Letterkeen Loop
Walking Trail · Mayo
Letterkeen Loop is a 10.1 km strenuous waymarked loop in Mayo, starting near Newport.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Strenuous | Challenging | 3 hours 30 minutes |
Getting there
Starts at Brogan Carroll Bothy, near Newport.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.98931, -9.57283
- Irish Grid reference
- F 96897 05577
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheet 23
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
About the trail
This loop follows purple arrows on old cattle road, a narrow path through trees, sandy road, forest road and riverbank mainly in forestry. It travels in a clockwise direction with climbs and descents, some of which are steep, reaching a highpoint of 311m before descending to cross a pass in the scenic and relatively isolated lowlands of the Nephin Beg Mountains. This is a lovely quiet secluded walk with extensive views from the highest point.
Before you go
The terrain consists of riverbank, tracks, and forestry roads so hiking boots are recommended.
- Waymarking
- Purple arrow
- Dogs
- Yes
Who manages it
South West Mayo Development Company / Mayo County Council / National Parks & Wildlife Service
Ballycroy Visitor Center Tel:098 49888 Rural Recreation Officer Email: [email protected]
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Bothy Loop 0 m away · 4.8 km trail
- Lough Aroher Loop 0 m away · 9.2 km trail
- Vary's Loop 0 m away · 2.4 km trail
- Western Way Mayo - Achill Spur to Mulranny 7.4 km away · 16 km trail
- Drumleen Loop 9.5 km away · 2.8 km trail
- Tristia Loop 9.5 km away · 5.8 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Letterkeen Loop?
10.1 km, recorded as a loop on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 350 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 3 hours 30 minutes.
How hard is the Letterkeen Loop?
Sport Ireland grades it Strenuous, with an overall difficulty of Challenging. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Letterkeen Loop start?
Starts at Brogan Carroll Bothy, near Newport. The trailhead is at 53.98931, -9.57283 (Irish Grid F 96897 05577).
Can you bring a dog on the Letterkeen Loop?
Yes. The register records dogs as allowed. Much of the Irish trail network crosses working farmland, so keep a dog under close control near livestock.
Who manages the Letterkeen Loop?
South West Mayo Development Company / Mayo County Council / National Parks & Wildlife Service. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Mayo
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.