GREAT WESTERN GREENWAY

Island Loops

Inishturk : Mountain Common Loop

Island Loops

Waymarking – Purple Arrows

Distance

8 km

Difficulty

Easy

Ascent

130m / 170m

Trailhead

Inishturk Pier – GPS 53.706226, -10.090416

Terrain

Surface roads sandy tracks, hillside

Duration

2 hr – 2 hr 30mins

Minimum Gear

Trekking shoes, raingear, fluid & mobile phone

Services

Inishturk : Mountain Common Loop

Island Loops
8 km - easy

Inishturk, meaning Island of the Wild Boar, soars from the North Atlantic 14.5km off the west coast of Mayo. It is a wild, windswept patch of lush greenness with sheer wall-like cliffs and steep hills. By choosing to spend time here you are helping to sustain a culture that has survived for 4,000 years and whose future is somewhat uncertain. As a visitor you will be greeted at the pier by the islanders and if you spend the night the locals will head down to the community centre bar to keep you company and to find out about events in the outside world. The island measures 5km by 2.5km and includes two great walking trails where you can see colourful seabirds such as fulmars, guillemots, razorbills and puffins. There are also some interesting archaeological sites, an endearingly patchy football pitch rolled out on the only flat bit of land, and a new art installation in the Spirit of Place series.

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