Suck Valley Way facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Suck Valley Way |
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|---|---|
| Length | 105 kilometres (65 miles) |
| Location | Counties Roscommon & Galway, Ireland |
| Designation | National Waymarked Trail |
| Trailheads | Castlerea |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation gain/loss | 580 m (1,903 ft) |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Season | Any |
| Website | http://suckvalleywaywalk.com/ |
The Suck Valley Way is a fun long-distance trail in Ireland. It is a 105-kilometre (65-mile) long path that goes in a big circle. It starts and ends in Castlerea, a town in County Roscommon. Most people take about five days to walk the whole trail.
This trail is known as a National Waymarked Trail. This means it is an important walking route in Ireland. The National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council has given it this special title. The trail is looked after by the Roscommon County Council, a group called Roscommon Integrated Development Company, and the Suck Valley Committee.
Discovering the Suck Valley Way
The Suck Valley Way is a great way to explore the countryside. The path circles around the valley of the River Suck. This river flows between two counties: Roscommon and Galway. Along the way, you will visit nine friendly villages. These villages are Ballintober, Dunamon, Castlecoote, Athleague, Mount Talbot, Ballygar, Creggs, Glinsk, and Ballymoe.
How the Trail Was Created
The idea for the Suck Valley Way came from a group called the River Suck Valley Development Cooperative. They formed in 1991 to help bring more visitors to the area. It took three years to plan and build the trail. The project cost about £80,000 in old Irish money. A big part of this money, £46,000, was given as a grant by Bord Fáilte, which is Ireland's tourism board.
The Suck Valley Way officially opened in May 1997. A person named Enda Kenny opened it. At that time, he was the Minister for Tourism and Trade. This means he was in charge of helping tourism and business in Ireland.
Connecting to Other Trails
A part of the Suck Valley Way is also a section of a much bigger path called the Beara-Breifne Way. This is a long route for walking and cycling that is still being developed. When it is finished, it will stretch all the way from the Beara Peninsula in County Cork to Breifne in County Leitrim.
The Beara-Breifne Way follows a famous historical journey. It traces the path taken by an Irish leader named Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare in 1603. He led his people on a long march after a big battle called the Battle of Kinsale.
