Ballycroy National Park guides to lead Bangor Trail walk

Ballycroy National Park guides to lead Bangor Trail walk


Ballycroy National Park guides will lead a free three-hour walk on the northern section of the beautiful Bangor Trail this Friday, June 27. The 10k walk, which will start in Bangor Erris and finish near the Tarsaghaunmore River, is open to all.
Interested walkers are invited to meet at the Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre at 11am (sharp), where transportation will be provided. It should be noted that this walk is graded ‘Strenuous’ and that sturdy waterproof footwear will be required. Walkers should also bring along a light lunch.  
The Bangor Trail is a 400-year-old ancient roadway, which is carved through the foothills of the Nephin Beg mountain range. Its condition is primitive and it is said to have been used by herdsman bringing their cattle to market between the Baronies of Erris and Burrishoole.
The full trail extends for 40km and meets another ancient trail, the Western Way, just outside Newport. It is probably one of the most remote trails in the country, and access is very limited. The section between Bangor Erris and Letterkeen can take up to eight hours to complete, for hardy hikers. The trail can also be quiet wet, depending on seasonal rainfall rates.
Parts of the Bangor Trail are within the lands of the Ballycroy National Park. To the west of the mountains is the Owenduff bog. One of the last intact active blanket-bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe, Owenduff is an important scientific and scenic feature of the National Park.

Booking for Friday’s walk is essential. To sign up, contact Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre,  Ballycroy Village, on 098 49888 or ballycroyvisitorcentre@ahg.gov.ie. For more information, visit  www.ballycroynationalpark.ie.