The circular Suck Valley Way takes around five days to complete, making it undoubtedly one for the bucket list. Great for families, this mostly flat, well-signposted route follows quiet side roads and country paths along the Suck River valley, passing through parts of Roscommon and Galway on its way from Mount Talbot to the riverside town of Castlerea.
Relish in the tranquility of rural Ireland as you traverse low land forests, bogs, riverbanks, lakes, and peaceful traditional farmland, where old stiles, wooden footbridges, ring forts, castles, and ancient churches are still very much part of the landscape.
The richness of the countryside is rivalled perhaps only by the utter charm of the ‘The Nine Friendly Villages’ you’ll pass through as you go; be sure to stop into Ballygar, Creggs, Glinsk, Ballymoe, Ballintubber, Dunamon, Castlecoote, Athleague and Mount Talbot to relax and get a taste of true Irish craic.
Trail details
- Type:
- Long Distance Waymarked Way
- Location:
- Ballygar Castlerea
- Grade:
- Moderate
- Format:
- Loop
- Length:
- 123.90km
- Ascent:
- 580m
- Dogs allowed:
- No
In Castlerea: Car parking on street
- With so many towns along the way, options for acommodation - particularly B&Bs - are plentiful.
- The end point on the trail, Castlerea is the ancestral home of the O'Conor clan, also known as the last of the High Kings of Ireland.
- Don’t miss the unique La Tène Stone near Castlestrange, a carved granite boulder that dates from the Iron Age.
- Other sites of historical interest along the way include Ballintubber Castle, Castlecoote House and Clonalis House.
