Walking Tours in Ireland

The Suck Valley Way on the borders of West Roscommon and East Galway, incorporating parts of the O’Sullivan Beara Way, offers tranquillity of this oval shaped walk.

The route offers an attractive and varied countryside and passes over hillsides, through forest, woodlands, bogland and along banks of the River Suck and its many lakes and through open countryside. There is a wide range of historical and archaeological sites on route, including a unique La Tene Stone dating back to the Iron Age. For naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts it is a real haven, offering a rich variety of flora and fauna.

You will stay in B&B’s along the route. All rooms are en-suite, meals are excellent, the scenery could not be better.

Your luggage will be transferred and you will be brought to the different starting points for your walks, from here you will go along tracks, with the help of maps supplied and walk description.

Day 1

Arrival in the village of Athleague, Co. Roscommon.  If you arrive by train or bus we will collect you and bring you to your B&B for your first night. If time allows you may consider visit of Clonalis House, a 19^th century mansion and the Railway Museum

(alternative itinerary available on request for arriving at Roscommon Railway Station).

Please be back at your B&B for 19.00 hrs for your dinner. Your maps and starter pack will be waiting for you there.

Day 2

Athleague - Mount Mary. (20km)

Start on the Suck Valley Way. The trail goes easily through fields and along minor roads following the bends of the river first to Mount Talbot. Afterwards you will journey over a stretch of raised bog where turf is still cut.  Walkers can walk via the link into the village of Ballygar if they wish or follow the trail into the woods of the demense of Aughane Castle. You will pass where the site of Abbey Grey Fort before arriving at the foot of Mount Mary.

Day 3

Mount Mary - Glinsk Castle (22km)

Mount Mary at 164m  is the highest point of the walk. O Sullivan Beara passed this way and many of his people perished on these snow top heights. You will pass the village of Creggs with its monument to Charles Parnell Stuart and the old Presbyterian Church ruin.  On the way you will pass many of the ring forts, Lough Doo and Lough Loung before arriving at Glinsk castle, the last castle built in Ireland.

Day 4

Glinsk Castle - Harristown/ Castlerea Town (20knm)

Take a walk around Glinsk Heritage Park in view of Glinsk Castle . The Way continues througha mixture of pasture and bogland to Ballymoe, birthplace of Father Flannagan who founded'Boystown' in teh USA. Heading further north, you reach Castlerea, the town where Sir William Wilde was born, husband of Speranza' and father if Oscar Wilde, and in his own right a noted antiquary.

Day 5

Harristown / Castlerea Town - Emloughryan (21km)

The Walk wanders down country lanes from the Ballymoe - Castlerea Road, crossing the Dublin - Westport Railway Track at double gates. On one of these lanes you can see the remains of Emlagh Cross on the site of a former 11th centuary monastery, founded by a nephew of St Patrick. You continue to Ballintubber village with its castle originally built by the O'Connor clan in the 13th century. You can visit St Brigid's Well and maybe some of the local pubs if thirsty!

Day 6

Emloughryan - Athleague (17km)

Today you can follow the lane towards the River Suck and forest. Along the banks of the river you can view Donamon Bridge and Donamon Castle. Enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the castle grounds when open to visitors.
Continue on your way passing Castlecoote where you will see the old watermill and pay a visit to Castlecoote House Head through the meadows to Castlestrange (where the 200 year old La Tene stone is located) and follow the riverbank untill you reach the village of Athleague.  You have now completed the 100km / 60mile Suck Valley Way Walk!!

Day 7

Breakfast, followed by farewell and departure!

The programme is subject to weather conditions and maybe changed if required. Other activities are possible, e.g. cycling, horse riding, fishing etc. In evenings there is the option of going to some of the local pubs for music sessions when available.

Price 2012

• €495.00 per person sharing

 
All prices are in EURO, and based on per person sharing. Per person sharing means two people in one room. Single Room supplement is applied when people require a room for themselves as part of a booking of two or more.

"The Suck Valley Way was a very intimate way of seeing the Irish countryside.  Strolling past newborn animals, through forest filled with blue bells...stopping to talk to the local priest on his way to give communion to the house bound woman down the lane...watching the farmers go about their daily work...it was just how we like to experience a place, on the level of the people who live there.
It was also a wonderful, intimate time to spend with my daughter.  This was her college graduation present & it was lovely to spend that much time just being together...no rushing, no phones, no stress....just some sore feet & lots of time to reconnect.
Staying in the one B&B for that long, did give us another intimate look at life as a B&B & pub owning family.  Again, that is what traveling is for us...getting to know the people & how they live in the place we're visiting.
Our host was a wonderful personality to get to know & we would recommend this tour highly."

Maureen Moore
Homer, AK  99603