Western Way - Mayo
Long Distance Waymarked Way · Mayo
Western Way - Mayo is a 130.2 km moderate waymarked linear route in Mayo, starting near Leenaun.
Notice from the trail operator
Closure Notice: Unfortunately due to unprecedented rain the Western Way Mayo Trail is closed on the Ashleagh River section from Ashleagh Lodge (Eircode H91 DYR2) North to Houstan's Bridge.
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with South West Mayo Development Company before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking | Moderate | Moderate | 5 days |
Getting there
Starts at Aasleagh near Leenaun, near Leenaun.
Finishes at Ballycastle.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 53.61353, -9.66846
- Irish Grid reference
- L 895 644
- Ordnance Survey sheets
- Discovery Series Sheets 23, 31, 37 and 38
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
County Mayo is a rugged landscape of which thirty six percent consists of mountain, bog and lake. The county experienced the greatest depopulation of any county in Ireland during and after the Great Famine: the 388,000 inhabitants in 1841 had reduced to just over 100,000 by the late 20th century, and it is hard not to sense this flight from the land as you walk through the county's magnificent mountain and moorland landscapes. The route of the Mayo section of the Western Way is a linear 150 km walking route from Leenaun to the village of Ballycastle. It includes long sections on tarmac roads, including 8km on the N59 main road, but the views of the looming holy mountain of Croagh Patrick and the spectacular vista to the north over the many islands of Clew Bay makes up for it. Again north of Westport much of the route is on tarmac side roads, but once past the beautiful mountain-framed Lough Feeagh there is a tangible sense of moving away from €˜civilisation'. Soon the route enters one of Ireland's last wildernesses, the barony of Tirawley and the largest expanse of peatland area in the country, bordered on the west by the Nephin Beg mountain range. After a brief interruption at Bellacorick where a public road is crossed, the wilderness of Sheskin, heavily forested, is crossed before descending towards the town of Ballycastle with the Atlantic Ocean filling the northern horizon. Much of the route is on forestry tracks or moorland paths, and walkers should expect some very wet sections. The aggregate ascent is nearly 1700m, but there are no significant climbs.
Before you go
60 kms or 49% of the Way follows local roads. There may be issues with waymarking at some points along the trail. ***No dogs allowed along the Erriff River or on the off-road section between Sheeffry Bridge and Drummin*** .
- Waymarking
- Yellow arrow on black background
- Dogs
- No
Who manages it
South West Mayo Development Company
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Elsewhere
- thewesternway.ie
- mayo.ie/activities/walking-hiking/the-western-way
- eastwestmapping.ie/product/the-western-way-oughterard-to-westport
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Killeen Killadoon Beach Loop 18 km away · 6.2 km trail
- Killeen White Stone Bog Loop 18 km away · 6.9 km trail
- Murrisk Loop 18 km away · 4.4 km trail
- Murrisk Mountain Loop 18 km away · 3.3 km trail
- Murrisk Pier Loop 18 km away · 3.1 km trail
- Louisburgh Cycle Hub Loop 1 (Roonagh Quay) 19 km away · 20.6 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Western Way - Mayo?
130.2 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. It climbs 1,350 m in total. Sport Ireland estimates 5 days.
How hard is the Western Way - Mayo?
Sport Ireland grades it Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Western Way - Mayo start?
Starts at Aasleagh near Leenaun, near Leenaun. The trailhead is at 53.61353, -9.66846 (Irish Grid L 895 644).
Can you bring a dog on the Western Way - Mayo?
No. The register records dogs as not allowed on this trail.
Who manages the Western Way - Mayo?
South West Mayo Development Company. 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.