Day 1: Arrival
Optional Pick up at Westport train
station. Dinner and Briefing with Guide at 17.00hrs. |
Day 2: Achill Island
- Distance: 7 miles/700ft
A 75 minute transfer to the North side of Clew Bay
and visit Achill Island, Ireland's biggest offshore
island.
Achill has been a favourite destination for many artists
and writers over the years, namely Paul Henry and
Graham Greene as well as German Nobel prize winner
Heinrich Boll.
Your walk starts at the deserted village at Slievemore
and follows a rough track before ascending to 269
metres
( 890 feet ) across open moor with boggy sections.
Given the right weather conditions the view's are
wonderful all round. Total distance for today is 11
kilometres or 7 miles. The walk finishes under the
shadow of Croaghaun mountain. |
Day 3: Kylemore Abbey &
Leenane - Distance: 9 miles/900ft
We begin our day with a visit to Kylemore Abbey*,
now a girls boarding school run by Benedictine nuns
whose order came here from Ypres in Belgium after
the first world war. The house itself was built by
a business man called Mitchell Henry who, while honeymooning
in the area fell in love with the unspoilt natural
charm of the valley and decided to build a home there.
The chapel in the grounds is a miniaturised replica
of Norwich Cathedral. Afterwards, we continue our
ramble on the western way, finishing in the tiny village
of Leenane (population 14). Leenane is considered
to have the smallest population of any village in
Ireland and is famous as the location for the movie
The Field starring Richard Harris and Tom Berenger.
The village is the crossroads for Connemara and as
such is a very busy place.
*Please note a small fee applies to enter the Abbey
and Cathedral. |
Day 4: The Western Way - Croagh
Patrick - Distance: 7 miles/1,600ft
Today we visit Ireland’s national famine monument,
walk the pilgrim path to the 1st station on Croagh
Patrick, then take the southern route to pick up the
Mayo section of the western way back to base. |
Day 5: Free Day.
Today you have the choice of just relaxing and discovering
the lovely town of Westport. There are some wonderful
craft shops, pottery, art galleries and bookshops.
Other options are: Play golf in Westport, deep-sea
fishing or cycling. |
Day 6: Clew Bay & Walk on
Clare Island - Distance: 8 miles
A short sailing to Clare Island, which is synonymous
with Grace O’Malley the formidable ruler of
the Clew Bay district during the second half of the
16th century. The walk takes us to the northernmost
end of the island before returning to the quayside
for our return ferry. |
Day 7: Killary Harbour Coastal
Walk
We drive to the head of Ireland's only fiord and begin
our walk on an old famine road that was built by the
starving Irish peasantry during the great famine of
the 1840's. On route you will clearly see evidence
of famine villages and lazy beds the name given to
the potato ridges where the poor Irish peasant tried
to provide food for his starving family. By early
afternoon, we will be back in Westport allowing you
ample time for some last minute shopping. |
| Day 8: Departure Day |
GRADE:  |
Moderate walks of 6-9 miles
(10 - 15km)
with gradual ascents of up to 900ft (275m).
Croagh Patrick 1600ft (490m) |
|
Ireland
Vacations Information:
