Walking
Walking
Get Active
If you really want to travel in style in Ireland, then there’s no better way to do it than by foot. From short walking breaks that stretch your legs to week-long treks to witness the scenery, there really is a walking route for everyone. But before you get your boots on, check out these great walking holiday ideas to help you on your way, from hill walking and looped walks to coastal and forest routes.
The north coast of Mayo is one of Ireland’s best kept secrets with many of its majestic cliffs, rugged headlands, rocky coves and jagged stacks apparent only to those who leave the main thoroughfares to discover them. The Dun Chaocháin area is one of great physical beauty and has retained many of its traditions and culture - the Irish language is still the vernacular. The Dun Chaochain cliffs have featured in various walking guidebooks including Lonely Planet - Benwee Head at 255m is the crowning glory. The Stags of Broadhaven (a group of four precipitous rocky islets rising to almost 100m) are located about 2km north of Benwee Head and are of ornithological importance.
Don’t you remember The legend of The Children of Lir? well Erris is where its at and as legend goes it tells the tale of children who were turned into swans and condemned to wander the countryside for 900 years, 300 of these were spent on the north Mayo Island, Inishglora. The children of Lir Sculpture has significance to this area from where thousands of people have emigrated in the past to all parts of the world – bringing with them a strong spirit of place – but never to return.
Mayo's has so much to both walking enthusiasts from its largely unspoilt, clean countryside, varying landscapes, unique scenery and rich heritage and folklore mark it as the ideal walking destination. Mayo offers all kinds of trails including Mountain, Coastal and Island, Rural and Urban Greenways and National Loop Trails. The variety of trails on offer is endless.
For Guided Walking Holidays Contact .................
Barry Murphy at info@tourismpurewalking.com or check out upcoming events on www.tourismpure.com
Jim Henry at slainte@slainteirelandtours.ie or check out upcoming events on www.slainteirelandtours.ie
For a full list of walking and cycling trails in Mayo visit www.mayotrails.ie
Western Ocean Walking Weekend 3rd-6th August 2012
Three great days walking in north Mayo, in a landscape dominated by the North Atlantic. Erris occupies the North Western corner of Mayo – a spectacular landscape of Atlantic blanket bog, high sea cliffs and low-lying peninsulas.
To book or for more info www.tourismpurewalking.com/events/multi-day/-western-ocean-walking-weekends or www.leimsiar.com