Bog tracks, mountain valleys, and lakes linking the interior of Ireland’s Atlantic west
The Western Way runs north through the west of Ireland from Oughterard in County Galway to Ballycastle in County Mayo. The route crosses Connemara’s open moorland and mountains before continuing through the Nephin Beg range and the remote uplands of north Mayo, linking inland valleys, lakes, and small coastal settlements.
Walking here is defined by ground conditions rather than steep climbing. Sections pass across blanket bog, rough hill tracks, forest roads, and quiet rural lanes. Surfaces can be soft and uneven underfoot, especially after rain, with steady ascents over passes and long stretches of open, exposed terrain.
The landscape feels expansive and lightly settled. Wide loughs sit between low mountain ridges, while long valleys carry the route between scattered farms and small villages. Services are widely spaced, giving the walk a self-reliant character and encouraging careful stage planning.
Settlements such as Maam Cross, Leenaun, Westport, Newport, and Bangor provide natural stopping points, but large sections feel remote and uninterrupted. Views often extend across successive ridgelines and open moor, with the Atlantic never far to the west.
A defining feature of the Western Way is its continuity through upland landscapes. Rather than following a single river or coast, the route moves steadily through interior terrain shaped by peat, stone, and water.
The appeal of the Western Way lies in its sense of space and distance. It offers sustained walking through some of Ireland’s least developed countryside, rewarding those comfortable with isolation and changing weather.
Trail Overview
Distance
Approximately 160 miles / 260 km
Typical time on foot
10–14 days
Start
Oughterard, County Galway
Finish
Ballycastle, County Mayo
Terrain
Bog tracks, mountain paths, forest roads, minor roads, moorland, valleys, small villages
