2020-03-13 15:07
Also known simply as Napoleonic Towers, or Signal Towers, 8 of these structures were built by the British authorities in County Mayo during the first decade of the 19th Century.
The late… Read More
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Hiking Blog - Tourism Pure Walking Holidays, Ireland Blog
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A blog about walking (hiking) in rural areas of the West of Ireland.
2020-01-26 14:50
Clonfert Cathedral is a difficult place to find, but a visit sure is worth it.
Hidden in labyrinthine east County Galway, near the broad majestic Shannon, it was a foggy December morning… Read More
2020-01-08 12:45
Somebody told me over the Christmas that they listen to podcasts. I can’t say I ever have.
Then I got to thinking that I might try my hand at it. If for no other reason, at least I… Read More
2019-11-15 19:21
They start with the kids and it’s wonderful.
The colour is part and parcel of the tradition, with each group
displaying its own version of the basic ensemble –tight trousers… Read More
2019-09-19 12:20
Leaving the N59 between Leenane and Kylemore,
we turn right onto the minor road L5102, marked Tullycross, to head to the
Killary Famine Walk at Rosroe.
Killary Fjord
On the way, we pas… Read More
2019-08-26 17:21
The little ancient church at Kilcummin, near Killala in North Mayo, is well worth a detour. It was a beautiful crisp day when I visited in January.
Kilcummin (not to be confused with Kilcomm… Read More
2019-06-17 14:31
The beautiful Early Marsh Orchids greeted us by the
sparkling lake shore at Errew.
Early Marsh Orchid by Lough Conn
We fancied a day out by Lough Conn and had come to discover the ruin… Read More
2019-05-10 11:24
Flowing just 103km from source to sea, the modest Moy isn’t the longest river found entirely within Connacht. That title belongs to the Suck, which runs for over 130km before entering… Read More
2019-01-14 12:49
A wild, windy and often wet coastal county, boasting particularly spectacular sea cliff landscapes, Mayo is also home to some of the finest beaches in Ireland.
Caressed (more often, pounded)… Read More
2018-11-01 14:06
Day Out in North Mayo (in the car!)
When I plan a day out in North Mayo, my mind usually pictures a great long hike along its spectacular ocean cliffs.
But it’s sometimes fabulous to s… Read More
2018-09-24 10:32
Having exited our gorgeous forest track, a lovely quiet car-free road led us the last 500m into Varaire. As we dawdled by its cute little houses and their wonderful gardens of fig trees and… Read More
2018-07-10 15:24
The Spectacular Coastline of County Mayo
From the Killary fjord in the south to the estuary of the River Moy in the north, the coastline of County Mayo is a magnificent mix of awesome cliffs… Read More
2018-04-19 12:46
Urlaur Priory near Kilmovee, East County Mayo
Dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas, Urlaur Priory (Urlaur Abbey) was founded in the early 1430s during the last years of the pontificate of Martin… Read More
2018-03-29 12:15
Keenagh Loop Walk
If you’re looking for a walk that represents west Mayo well, without the extra effort of climbing a mountain, then Keenagh Loop Walk may fit the bill. Be sure to brin… Read More
2018-03-16 11:33
1588 – The Spanish Armada and Mayo
In May 1588, King Philip II of Spain sent his armada of ships towards the English Channel, under the command of Alonso Pérez de Gúzman… Read More
2018-01-30 12:50
From Round Tower to Abbey
Our round towers and abbeys are among the most visible still extant reminders of early and medieval Christian Ireland. While the former date from the 9th to 11th ce… Read More
2018-01-15 13:00
Coillte has exited, so what now for the ‘Wild Nephin’ farce?
Farce (n); a broadly humorous play based on … improbable situations; a ludicrous situation or action. [Collins… Read More
2017-10-26 11:27
Tales from the GR36 Walking Route in the South of France
Marie d’Arles
“Je suis ravie de rencontrer quelqu’un”.
Marie d’Arles smiled out from beneath her poncho… Read More
2017-10-19 18:40
Naturally, my bias ensures that 5 of these 11 great West of Ireland pubs are located in Mayo, but what else would you expect?
The Irish pub can be such an alien concept to continental Europe… Read More
2017-09-10 16:41
Guided Walking Holiday in the South of France
Once her official character was demasked, Michèle was a hoot. In her capacity as receptionist and ticket seller at la Chapelle des P&eacu&hell…Read More
2017-09-10 16:41
Once her official character was demasked, Michèle was a hoot. In her capacity as receptionist and ticket seller at la Chapelle des Pénitents Noirs, she was as detached as any o… Read More
2017-06-20 13:29
Achill Island Promontory Fort at Bun na Faiche (Dun Bunnafahy)
A quick overview of my coastal Discovery Series maps of the County Mayo coastline * reveals 54 marked promontory forts. Do… Read More
2017-04-25 14:00
Perhaps the most lovely thing about getting out for a walk at this particular time of year is the renewed colour all around as the spring wildflowers of Mayo come out and begin to dominate o… Read More
2017-04-11 12:50
Although not particularly impressive, this Croaghmoyle booster station walk is a pleasant 8km stroll near Castlebar that includes an easy climb on tarmac. I do it a few times each year in sp… Read More
2017-02-15 14:46
Standing on the beautiful Mall, a treasure any town would desire, is the terribly dilapidated Daly’s Hotel Castlebar.
The Mall is Castlebar’s jewel, a lovely small park that was… Read More
2016-11-29 15:38
Are we and our kids spending too much time indoors?
While today’s electronic devices bring many great advantages of connectivity and learning, they are contributing to a serious dimini… Read More
2016-09-26 13:17
Ox Mountains – Doomore to Crockavreen
What a slog that was. Having consulted Bing Maps online and my own paper OSI 1:50,000, I reckoned this eastern Ox Mountains ramble would take… Read More
2016-09-26 13:17
Ox Mountains Ramble – Doomore to Crockavreen
What a slog that was. Having consulted Bing Maps online and my own paper OSI 1:50,000, I reckoned this eastern Ox Mountains ramble wou… Read More
2016-09-01 12:07
Mweelrea
Connacht’s highest mountain, Mweelrea offers a great day’s hiking. The finest mountain in the West of Ireland, Mweelrea can be tackled along a number of routes, my favou… Read More
2016-07-05 15:45
When I think of wonderful little Inisturk, I’m reminded of the sweet opening verse from Nancy Spain, the popular ballad most famously sung by Christy Moore, “Of all the stars tha… Read More
2016-06-20 13:50
Bellacorick Bog Loop – 13kms of flat, easy walking
While the first and last 1km is uninspiring, passing along a stony track shared by times with heavy machinery involved in the install… Read More
2016-01-19 10:14
Lough Adanacleeveen is a very lovely corrie lake below Slieve Carr, the highest peak in the Nephin Beg mountains of Mayo.
Get your hiking boots on some day and wander up to this very remote… Read More
2016-01-07 12:36
2015 saw the publication of its Wild Nephin Map by EastWest Mapping, employing a 1:25,000 scale to give greater detail than the 1:50,000 scale of OSI’s Discovery Series. So as a Christ… Read More
2015-08-25 14:59
What a great week we had on our Wildlife Tour Poland during May. Wow, how time flies and I only writing up my report now! For me, the highlight was unquestionably on the double. First, we ha… Read More
2015-03-23 14:00
Wild Nephin, states Coillte, would “involve taking 4,400 hectares out of … commercial forest operation and rewilding this land, improving habitat and landscape quality over a 15… Read More
2015-02-11 13:45
Of the 60-odd Irish round towers remaining, in various states of repair, 5 are to be found in County Mayo. Round towers are believed to have been built around the 8th to 12th Centuries and w… Read More
2015-01-20 19:00
Sixteen km north of Castlebar stands the modest but pleasant hill of Farbreiga. Though only reaching 395m high, a hike up this oddly-named hill offers wonderful views in all directions, espe… Read More
2015-01-16 12:08
Join our small group hiking the Maumturk and Twelve Bens mountains of Connemara this May bank holiday weekend.
The Inagh Valley in Connemara is a wonderful spot for hiking, with the Maumturk… Read More
2015-01-16 12:08
Join our small group hiking the Maumturk and Twelve Bens mountains of Connemara this May bank holiday weekend.
The Inagh Valley in Connemara is a wonderful spot for hiking, with the Maumturk… Read More
2014-12-02 12:34
Walking the spectacular North Mayo cliffs is an exhilarating but tough 2-day hike. From the tiny village of Belderg, heading west, this is an area you will have all to yourself. Apart, that… Read More
2014-10-28 15:00
I must admit that I’ve no problem with winter. In fact, I’m a fan. I kind of think it suits a place like the West of Ireland.
Rather than grumble about the summer showers (of whi… Read More
2014-10-01 14:20
I’m delighted to announce my Poland wildlife tour for May 2017 to the truly magnificent National Parks of Biebrza and Bialowieza, in eastern Poland.
Dates : May 8 – 14, 2017.
Pri… Read More
2014-09-25 11:58
While we all love to view the spectacular sights and experience the wonderful places, often it’s the simple pleasures that we enjoy the most.
Like sitting on a rock, in silence, and wa… Read More
2014-09-05 15:30
I’ve always loved autumn.
As is my wont when I have a bit of spare time, I recently went to a wood I know near Lough Key Forest Park to look for some deer.
The last time I had bee… Read More
2014-07-31 15:33
Aasleagh Falls is a tiny but celebrated waterfall at the head of the Killary, Ireland’s only true fjord, in south County Mayo. The very beautiful Erriff River tumbles down the couple o… Read More
2014-06-27 15:30
St Kevins Way in Wicklow was the target as I left Mayo in the dead of night recently. A supposed pilgrim’s path, St Kevins Way travels some 25 km from Hollywood in the east of the coun… Read More
2014-06-19 18:00
Corraun is kept attached to the Irish mainland by rocky boggy land to its east, barely 800 m wide. Off its western shore, meanwhile, a channel just 150 m wide holds Achill Island at bay… Read More
2014-06-12 14:54
Rather than simply moving along The Bangor Trail and then veering left, while out for a hike last week, I decided to leave the village of Bangor Erris, cross over the modest summits of Knock… Read More
2014-04-11 15:03
Our hedge gives us great joy, especially during spring and early summer. As much as I’d love to live out in the wilds of Mayo, maybe under a mountain or by a lake, with a wooded area n… Read More
2014-03-14 16:29
Raftery the Poet, of 19th Century Mayo, was blind from childhood and spent his life playing tunes on the fiddle, creating and singing songs as he wandered the West of Ireland. Born in Killed… Read More
2014-02-19 15:39
View the Fáilte Ireland video promoting the newly designated Wild Atlantic Way – a 2,500 km touring route down the west coast of Ireland. You can also read my blogpost about the… Read More
2014-02-03 17:11
Built by Isidore Blake at the end of the 18th Century, Towerhill was a very fine “Big House” in Mayo. Standing 6 bays wide and 3 bays deep over basement, the house was reput… Read More
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