OUTDOORS Walk of the month – Erris Loop

DRAMATIC VISTA?The Erris Head loop walk offers some spectacular views of the north Mayo coastline.

Erris, a jewel in north Mayo’s walking crown


Walking
Kathleen Fergus

Erris head loop
Distance  5km
Grade Moderate to difficult
Trail Surface Grassy paths, earth banks, open ground
Time 1.5-2 hours
Gear Trekking boots, raingear, fluid

It’s all too seldom I venture up to the wonderful walking territory that is north Mayo. From spectacular views to its choice of trails, it’s an obvious destination for a day or a half day’s walking. We have featured the Carrowteige loops previously, so I pencilled in the Erris Loop for a short walk one Saturday morning. The drive there and back is a picture postcard in itself – another reminder that when we get the weather, Mayo offers views to beat the best of them.
The trailhead is sign-posted from Belmullet. Start from the town on the R313 between Bangor and Blacksod. Follow the sign for Ceann Iorrais to reach the start/trailhead at the Erris Head car park at the end of the road.
The loop starts from car park and immediately crosses a stile into a field. Following the fence on the right, you’ll be taken through two fields to reach an old earth bank, which once marked the boundary between parishes, but now provides sound walking terrain for almost half of the loop.
Follow the earth bank for 300m to reach a wooden footbridge over a small stream. This marks the point to which you will return from the left on the final section of the loop. Continue straight ahead here. Follow the earth bank to its conclusion near the northernmost tip of the head. Here this point you will be treated to spectacular views of Illandavuck Island, Pigeon Rock and some sea arches.



The loop turns sharp left now and climbs gently to reach a dated and dilapidated building, which in previous times served as a coast watch station. From here, the loop descends to view a stone construction of word EIRE and skirts the northern edge of Ooghwee inlet before reaching a concrete pillar that served as an information-gathering structure for the Meteorological Service.
From the pillar, the loop descends gently again, and a stream crosses where it turns left. After 300m, the loop rejoins the earth bank that was used on the outward journey at the small wooden footbridge. Turn right here and follow the earth bank back to enter the fields that mark the final part of the loop back to the trailhead.

Directions
The trailhead is located at a small car parking area at the end of the access road to Erris Head. Parking is available for up to eight cars.

For more information, visit www.errisbeo.ie.

Cathleen Fergus works for South West Mayo Development Company as Rural Recreation Officer. Her job includes the design, development and promotion of walking and cycling trails. She can be contacted at living@mayonews.ie.