Walks and adventure sports in Galway
Connacht
Galway has 74 waymarked trails on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register, covering about 3,030 kilometres in total across walking (59), cycling (16), canoeing/kayaking/paddling (5).
Spots worth the trip
Named on our sport and activity guides.
Twelve Bens
Hillwalking & MountaineeringSteep quartzite peaks in Connemara with real scrambling and almost no paths. The most committing hillwalking in the country outside Kerry.
Aran Islands
DivingWalls, drop-offs and drift dives off Inis Mór in some of the clearest water on the west coast.
University clubs
ArcheryNine of the register's clubs are third-level: UCD, Trinity, DCU, RCSI and TU Dublin, plus Maynooth, Galway, Limerick and SETU Carlow. Usually the cheapest way in if you're a student.
Galway
Skydiving & ParachutingWest coast drop zone with Atlantic and Connemara views on a clear day.
Galway Bay
SailingWest coast sailing with Atlantic swell outside the bay and the Aran Islands as the obvious first passage.
Lough Derg
Stand-Up PaddleboardingA large Shannon lake with plenty of sheltered bays and shoreline, and a long inland paddling season.
Salthill
Wild & Sea SwimmingBlackrock diving tower on the Galway promenade, swum year-round and a fixture of the city.
Waymarked trails in Galway
The 25 longest of 74, from the National Trails Register.
EuroVelo 1 Ireland - Atlantic Coast Route
2300 km · 21700 m climb · Very Challenging · LinearStarts at Newtowncunningham or Rosslare Harbour. Directions
Waymarked: blue text on white signs with bicycle symbol and eurovelo logo
Suck Valley Way - Slí Gleannta na Suca
123.9 km · 580 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Ballygar. Directions
5 days · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Please note the following temporary re-routes are in place on the Suck Valley Way: Mount Mary to Creggs section - Follow signed alternative road route as land section is temporarily closed for enhancement works. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Hymany Way
98.3 km · Moderate · LinearStarts at Portumna Bridge, near Portumna. Directions
3.75 days · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Please Note: The section of the Hymany Way trail at Lonnaghton bog is closed until further notice. Please follow diversions in place. The closure is between the following two coordinates at Loonaghton bog: Point 1: 53.449273, -8.352054 and Point 2: 53.453055, -8.345445 or contact the Rural Recreation Officer for further details on 0862622306.
Clifden Cycle Hub Loop 4
38 km · Challenging · LoopStarts at Clifden. Directions
3 hours · Waymarked: blue text on white background
Slí Chonamara
33.1 km · Moderate · LinearStarts at Trá na mBan, An Spidéal, near An Spidéal. Directions
10 hours · Waymarked: yellow arrow on black background
Clifden Cycle Hub Loop 3
30.8 km · Challenging · LoopStarts at Clifden. Directions
2 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: blue text on white background
Clifden Cycle Hub Loop 1
16 km · Challenging · LoopStarts at Clifden. Directions
1 hour 15 minutes · Waymarked: blue text on white background
Árann – Lúb Cill Mhuirbhigh
14.7 km · 180 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Pier at Cill Ronain, near Cill Ronain. Directions
4.5 hours · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Derroura - Mountain Bike trail
14.4 km · 350 m climb · Severe · LoopStarts at Derroura, near Oughertard. Directions
2.4 hours
Clifden Cycle Hub Loop 2
14 km · Challenging · LoopStarts at Clifden. Directions
1 hour 15 minutes · Waymarked: blue text on white background
Inis Meain - Lúb Dún Fearbhaí
13 km · 150 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Pier at northern end of island, near Rossaveel. Directions
4 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Portumna Forest Park - Rinmaher Cycling Trail
12.4 km · 10 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Forest Park Car Park, near Portumna. Directions
1 hour · Waymarked: green
Portumna Forest Park - Rinmaher Walking Trail
12.4 km · 10 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Forest Park Car Park, near Portumna. Directions
2 hours · Waymarked: green
Lough Derg Blueway - Portumna Water Recreation Park to Portumna Forest Park
12 km · Intermediate · Out and BackStarts at Portumna Water Recreation Park Trailhead, near Portumna. Directions
4 hours
Inis Oirr - Lub Ceathru an Phoillin
11.2 km · 120 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Pier on island, near Inis Oirr. Directions
4 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Árann – Lúb an Chorruch
10.3 km · 160 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Pier at Cill Ronain, near Cill Ronain. Directions
3.3 hours · Waymarked: blue arrow on white background
Portumna Forest Park - Bonaveen Cycling Trail
10.3 km · 10 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Forest Park Car Park, near Portumna. Directions
1 hour · Waymarked: red
Portumna Forest Park - Bonaveen Walking Trail
10.3 km · 10 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Forest Park Car Park, near Portumna. Directions
2 hours · Waymarked: red
Árann – Lúb Dún Eochla
10 km · 150 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Pier at Cill Ronain, near Cill Ronain. Directions
3 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: green arrow on white background
Lough Derg Blueway - Williamstown Ilaunaboe Quay
8.75 km · Intermediate · LinearStarts at Williamstown Harbour, near Williamstown. Directions
3 hours
Lúibín Gharmna (Garumna Loop)
8.7 km · 500 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Tír an Fhia, near Leitir Móir. Directions
2 hours · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Siúlóidí na Ceathrún Rua - Trail 2 Trá an Dóilín
8.3 km · 60 m climb · Easy · LoopStarts at Hallla Einne, near Carraroe Village. Directions
3 hours · Waymarked: blue arrow on white background
Inishbofin Island - Westquarter Loop
8.1 km · 80 m climb · Moderate · LoopStarts at Inishbofin Pier, near Inishbofin. Directions
2 hours · Waymarked: purple arrow on white background
Bealach Siúlóidí Leitir Mealláin - Blue Trail Bóthar na Sop
8 km · Easy · LinearStarts at Seaweed Centre. Directions
Waymarked: blue arrow on white background
Inis Meain - Lub Cill Cheannannach
7.9 km · 120 m climb · Easy · LoopStarts at Pier at northern end of island, near Rossaveel. Directions
3 hours 30 minutes · Waymarked: blue arrow on white background
The other 49 in Galway
- Cong/Clonbur Trail 7.5 km
- Inishbofin Island - Cloonamore Loop 7.5 km
- Clonbur Wood loop trail 7.4 km
- Slieve Aughty Trails - Sonnagh Old Loop 7.2 km
- Inis Oirr - Lub Ceathru an Locha 7 km
- Sheana Mhach Bog Trails - Seanadh Mhacha 7 km
- Slieve Aughty Trails - Gortnamanagh Loop 6.5 km
- Lough Derg Blueway - Rossmore Pier to Illaunaboe Quay (Coos Bay) 6.3 km
- Diamond Hill 6.2 km
- Lúibiní Cladach ó Dheas 5.8 km
- Aghrane Loop 5.6 km
- Bealach Siúlóidí Leitir Mealláin - Green Trail Ceann Gólaim 5.3 km
- Bealach Siúlóidí Leitir Mealláin - Yellow Trail Foirnis 5.2 km
- Inis Meain - Lub Dun Chonchuir 5.2 km
- New Village - Lough Seecon trail 5.1 km
- Inis Nee Loop 4.9 km
- Inishbofin Island - Middlequarter Loop 4.9 km
- Lúibín Mhaírois 4.9 km
- Siúlóidí na Ceathrún Rua - Trail 3 An Fhaithche 4.9 km
- Lough Derg Blueway - Portumna Water Recreation Park to Hayes Island 4.75 km
- Coole Park 7 Woods Trail 4.5 km
- Marconi Loop 4.5 km
- Aghrane Castlekelly Loop 4.1 km
- Bealach Siúlóidí Leitir Mealláin - Red Trail - Céibh na hAirde 3.7 km
- Gort River Walk 3.6 km
- New Village - New Village walk 3.6 km
- Siúlóidí na Ceathrún Rua - Trail 1 Cuilleán 3.6 km
- Sheana Mhach Bog Trails - Siúlóod na Spéartha Dorcha 3.5 km
- Williamstown Bog Road 3.3 km
- Lough Derg Blueway - Portumna Water Recreation Park to Terryglass Harbour 3 km
- Lúibín Cnoc an Choillín 3 km
- Killure Loop Walk 2.8 km
- Sheana Mhach Bog Trails - Lúibin Loch na mBruaichíní 2.8 km
- Sheana Mhach Bog Trails - Lúibin Loch Bharr an tSrutháin 2.7 km
- Lough Derg Blueway - Portumna Harbour to Portumna Bridge 2.5 km
- Lackagh-Knockdoemore Walking Trail 2.3 km
- Portumna Forest Park - Woodland Cycling Trail 2.3 km
- Portumna Forest Park - Woodland Walking Trail 2.3 km
- Ard na Gaoithe - Ardnageeha loop 2.2 km
- Lúibiní an tSileár 2.2 km
- Castlegrove Woods 1.8 km
- Coole Park Family Trail 1.6 km
- Monivea - Historical trail 1.6 km
- Portumna Forest Park - Forest Friendly Cycling Trail 1.6 km
- Portumna Forest Park - Forest Friendly Walking Trail 1.6 km
- Cong Forest - Cong Nature trail 1.3 km
- Monivea - Mass Track trail 1.3 km
- Letterfrack Poetry Trail 1.2 km
- Slieve Aughty Trails - Old Curragh Road 1.2 km
Forest parks in Galway
Coillte forest parks: managed destinations with parking, marked routes and facilities, not trails in open country.
Coillte maintains 26 forest car parks in Galway. These are the usual starting points for forest walks and mountain bike trails.
Bathing waters in Galway
30 designated bathing waters monitored by the EPA, 10 of them flying a Blue Flag. Water quality below is the EPA's annual classification, which is a verdict on the previous four bathing seasons and not a reading for today.
Bathing restrictions in Galway right now
Live from the EPA's bathing water service. Local authorities post restrictions after heavy rain, sewage discharges and pollution incidents, and they can appear the same morning.
Checking the EPA for current restrictions…
If this doesn't update, check beaches.ie directly before you swim.
Data from the EPA Bathing Water Open Data service, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets
Ballyloughane Beach
Good Quality (2025)Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Public transport · Accessible
Bathing Place at Portumna
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Céibh an Spidéil
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets
Grattan Road Beach
Sufficient Quality (2025)Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Public transport · Accessible
Loughrea Lake
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Salthill Beach
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Green Coast · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Public transport · Accessible · Beach wheelchair
Silverstrand Beach
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Green Coast · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets
Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Green Coast · Lifeguard · Toilets · Public transport
Trá na mBan, An Spidéal
Good Quality (2025)Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Public transport
Traught, Kinvara
Excellent Quality (2025)Blue Flag · Lifeguard · Parking · Toilets · Accessible
Bathing water data from the EPA Bathing Water Open Data service, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13. Positions converted from Irish Grid. The EPA publishes the full profile for each water at beaches.ie.
Sports in Galway, in depth
The sports with named spots, accredited centres or registered trails in the county.
37 clubs and schools in Galway
Listed by Archery Ireland, Mountaineering Ireland, Irish Sailing and Diving Ireland. Reproduced as each body publishes it, with a link back to the register. Contact details are theirs, not checked by us.
Clifden Boat Club
Club- Website
- facebook.com/clifdenboatclub
- Phone
- 095 21711
- [email protected]
Cloondavaun Bay Marina
School- Website
- cloondavaunmarina.ie
- Phone
- 086-2590884 (Brendan)
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 09532688
- [email protected]
- Website
- cuigeal.ie
- Phone
- 091-551553
- [email protected]
Corrib Ramblers
Club- Website
- seoltoireacht.weebly.com
- Phone
- 091 595215
- [email protected]
- Website
- galwayhookers.ie
- [email protected]
- Website
- instagram.com/sailing_spiddal
- Phone
- 087 256 1026
- [email protected]
Cumann Siúlóide Chonamara Theas
ClubGalway Bay Hillwalking Club
Club- Website
- gbsc.ie
- Phone
- 091 794527
- [email protected]
- Website
- galwaycitysailingclub.com
- Phone
- 086 6183122
- [email protected]
- Website
- galwayhookersailingclub.ie
- Phone
- 0872807028
- [email protected]
Galway Walking Club
Club- Website
- galwaywalkingclub.wordpress.com
- Phone
- 0867882222
Grey Lake Ramblers
Club- Website
- greylakeramblers/wordpress
- Phone
- 0872077883
- Website
- maumturkswalkingclub.ie
- Phone
- 0868102186
Oyster Walking Club
Club- Website
- facebook.com/groups/458887570180
- Phone
- 087 6496140
Petersburg OEC
School- Phone
- 094 954 6483
- [email protected]
PowerBoat West
School- Website
- powerboatwest.ie
- Phone
- 0860691991
- [email protected]
Rusheen Bay Windsurfing
School- Website
- rusheenbay.com
- Phone
- 0872605702
- [email protected]
- Website
- GalwaySeaScouts.com
- Phone
- 0868145139
- [email protected]
Trinity Sailor Sailing Club
Club- Phone
- 087 1616111
Tuesday Trekkers
ClubUNIVERSITY OF GALWAY SAC
Club · Galway- Phone
- 0862620809
- [email protected]
Valeo Hiking Club
Club- Website
- serioussailing.com
- Phone
- 095 23569
- [email protected]
Adventure centres in Galway
6 of 7 currently hold governing-body accreditation, shown as a badge linking to the register.
- Website
- killaryadventure.com
- Phone
- 095 43411
- [email protected]
Run by Galway and Roscommon ETB
Approved here in 2001, and still accredited today.
- Website
- petersburg.ie
- Phone
- 094 954 6483
- [email protected]
Guides for Galway
Common questions
Where can I go walking in Galway?
59 waymarked walking trails are registered in Galway. The longest are Suck Valley Way - Slí Gleannta na Suca (123.9km), Hymany Way (98.3km), Slí Chonamara (33.1km), Árann – Lúb Cill Mhuirbhigh (14.7km). Every one has a verified start point and driving directions on its own page.
How many waymarked trails are there in Galway?
74 on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register, totalling roughly 3,030 kilometres. The register records waymarked trails only, so unmarked mountain routes and informal paths aren't counted.
How hard are the trails in Galway?
By register grade: 2 beginner, 30 easy, 32 moderate, 3 intermediate, 1 strenuous, 4 challenging, 1 very challenging, 1 severe. Grades are set by Sport Ireland against national criteria, so they're comparable between counties.
Are there sports clubs in Galway?
37 clubs and schools in Galway are listed by their national governing body: Archery Ireland, Mountaineering Ireland, Irish Sailing and Diving Ireland. They cover 5 sports between them, and each listing links back to the register it came from.
Are there adventure centres in Galway?
7 in our directory, 6 of which currently hold accreditation from a national governing body: Delphi Resort, Immram Guides, Lets Enjoy Outside, Petersburg OETC and others. Each accredited listing links to the body's own register so you can check it.
What adventure sports can you do in Galway?
hillwalking & mountaineering, mountain biking, kayaking & canoeing, diving, archery, skydiving & parachuting, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, wild & sea swimming, based on the trails registered in the county and the locations named on our sport guides.
Elsewhere in Connacht
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Start points from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13. The register records waymarked trails only, so check the trail operator for current conditions and closures. Forest park and car park data from Coillte Recreation Information (CC BY 4.0), snapshot 2026-08-04, with county boundaries from OSi.