[Slogger Jogger]

Originally Posted by pete_mcs

Would that be from the turn off beside the hotel?

We started at road junction off the lake. I don't recall the proximity to the hotel as it was a no. of years back. The road we jogged on first was a narrow country single track before we veered off left onto the Maameen walkers trail proper. Sorry I can't remember more specifics.

[pete_mcs]

Originally Posted by Bugsy2000

I put a query on the County Galway forum about the Western Way being passable, the answer I got is below. I think I'll definitely look at running it in two sections over the next while. Time to start juggling the diary.

Yes, you can walk right through unhindered; but be very careful on The Leckavrea Boardwalk in Maam area.

I went walking on The Leckavrea Boardwalk last year, and nearly broke my neck half a dozen times on it, it was that slippery.

The problem with this boardwalk is that the planks used to built it were planed, when they should have been left rough an unplaned, to provide a good grip for walking boots. Either that, or chicken wire mesh should have been nailed to them, like the ones in Wicklow.

Leckavrea Boardwalk is fairly slippy all right, ran it last week on a misty day and it was nearly impossible when you had to turn a corner or head down a few steps. Seen a lot of footprints along side the boardwalk, so I would guess a lot of folks left the planks and ran in the bog!

[Volovo]

Would love to try some Mountain running myself. Haven't read every single post on here - has any group been setup?

[Bugsy2000]

Originally Posted by Volovo

Would love to try some Mountain running myself. Haven't read every single post on here - has any group been setup?

There have been a few runs alright. The group has set up a facebook page and they are organising everything from that.

Mountain & Hill Running In Connacht - Facebook

[amphkingwest]

Theres a headlamp trail run organised in Kilcornan Woods, in Clarinbridge for tomorrow evening at 8.30 - 9.30.

Details are on the Facebook page as usual. The meeting place is the Colga football pitches near the back of the estate and we go from there for 6-8k run at a nice easy pace.

All levels of runners are well capable of joining in and its not too mucky at the moment so trail shoes are not critical. There are some spare headlamps for anyone that is stuck for light, though a torch or bicycle lamp will work in a pinch.

[MacAttackJ]

Have any of ye ever ran the Bangor Trail? Will be in Mulranny with the missus and baba next week and I should get one day to myself for a long run. Was thinking of the Greenway but was hoping for something more adventurous. Imagine with all the recent rain the Bangor Trail would be nigh impossible to run in parts so perhaps the Western Way from the bothy north of Newport to Bellacorick might be a compromise? Any other ideas? Looking to get at least ten miles in (plus climbing). Am an experienced mountain runner / hillwalker.

[amphkingwest]

The wednesday night runs are back this Wednesday in Kilcolgan Woods, Clarinbridge.

Info as per above post:

Theres a headlamp trail run organised in Kilcornan Woods, in Clarinbridge for Wednesday evening at 8.30 - 9.30.

Details are on the Facebook page as usual. The meeting place is the Colga football pitches near the back of the estate and we go from there for 6-8k run at a nice easy pace.

All levels of runners are well capable of joining in and its not too mucky at the moment so trail shoes are not critical. There are some spare headlamps for anyone that is stuck for light, though a torch or bicycle lamp will work in a pinch.

I would expect it to be extremely muddy underfoot so a change of socks & footwear for afterwards i spretty essential.

[woody1]

Originally Posted by MacAttackJ

Have any of ye ever ran the Bangor Trail? Will be in Mulranny with the missus and baba next week and I should get one day to myself for a long run. Was thinking of the Greenway but was hoping for something more adventurous. Imagine with all the recent rain the Bangor Trail would be nigh impossible to run in parts so perhaps the Western Way from the bothy north of Newport to Bellacorick might be a compromise? Any other ideas? Looking to get at least ten miles in (plus climbing). Am an experienced mountain runner / hillwalker.

ive walked it a few times but never ran it, yes there will be some very wet and very boggy sections alright..and sections of it especially as you get closer to bangor arent the clearest ( as of a few years ago, i know the council were planning to do some work on the marker posts since ) so youd want to be handyish with a map.. there are a few loops around the brogan carroll bothy -- the letterkeen loop walks, that would be a bit tamer.. a mix of rough forestry road, the western way and rocky path..with wet spots..
the rocky section which would be between 2-3k would be hard on the ankles though..

pdf for maps here

http://www.mayowalks.ie/media/Media,14145,en.pdf

you can get to the brogan carroll bothy / letterkeen from newport, its signed for the bangor trail just outside the village on the mulranny side on the right, roughly 12k up the road from there.. if you need i can mark it on a map for you..

sorry..small bit out of date..did you run..how did you get on

[MacAttackJ]

Thanks for that Woody.
Had rained all week so I thought it best to avoid. Did a wee hilly loop near Mulranny and ran from Newport to Mulranny on the Greenway into a horrendous headwind. At 26 miles for the whole thing its crying out for a marathon although it does cross the road at several points.
We did the Letterkeen Loop as a walk. Were the first punters to write in the log in the spanking new Mountain Meitheal built shelter at the foot of Nephin Beg. Is a terrific wilderness. Must go back again and climb Slieve Carr - reputedly Irelands remotest summit.

[woody1]

shows how long it is since i was there, had no idea there was a hut at the base of nephin beg.. must head out there next spring so..
i think the bangor trail itself would be a great race ..but being point to point it would have issues with transport ....
went to climb slieve carr several times before but cloud cover always stopped it..not a mountain i would climb in bad visibility..
as for most remote.. i found out whilst doing some contract survey work for coillte a few years ago that theres a forestry road that goes right to the base of it on the east side of it... would cut out about 5 hours of walking..
there was a story in the local paper recently about a proposal to add all this forestry to the glenamoy national park to make one huge wilderness area,

[spurscormac]

Originally Posted by woody1

there was a story in the local paper recently about a proposal to add all this forestry to the glenamoy national park to make one huge wilderness area,

Shouldn't that be Ballycroy National Park ?

[woody1]

sorry yeah DUH !!