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Bothy Loop
Newport, Co. Mayo
Free to visit
Free car parking
This loop follows blue arrows on old cattle road, firebreak, sandy road, forest road and riverbank, mainly in forestry.

The north of County Mayo offers remoteness and seclusion in abundance. This looped walk starts from the Brogan Carroll Bothy (a basic shelter for walkers) in Letterkeen Woods - 12km from the nearest town of Newport, with the bare summits of the Nephin Beg Mountain range in the distance and the spuming Altaconey River closeby. An ideal location for a hushed getaway. The bothy marks the junction of two long-distance waymarked trails – namely the Bangor Trail and the Western Way. The Bangor Trail (described as the loneliest trail in Ireland) was an old droving track along which farmers took sheep from the Nephin Beg mountains to market. Three looped walks have been developed from the bothy – each of which combines a portion of the Bangor Trail and the Western Way, and two of which pass through the Sheep Pass.

A-B. Starting from the Brogan Carroll Bothy follow the blue (and red and purple) arrows for 100m to reach a metal footbridge. Cross the bridge and turn left onto the bank of the Altaconey River. Follow the track along the banks of the river for almost 1km to reach a ‘humpback’ metal footbridge. Cross the bridge and turn right.

B-C. Continue to follow the blue arrows as you travel along what remains of an old cattle road. After 1km - watch for the point where the loop turns right onto a firebreak and leaves the red and purple loops.

C-D. Follow the firebreak for 500m to reach a stream crossing and join a sandy roadway where you turn right.

D-E. Follow the sandy roadway for about 1.5km as it sweeps left and reaches a T-junction with a forestry road. Here you rejoin the red and purple loops. Turn right.

E-A. Following the blue (and red and purple arrows), the loop takes you onto and along the Altacroney River for 2km to regain the trailhead.

Trail details

Type:
Walking Trail
Location:
Letterkeen Loops
Grade:
Moderate
Format:
Loop
Length:
4.80km
Ascent:
80m
Dogs allowed:
Yes
    Time:2 hours
    Nearest town start:Newport
    Nearest town finish:Newport
    Start point:Brogan Carroll Bothy
    Finish point:Brogan Carroll Bothy
    Waymarking:Blue arrow
Contact details
Letterkeen, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Leave no trace
  • Plan ahead and prepare
  • Be considerate of others
  • Respect farm animals and wildlife
  • Travel and camp responsibly
  • Leave what you find
  • Dispose of waste properly
  • Protect nature from fire
More to discover at this venue
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Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo on this breathtaking 10.1 km loop. Secluded and idyllic, this trail boasts some of the Wild Atlantic Way’s most majestic mountain scenery.

Free things to doLough Avoher Loop

The north of County Mayo offers remoteness and seclusion in abundance. This looped walk starts from the Brogan Carroll Bothy (a basic shelter for walkers) in Letterkeen Woods - 12km from the nearest town of Newport, with the bare summits of the Nephin Beg Mountain range in the distance and the spuming Altaconey River closeby. Please refer to 78a-Bothy loop for further information on the area.

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