Croagh Patrick from Murrisk

From the car park by the visitor centre in Murrisk, follow the lane and stone steps south past the statue of St Patrick onto the pilgrim path, Cosán Phádraig. It climbs the hillside beside a stream, eroded and stony, to the shoulder, where the ground levels out and Clew Bay and its islands open up below. Turn right and follow the ridge west to the cairn of Leacht Mionnáin at the foot of the cone. Climb the cone on stone steps and loose quartzite to St Patrick's Oratory, the chapel on the summit. Return the same way.

It is 7.9 km there and back with 776 m of ascent; allow about 5 hours. The grade is Hard: a steep, heavily eroded path, then loose scree on the cone, which is hardest on the way down.

Wear boots, and take poles, water and warm layers: cloud and wind come in fast on the cone, and it is icy in winter. On Reek Sunday, the last Sunday in July, tens of thousands of pilgrims climb, and the path and car park are very crowded.

The car park is pay and display, run by Mayo County Council. The council has consulted on new charges, so the rate may change. Bus Éireann's route 450 runs from Mill Street in Westport to Murrisk about six times a day and takes about 20 minutes.

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.