A walk to remember

Park

up the car and explore the west of Ireland’s beautiful walkways, mountains and forests

 Hazelwood Forest, Sligo

Situated about an 11-minute drive from Sligo Town, Hazelwood Forest is ideal for relaxed family strolls, with forest trails and beautiful views of Lough Gill. The nature trail itself forms a loop of about 3km, taking approximately one hour to complete, and there are two shorter alternatives available. The routes are clearly marked, and begin and end at the car park. A number of wooden sculptures from Irish and international artists can be found along the track, as well as a picnic area. Hazelwood was once the seat of a very important Sligo family, the Wynne family, who owned Hazelwood House and most of the surrounding lands for 300 years. Hazelwood House was designed by the architect Richard Cassels, who was also responsible for buildings such as

Leinster House. While the house is not open to the public, it is still worth seeing from outside.

Visit sligowalks.ie/walks/hazelwood

Travel tip – Don’t miss another highlight in Sligo, Benbulben, one of Ireland’s most distinctive mountains. Benbulben is approximately a 25-minute drive away from Hazelwood Forest and the 5.5km Benbulben Forest Walk is another must-do trail in Sligo.

The famous Irish poet, and Sligo native, WB Yeats was inspired by Benbulben and his final resting place is also nearby in Drumcliffe Churchyard.

 The Shannon Blueway, Leitrim

The Shannon Blueway in Leitrim encompasses more than 200km of waterborne or waterside trails, allowing you to see the best of the Lough Allen Canal and the Shannon, Ireland’s longest river. You can follow the trail either by kayak, paddleboard, bike or on foot, but a unique way to explore the Blueway is via the Acres Lake Boardwalk, Ireland’s first floating boardwalk!

The 600m boardwalk, in the picturesque village of Drumshanbo, is the start of a 6.5km linear trail along the Shannon Blueway from Acres Lake to Battlebridge Lock, near Leitrim Village. The walk connects to the Drumhauver Bridge loop walk, the longest of the looped trails at 10km, and the 5km Drumleague Lock loop walk. Spectacular scenery at Acres Lake makes it a perfect spot for a picnic, or even just to sit for a while and take in the peace and tranquillity.

Visit leitrimtourism.com

Travel tip – Quench your thirst after walking with a visit to The Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo (thesheddistillery.com), approximately a four-minute drive from the Shannon Blueway. The Shed Distillery is home to Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, Drumshanbo Single Pot Still and other remarkable creations by PJ Rigney. Currently, until the end of June, guests can enjoy a gin cocktail experience, which includes a selfguided tour and gin cocktail al fresco on the Terrace. Guided tours of the authentic distillery restart on July 5th, which include two expert tastings.

 Sliabh Liag Pilgrims Path – Cosán an Oilithrigh, Donegal

Follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims to McBric’s Church and Well, along the Cosán an Oilithrigh or Pilgrims’ Path. This captivating 4km linear hike takes you to one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, Sliabh

Liag in Donegal. Fun fact: Did you know that, at 596m in height, the Sliabh Liag cliffs are in fact three times higher than the famous Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare?

Beginning from the car park at Ballymore, the impressive horseshoe-shaped valley unfolds in front of you as you round the corner, and when you start climbing, there are spectacular views over Teelin Harbour, the Wild Atlantic and counties Sligo and Mayo. The walk takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes and is moderate in grade. The terrain is a mix of green road, track and rougher paths, and there are a few short climbs to the plateaus. Be sure to linger at the viewing area by the Pilgrim Path’s serene waterfall. Dogs are not allowed on this route.

Visit discoverireland.ie/donegal/sliabhliag-pilgrims-path-cosan-an-oilithrigh

Travel tip – Guided tours of Sliabh Liag are also available with Sliabh Liag Tours (sliabhliagtours.ie), a family-run bus hire/tour operator, established over 25 years ago by Joe Haughey. Located in Teelin, they offer a special service to individuals and to groups of all sizes who wish to see the cliffs and run a guided shuttle service to the Sliabh Liag viewing point from the village of Carrick.

 Sliabh Bawn, Roscommon

The Sliabh Bawn mountain is made up of two main peaks, the highest being 262m high. The second peak is 254m high and is the location of the Holy Year Cross. Within the Sliabh Bawn recreation area, which is home to the Sliabh Bawn Wind Farm, there are a number of looped forest walks, a trim trail for fitness, an equestrian trail, a raised viewing platform and a picnic area. The walking trails range in distance from 2.7km to 6.5km and are graded as either easy or

Travel tip – Make a real adventure out of your visit to Roscommon, with a camping stay at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in Boyle, approximately 45 minutes drive away from Sliabh Bawn. Here, you’ll discover more scenic walks, but you can also hire a boat and experience beautiful Lough Key and let the kids explore the many activities available. Camping bookings are limited, so for enquiries, email loughkeycamping@gmail.com. Check out loughkey.ie for day admission prices to the park.

Carrauntoohil, Kerry Lace up your hiking boots and challenge yourself to climb Ireland’s highest mountain! Standing tall among the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Carrauntoohil offers magnificent views of the scenery from the summit of the 1,039m high peak. The climb can take anywhere between four to six hours and is best suited for experienced hikers, as it is quite difficult.

There are three routes to the top. The Devil’s Ladder route begins at Cronin’s Yard and follows the path up through Hag’s Glen valley, crossing the Gaddagh River. You can also choose from Brother O’Shea’s Gully route or the Caher route. All three trails treat you to views of lush valleys, serene lakes and rich green forests. And don’t forget to mark the milestone with a photo at the Carrauntoohil cross when you reach the top – you could even raise a drink to celebrate!

Visit discoverireland.ie/kerry/ carrauntoohil

Travel tip – You won’t be able to summit Carrauntoohil with a dog, but Torc Mountain nearby consists of woodland trails for walkers, both human and canine.

 Valley Loop Walk, Achill Island, Mayo

The Valley Loop Walk, or Slí Tóin a tSeanbhaile as Gaeilge, is an 8.5km looped walk, located in the unspoiled village of the Valley on the north-east coast of Achill. The walk is perfect if you prefer a low-lying walk without steep climbs. Along the route, you’ll experience impressive views of the towering Slievemore mountain and out onto north Mayo and Blacksod Bay. The loop walk takes approximately two hours to complete. Parking is available at Golden Strand Beach Car Park (Barnnagappaul Strand) at Dugort, and access to Achill Island itself is by the Michael Davitt Bridge. Note that dogs are not allowed on the trail. Visit sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/ trails/valley-loop-walk-achill-island-sli-toina-tseanbhaile

Travel tip – Don’t leave Achill Island without exploring the majestic Atlantic Drive, providing over 40km of spectacular coastal scenery.

En route, you will see Kildownet Castle, where Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley once lived. The top of Minaun is an incredible 360-degree vantage point.

 Sheep’s Head Way, Cork Spanning 93km in total, the Sheep’s Head Way begins in the historic West Cork market town of Bantry. From there, you can hike right to the end of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, where you’ll find the Sheep’s Head lighthouse and stunning views northwards across Bantry Bay to the Beara Peninsula, and south across Dunmanus Bay to the Mizen Peninsula.

The main trail of the Sheep’s Head Way can be walked over six days (if you have high stamina!), or you can choose from one of over 20 loop walks, ranging between one to seven hours. There are also additional linear routes, which form a 200km trail network along the Sheep’s Head Peninsula and around Bantry, extending into the eastern section to Drimoleague, Mealagh Valley, Kealkil and onto Gougane Barra. Visit thesheepsheadway.ie

Travel tip – Make sure to visit Mizen Head (mizenhead.ie) to witness some incredible views and to discover how the Mizen Head Fog Signal Station was built to save lives off the treacherous rocks at Ireland’s most south-westerly point. The Mizen Head Visitor Centre has reopened this month, and the site is open daily from 10am-6pm through July and August. The site is open from 10:30am-5pm in September and October and from 11am-4pm at weekends from November to March. Check the site for Covid-19 guidelines.