hikes

Walks & Hikes in Galway

connemara walks

Walks in Connemara

Walks & Hikes

List of walk & hikes:

Located in Letterfrack, take a captivating 7km trail through Connemara National Park and embrace County Galway’s inspiring mountain scenery, Diamond Hill’s spectacular summit and superb island views too. A two-hour loop walk in Connemara, this route follows gravel paths, wooden boardwalk and steps up the slopes of magnificent Diamond Hill.

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This walk is of easier character, making it a perfect one to do with your kids or your less experienced hiking friends. From the car park, the walk is a 4 km loop up and around the hill, with lovely views of the Turlough Lakes as well as a range of majestic trees like oak and ash. Reputation says that Maeve ‘the legendary Queen of Connacht’ was buried in the cairns on the summit of the hill, from where you’ll be able to get beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area.

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This area offers looped walks off the route of the Western Way through Newvillage forest. There are excellent views to the east over Lough Corrib and north towards Cong in Co. Mayo.There are two walking routes within Newvillage forest. Both involve making a complete loop, bringing the visitor back to the car-park. The longer Lough Seecon route is approximately 6.5km in length, while the shorter route is approximately 5km. Both routes provide stunning views over Lough Corrib.

Difficult 3 to 5 hour hill walk close to Roundstone. The hill walk features dramatic rocks, spectacular scenery including mountains, bog and coastline. The distance is about 7km with about 450m of climbing. Terrain includes steep open hillside, wet bog, sheep track and surfaced minor road. This walk offers stunning views of Dog's Bay Beach. (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/ireland/county-galway/errisbeg-mountain)

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Stay local and head out for this easy walk-through woodland and beaches, one of the few green spaces available so close to Galway. Over a few square kilometres walkers can enjoy woodland and streams, marshes and beaches, and glacial cliffs.

There are four trails of varying lengths, from 1.4 kilometers to 7.4 kilometers, all beginning at the eco-friendly Slieve Aughty Centre outside Loughrea. Bring your wellies for a walk-through bog land, explore the Coillte pine forests, walk along the banks of the Duniry River, and find the preserved stand of natural oaks and beeches on the longest trek. The deep-rooted trees are covered in moss, giving it a very enchanted feeling.

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Seven way-marked trails of varying lengths and difficulties await in the Burren National Park, varying from thirty-minute walks to three hour hikes. On one of the spectrum, a 1.5km looped trail is very doable and on the other end is a 7.5km trek through steep, remote upland. Whichever you choose, you will get to experience the beautiful and unusual limestone and flora of the Burren landscape.

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Formerly the estate of Lady Gregory. There are two way-marked trails through Coole Park to choose from. The Family Trail is 1.75km, which takes walkers past the old house and walled gardens of the grounds, through woodland with views of the river, and finally past the Fallow deer enclosure before ending at the Visitor Centre. The 'Seven Woods Trail' is 4.5km and takes walkers through woodlands made famous by W.B. Yeats and past the outhouses of the property including stables and kilns.

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Start your walk from the NUIG sports ground car park. Walk down towards the river, where you will see historic Menlo Castle across the river. Once you come to the river, turn right and walk along past the old tea house. You can continue along the river for some time until you reach Corrib Village. If the Village is open (usually summer months), you can go up through the grounds and out onto the main road and loop back to where you started. If you want a longer walk, you could continue along to the NUIG campus, then double back on yourself.

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These woods provide lovely recreational walks through forest paths. The woodland area is well known for its unique flora and historic archaeology throughout the park. The woodland area was part of the Ffrench estate which was handed over to the public in 1938 by Lady Kathleen Ffrench. The mausoleum which exists in the woodland, containing the remains of Robert and Kathleen Ffrench, was left in the care of the Catholic Church. There are two looped trails of 1.5km’s & 1.3km’s. The forest park also features a historic 17th century ‘Ice House’ which was part of Ffrench Castle.

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Inishbofin lies 10km off the coast of Galway and offers a truly unique option for family walks in Galway. There are three looped walks, with varying difficulties, all with stunning views of the island’s beautiful scenery. The 5km Middlequarter walk runs over Inishbofin’s second highest point, which on a clear day offers panoramic views of Achill Island’s mountains, Inishturk and Clare Island, the Twelve Bens, Maumturks and Croagh Patrick.

One of the best looped walks throughout the Wild Atlantic Way. This 9km looped walk takes in coastal paths and quiet country roadways around Garumna Island in the Connemara Gaeltacht. The route is relatively flat, making it an ideal stroll for all members of the family. Although, you should be warned that it can be quite muddy in places so make sure you bring the wellies! The route offers breath taking views of the Maamturk and Twelve Bens Mountains and right across to the Aran Islands. Garumna Island is situated in Ceantar na nOileán in the island region of south Connemara. It is connected to Leitir Móir and the mainland via Carraig a’Logáin Bridge.

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Salthill’s main attraction every year has been its promenade and numerous sandy beaches. The promenade covers approximately 3km of coastline, overlooking Galway Bay. This is an ideal area for jogging, rollerblading or strolling. The hills of County Clare are visible across the Bay on a clear day and benches are provided along the seafront.

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This 5.6 km hike consists of almost entirely intrusive granites, covered by wind-blown sand. It starts and ends either by the car park in Claddaghduff Church or on the edge of Omey Strand. If you are lucky, you might spot dolphins at the tip of the tidal island.

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An easy 2/3 hour coastal walk on the Gurteen peninsula near Roundstone and Ballyconneely which is a Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way. The walk features several spectacular beaches with fine sands and dunes, extensive flora, interesting rocks and wonderful sea/mountain views. Distance is 6km with very little climbing. Terrain is mostly grassy and sandy, with some rocks.

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A moderate 3 / 4 hour hike around one of the largest and wildest lakes of the Roundstone Bog complex - Lough na bhFaoileann; the lake of the Seagulls. A very special walk, featuring rare bog habitat, a series of lakescapes overlooked by Errisbeg Hill and the towering Twelve Bens Mountains. The distance of this hike is about 9km with a small amount of gentle climbing. Terrain includes rough wet bogland, sheep track, long grass and surfaced minor road.

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Portumna Forest Walk offers woodland paths and forestlands that remind you of scenes from Harry Potter. The clean park abounds with wildlife and a rich variety of flora, carefully conserved and cared for.Picnics and barbecues are common activities in the park, but one can go for long walks and feel little exhaustion due to the park’s green canopy, cooling you and giving you the fresh air that you need.

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Cappagh Park is a fun, suburban park which featur playgrounds, woodland paths, Gaelic soccer fields and pitches, and a lot of picnic areas for you, your friends, and family. Enjoy long walks with your pets, and have beautiful Irish sceneries captured on your phone in this serene and enticing park.

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Terryland Forest Park is an urban forest park in Galway, Ireland. It was launched in January 2000 as the largest such project in Ireland with a plan to involve the citizens of Galway city in planting 500,000 native Irish trees in an area of 120 acres not far from the city centre. The Park has four walking routes to choose from.

Once owned by the Guinness family, this beautiful woodland now contains an easy forest trail, perfect for a family with older children. As you ramble through the woods, look out for the ruins of Ballykine castle. A 7.5km trail, Clonbur Wood Loop Trail leads you through a charming mixed woodland and along the south shore of serene Lough Mask. An easy, flat loop, it takes 2.5 hours to complete.


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