Way (Irish : Bealach an Iarthair) [3] is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 179 kilometres (111 miles) long and begins in Oughterard, County Galway and ends in Ballycastle, County Mayo. It is typically completed in seven days. [1] [2] 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. [4]

Contents

Route

The Reek Western Way over The Reek - geograph.org.uk - 968003.jpg
The Reek

Galway section

53°29′13″N9°27′14″W / 53.487°N 9.454°W / 53.487; -9.454 Starting from Oughterard, the trail follows the western edge of Lough Corrib before breaking away across the Maumturks chain at the pass of Maumeen. It descends to the Inagh Valley along the base of the "Turks", following them around to Leenaun at the head of Killary Harbour fjord. The Galway section ends here and the Mayo section begins.

Mayo section

From Leenaun, the Mayo section of the trail climbs over Sheefry Bridge, then down into Westport, then on through Newport, Sheskin, Ballycastle, Killala, Ballina, ending at Lough Talt in the Ox Mountains near the Sligo border. It is possible to continue on the Sligo Way.

The Bangor Way & North Mayo Walks

The Bangor Trail is a way-marked trail mainly across the blanket bog and fairly rough terrain of the Nephin Beg Mountain range. The trail links the town of Newport in mid west Mayo with the town of Bangor Erris in Erris, North Mayo. There are several looped way marked cliff walks along the North coast cliffs, Benwee Head and Glinsk overlooking Broadhaven Bay which start from Carrowteige.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Mayo</span> County in Ireland

County Mayo is a county in Ireland. In the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority. The population was 137,231 at the 2022 census. The boundaries of the county, which was formed in 1585, reflect the Mac William Íochtar lordship at that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Galway</span> County in Ireland

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is in the Northern and Western Region, taking up the south of the province of Connacht. The county population was 276,451 at the 2022 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lists of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Suck</span> Tributary of the Shaoon in central and western Ireland

The River Suck is a river within the Shannon River Basin in Ireland, 133 km (82.5 mi) in length. It is the main tributary of the River Shannon. It meets the Shannon a kilometre south of the village of Shannonbridge.

Bangor Erris is a town in Kiltane parish in Erris, County Mayo, Ireland with a population of over 300. It is on the banks of the Owenmore River and is a "gateway" to the Erris Peninsula linking Belmullet with Ballina and Westport. It is located at the foot of the "Bangor Trail" a 22-mile mountain pass across the Nephin Beg Mountain Range to Newport. Approximately 2 km away is Carrowmore Lake, Bangor is a centre for wild atlantic salmon and sea trout fishing. Bangor Erris is located in the Parish of Kiltane. Due west from Bangor are the towns of Belmullet, Geesala, Mulranny, Westport and Doolough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erris</span> Barony in County Mayo, Ireland

Erris is a barony in northwestern County Mayo in Ireland consisting of over 230,452 acres (932.61 km2), much of which is mountainous blanket bog. It has extensive sea coasts along its west and north boundaries. The main towns are Belmullet and Bangor Erris. The name Erris derives from the Irish 'Iar Ros' meaning 'western promontory'. The full name is the Iorrais Domnann, after the Fir Bolg tribe, the Fir Domnann. To its north is the wild Atlantic Ocean and the bays of Broadhaven and Sruth Fada Conn and to its west is Blacksod Bay. Its main promontories are the Doohoma Peninsula, Mullet Peninsula, Erris Head, the Dún Chiortáin and Dún Chaocháin peninsulas and Benwee Head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N59 road (Ireland)</span> Road in Ireland

The N59 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It commences in County Sligo, south of Sligo Town at the Belladrehid interchange with the N4 north of Ballysadare. The route circles around the west of Ireland, passing west from Sligo into County Mayo and through Ballina. The N59 continues around Mayo, proceeding indirectly to Westport. Continuing south through Mayo into County Galway, the road passes through the village of Leenaun. The 182-year-old bridge in the centre of the village, carrying the road across the River Lahill, collapsed in floods on 18 July 2007. Due to the local terrain and road network, the diversionary route for getting from the south of the village to Westport was 110 km long. A temporary bridge was opened eight days after the floods, on 27 July. It has since been replaced by a new bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerry Way</span> Walking trail in County Kerry, Ireland

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 and is typically broken into nine stages. 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.

A registration district in the United Kingdom is a type of administrative region which exists for the purpose of civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths and civil partnerships. It has also been used as the basis for the collation of census information.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangor Trail</span>

The Bangor Trail is a waymarked walking trail in Erris, North Mayo, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burren Way</span> Walking trail in County Clare, Ireland

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dingle Way</span> Walking trail in County Kerry, Ireland

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Clare Way</span>

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 Lough Derg Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 68 kilometres long, beginning in Limerick City and ending in Dromineer, County Tipperary. It is typically completed in three days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miners Way and Historical Trail</span>

The Miners' Way and Historical Trail is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is a 118-kilometre (73-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Arigna, County Roscommon. 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 managed by Roscommon Integrated Development Company, Roscommon County Council, Leitrim County Council and Sligo County Council. The trail was developed to encourage tourism in the area in the wake of the closure of the Arigna mines in 1990. The route was originally conceived by a local priest, Father Sean Tynan, and built with funding from the European Regional Development Fund. The trail was opened by broadcaster Donncha Ó Dúlaing in July 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Offaly Way</span> Trail in County Offaly, Ireland

The Offaly Way is a long-distance trail in County Offaly, Ireland. It is 37 kilometres long and begins in Cadamstown and ends at Lemanaghan, on the R436 road between the towns of Clara and Ferbane. 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 Offaly County Council, Bord na Mona and the Offaly Integrated Development Company. The trail provides a link between the Slieve Bloom Way and the Grand Canal Way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sligo Way</span>

The Sligo Way is a long-distance trail mainly in County Sligo, Ireland. It is 78 kilometres long and begins in Larrigan, near Lough Talt and ends in Dromahair, County Leitrim. 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 Sligo County Council, Sligo Integrated Development Company and the Sligo Walks Partnership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westmeath Way</span>

The Westmeath Way is a long-distance trail in County Westmeath, Ireland. It is 100 kilometres long and begins in Kilbeggan and ends in Athlone. 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 Westmeath County Council and the Westmeath Way Committee. The trail forms part of the Dublin-Galway Greenway, part of the route 2 of the EuroVelo European cycle network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suck Valley Way</span>

The Suck Valley Way is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is a 105-kilometre (65-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Castlerea, County Roscommon. 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 managed by Roscommon County Council, Roscommon Integrated Development Company and the Suck Valley Committee.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Western Way (Galway)". IrishTrails. Irish Sports Council . Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Western Way (Mayo)". IrishTrails. Irish Sports Council . Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  3. "Western Way". Placenames Database of Ireland. Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht . Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  4. National Trails Office 2010, p. 46.

Bibliography