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Western
Way
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Oughterard to Leenane ~
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This route starts at
Oughterard and follows the shore of Lough Corrib to Maam.
From Maam it finds a low level way through the great
quartzite ranges of the Maumturks and Twelve Bens, before
descending to the deep, narrow valley of Killary Harbour and
junction with the Western Way (Mayo) near Leenane.
Route Details: Oughertard, Maam, Maumeen, Inagh,
Toorenacoona, Leenane. - Distance: 50km / 31 miles. |
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Western Way -
Oughterard to Maam
Western Way takes you along
the banks of one of Ireland longest lake, Lough Corrib, a
world- renowned fishing Lough for freshwater trout and
salmon. It is said that
Lough Corrib has an island for every
day of the year, so as we stroll along you will have a
chance to count them. This section of the Western Way is on a
narrow
country road that leads to into a plantation of Silver Birch
and conifers.
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Over the Owenree River and onto
an area of open moorland, it is this wilderness area that
will give you your first great sense of remoteness.
Wild flowers like, Sundew, Butterwort, Bog Asphodel and many
more wild species grow in abundance here. The trail
eventually leads us onto an old bog road that is only used
today by the local people, mainly for the harvesting of peat
and to take the sheep to and from the mountains.
Distance: 14Km, Ascent: 80Mtrs 225Ft |
Western Way - Maam to Lough Inagh
Maam was a location for the 1952 film "The Quiet Man"
starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The remains of the
Quiet Mans Cottage are to be found here. Heading towards
Maumeen and following an ancient pilgrim's trail that takes
you into the Maumturk Mountains. Today it is a place of
pilgrimage and the site of a small church, a holy well and a
statue of St. Patrick. As you advance further west into the
Maumturks the awe-inspiring views of the surrounding
countryside of Connemara starts to unfold before our eyes as
we look out over the impressive peaks of the Twelve Bens,
Galway Bay, Lough Inagh and much more. The trail takes us
down into the Inagh Valley in
Connemara.
Distance: 15Km, Ascent: 340Mtrs
Western
Way - Kylemore to Leenane
Into the Inagh Valley, following an old Coach Road Northwest
along a broad flat valley that is flanked by two great
mountain ranges, the Twelve Bens and the Maumturks. Dotted
along this section or the trail is the remains of some old
ruined farm dwellings, the outline of the small fields and
cultivated ridges, a stark reminder of the Great Famine of
1845 to 1849. Leaving the valley behind out trail takes us
through a conifer plantation, out onto open moorland on the
north western slopes on the Maumturks. From here we will
have some extensive views across Killary Harbour, Ireland's
only fjord, definitely a spot for the enthusiastic
photographer. Our walk finishes in the quaint village of
Leenane.
Distance: 14Km. Ascent: 150 Mtrs |
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Walking in Galway |
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