Connemara and Mayo · Easy · Circular

Claggan Mountain boardwalk to Bellacragher Bay

A short, level loop on a rebuilt boardwalk across the blanket bog of Wild Nephin National Park to the shore of Bellacragher Bay.

Distance
2.0 km (1.2 mi)
Ascent
5 m
Time
About 30 min
High point
10 m
Grade
Easy

Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.

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Claggan Mountain boardwalk to Bellacragher Bay
Neville Goodman · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The walk

From the trail car park on the N59 south of Ballycroy, follow the boardwalk south-west across the blanket bog at the foot of Claggan Mountain, among bog cotton, sundews and heather, to the sheltered shore of Bellacragher Bay, looking out towards Achill. Come back to the car park by the parallel path nearer the shore: out on the boardwalk, back on the shore path.

It is 2 km round with 5 m of ascent; allow about half an hour. The grade is Easy: a level boardwalk and a short, flat path.

The trail is in Wild Nephin National Park, run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The first boardwalk burned in April 2025; park staff rebuilt it, and the new boardwalk was officially opened on 27 August 2026. Keep dogs on a lead. The boardwalk is slippery in rain or frost, and the shore path can be wet. The park closes to all visitors in Orange or Red weather or fire-risk warnings, most often in spring and early summer.

The car park is free. There is no regular bus; in summer only (2026: 2 June to the end of August, Tuesday to Saturday) the free park shuttle stops here on request. The Ballycroy visitor centre, with a café, is about 8 km north on the N59.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.

Good to know

  • The trail crosses Atlantic blanket bog, a rare habitat of bog cotton, sundews and heather that the national park protects.
  • The first boardwalk, built in 2017 for all abilities, burned in a fire in April 2025 and was rebuilt by the park's own staff.
  • The trail ends on the sheltered shore of Bellacragher Bay, looking out towards Achill.
  • The Ballycroy visitor centre, with exhibitions and a café, is about 8 km north on the N59.

Getting there

Start: Claggan Mountain trail car park · Free parking. 53.95746, -9.79295

Directions to the start

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Places to stay nearby

Rooms in and around Westport: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →

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Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.