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Western Way
Western Way in Lettershanbally forest - geograph.org.uk - 967422.jpg
The Western Way in Lettershanbally forest
Length 179 kilometres (111 miles)
Location Counties Galway & Mayo, Ireland
Designation National Waymarked Trail
Trailheads Oughterard, Ballycastle
Use Hiking
Difficulty Moderate
Season Any

The Western Way (Irish: Bealach an Iarthair) is a long-distance trail in Ireland. It is 179 kilometres (111 miles) long and begins in Oughterard, County Galway and ends in Ballycastle, County Mayo. It is typically completed in seven days. It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by Coillte, Galway County Council, Mayo County Council, South Mayo Development Company and Mayo North & East Development Company.

Route

Western Way over The Reek - geograph.org.uk - 968003
The Reek

Galway section

Starting from Oughterard, the trail follows the western edge of Lough Corrib before breaking away across the Maumturks chain at the pass of Maumeen. It descends to the Inagh Valley along the base of the "Turks", following them around to Leenaun at the head of Killary Harbour fjord. The Galway section ends here and the Mayo section begins.

Mayo section

From Leenaun, the Mayo section of the trail climbs over Sheefry Bridge, then down into Westport, then on through Newport, Sheskin, Ballycastle, Killala, Ballina, ending at Lough Talt in the Ox Mountains near the Sligo border. It is possible to continue on the Sligo Way.

The Bangor Way & North Mayo Walks

The Bangor Trail is a way marked trail mainly across the blanket bog and fairly rough terrain of the Nephin Beg Mountain range. The trail links the town of Newport in mid west Mayo with the town of Bangor Erris in Erris, North Mayo. There are several looped way marked cliff walks along the North coast cliffs, Benwee Head and Glinsk overlooking Broadhaven Bay which start from Carrowteige.

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