Rediscover hidden walking routes near Castlebar

By Tom Gillespie

WEATHER permitting, this is a great time of year to venture out in the fresh air for a walk in isolated rural areas.

The surrounding countryside of Castlebar has many hidden gems for strollers to discover and enjoy at any time of the year.

Three years ago I rediscovered Lough Rusheen, having fished there as a youngster, and the magnificent looped bog walk with its stunning scenery. The only disturbance in the air was the whirl of the giant blades of the nearby wind farms.

It was during the 2020 lockdown that I participated in the ‘token’ Castlebar Walking Festival road walk that took us on a 15-kilometre trek out the Windy Gap road and back in by Lough Rusheen.

Further down the Burren Road, in by the old schoolhouse, above Lenanavea Bog, I found this remote boreen (pictured) with an abandoned cottage and a resident goat.

Last month I heard two competing cuckoos at different locations in the bog, much to the joy of many families who were saving turf there.

With my walking buddy, Frank Burke, we ventured towards another wind farm, encountered two hares on the bog road, turned right to come upon this scene which had to be photographed for posterity and shared, as I am doing now.

The organisers of the renowned Castlebar International Walking Festival have for the past 56 years, excluding 2020 and 2021, attracted thousands of walkers to town from all over the world. In doing so they have mapped out the most scenic routes that can be traversed within a short distance of the county town.

The 2023 Four-Day Walks will run, well walk, this week, from June 29 to July 2, and the festival director is my daughter, Rowena Gillespie, who has taken over the mantle from Elaine Devereaux. Rowena has reintroduced the opening ceremony, which takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) evening.

Rowena, an employee of Penney’s in Castlebar, has been associated with the festival for 37 years.

In more recent years the walks organisers have extended routes to Achill, Mulranny, Letterkeen, Keenagh and other areas where there are looped trails, often involving steep mountain climbs.

The seven-kilometre Castlebar to Turlough Greenway walk following the Castlebar River has proven a huge success and attracts young and old alike.

Likewise, the Lough Lannagh loop in Castlebar is equally popular with walkers, runners and cyclists and more recently orienteers with a series of GPS posts to follow. My only crib is with dog owners who walk their mutts and let them run out of control.

Another popular walking route is the recently upgraded Raheens Woods loop outside Castlebar on the Newport Road, which meanders through a dense wooded area.

The one thing that has constantly struck me about Raheens Woods is the lack of bird life which you would imagine would be associated with such an area.

This is in total contrast to the Castlebar to Turlough route which is teeming in wildlife from wild duck to mink and wading cranes to otters.

Unfortunately, far too many walkers, with ear buds in place, miss out on the natural sounds that emanate from the river and the countryside.

Across the county there are a variety of looped walks, including Carrowteige Loop Walks, Clogher Loop Walks, Erris Head Loop Walks, The Neale Heritage Walk, Crossmolina Loop Walk, Clare Island, Inishturk island, Keenagh Loop Walk, Moore Hall, Tourmakeady Forest Trail - ending at the waterfall, Sheskin Forest Trail, Tawnyard Forest Trail, Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail, Bellek Wooks, Cong Walks, Bonniconlon Loop Walk, Ballycastle (Sralagagh) Loop, Lough Callow Loop, Clare Lake Loop, Crucspulagadaun Loop, Dooagh Loop Walk, Foxford Loop, Killeen Loop Walk, Keenagh Loop Walk, Sralagagh Loop Walk, and the Lacken Trails.

During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown the desire to walk or travel beyond the five-kilometre limit was a real tester.

The closure of pubs, restaurants and other businesses left people with very little to do but go for a stroll.

But when restrictions lifted many took the opportunity to revisit many of their favourite routes outside of the restricted zone.

One of my favourite looped trails in the Lough Coolaknick trail on Inishturk.

The trailhead is located at the gable wall 50 metres from the pier. You follow the surfaced road for 100 metres, passing the church on the right to the three-way junction. Turning right you continue uphill to the metal gate. From there you follow the winding sandy roadway where you will get magnificent views of the Atlantic.

After one kilometre you reach the lake, Loch Cúil a Chnoic - the back of the mountain. Near the end of the lake the waymaker directs walkers uphill to the right and onto the commonage. The route passes by a series of stone structures, eventually descending to a magnificent viewing point from where the stacks - Boughil More and Bougloryhilm Beg - the big fella and the small fella - can be seen.

From here you turn sharp left and follow the line of the earth banks and stone walls through boggy ground to reach the boundary between private lands and the commonage.

This brings you to the GAA pitch and you follow the track to the main road, turning left to take you back to the pier. Passing the community club, pop in for a refreshing drink or snack.