Running Routes West of Ireland

pete_mcs

Hi all, trying to get back into running after a few years break, but my job has me finishing in different locations around Galway and Mayo. It will be to dark to head out for a run if I wait till I get home so I have taken to throwing the running gear into the car and heading for a run where I finish. I have a few running routes in Galway city, Salthill Prom and the River Trail down by NUIG. Would like to know where do people go running in locations such as Ballina, Castlebar, Balinrobe, Co. Mayo.
I enjoy quiet runs, away from car traffic. Love doing trail runs.
Thanks for any advise.

RoyMcC

When in Ballina the Belleek Woods, west of the river, are perfect. Marked trails etc. Wish I'd had more time to check them out.

plodder

There's a great trail here if you're ever in that area. I've seen a lot of people running on the shoulder of the N5 out of Castlebar, and I'd say it's safe enough in daylight, though not the most appealing location.

littlebug

There's not much in Ballinrobe itself unless you want to run round the horse race track but not terribly interesting. There's a nice but short path along the river but I don't think you can get very far on it.
Better would be to head to the woods in Cong if you can. There's a trail from Cong to Clonbur.. though you do have to cross a road at one point. The woods are lovely to run in. That link says 6k but I know I've run 4 miles from the Cong side and not reached the other end so I'm not sure of the total distance (though I also may have taken a wrong turn). There are also shorter loops within the Cong side of the woods.

petermijackson

RoyMcC wrote: »

When in Ballina the Belleek Woods, west of the river, are perfect. Marked trails etc. Wish I'd had more time to check them out.

This is my home town, you would go a long way to find better quiet runs than Belleek. There is also an open area between the woods and the town that would be the local cross country course - nice challenge. Let me know if you want some Garmin maps of some of the routes

pete_mcs

Will be in Ballina tomorrow so going to try the Bellek woods then. I pass by clonbur and heard thats a lovely run.
The Balinrobe river run is quiet short, but you can take a left on the road at the end of the trail and it brings you down towards the lake, its a quiet enough road, but a high vis vest wont go astray.
There is a brill mountain bike trail outside Oughterard thats a lovely trail run. Can be busy at the weekends so not really suited for running then, but during the week its quiet. 16km and the start is quiet tough, uphill.

belcarra

If you are ever in the area of Clogher near Ballintubber there are some very quiet roads around there and good scenery if you like bogland settings. I have done some runs where I only meet 3 or 4 cars in about 6 miles! If you want a garmin link then let me know.

Fr Tod Umptious

belcarra wrote: »

If you are ever in the area of Clogher near Ballintubber there are some very quiet roads around there and good scenery if you like bogland settings. I have done some runs where I only meet 3 or 4 cars in about 6 miles! If you want a garmin link then let me know.

I love those bog roads around clogher, did my marathon training there back in the day.

Not too far from there and close to Ballinrobe also is Moorehall, with woodland trails that would keep you busy.

pete_mcs

belcarra wrote: »

If you are ever in the area of Clogher near Ballintubber there are some very quiet roads around there and good scenery if you like bogland settings. I have done some runs where I only meet 3 or 4 cars in about 6 miles! If you want a garmin link then let me know.

Where would I start from? Up around the Abbey? Would love a link. Ended up in Westport this eve and ran out from town, out around the quays and in the louisburgh road. Lovely run, horrible weather!

Foxx92

If you're doing the prom, I recommend going out and back to Mutton Isl as well.

pete_mcs

Foxx92 wrote: »

If you're doing the prom, I recommend going out and back to Mutton Isl as well.

Yeah, I do that section also, but dont like it! Always seems wetter and windy on that stretch! There is something about the prom that makes it a little easier to run on!

belcarra

pete_mcs wrote: »

Where would I start from? Up around the Abbey? Would love a link. Ended up in Westport this eve and ran out from town, out around the quays and in the louisburgh road. Lovely run, horrible weather!

Here is a good link to Clogher Bog Loop route. There's lots of small, quiet roads around there so be careful not to get lost!! (Use a Gramin if you have it to return to starting location.)
Lots of other trails on that site also in case they are more suitable for location.

This is my usual route when i return home to Mayo but as I mentioned above, you are probably as well off to go for a wander and use the GPS to return to the start!

pete_mcs

littlebug wrote: »

There's not much in Ballinrobe itself unless you want to run round the horse race track but not terribly interesting. There's a nice but short path along the river but I don't think you can get very far on it.
Better would be to head to the woods in Cong if you can. There's a trail from Cong to Clonbur.. though you do have to cross a road at one point. The woods are lovely to run in. That link says 6k but I know I've run 4 miles from the Cong side and not reached the other end so I'm not sure of the total distance (though I also may have taken a wrong turn). There are also shorter loops within the Cong side of the woods.

Done the Clonbur woods run this eve, 2 thumbs up. Lovely wide trails, few little steep hills, love going around the island, splashing through the lake that was washing across the trail. Didnt make it to Cong tonight, 6 mile is a long run for me at this point in time!

hardCopy

Might be slightly out of your area, but Portumna Forest Park is a fantastic place to run

littlebug

pete_mcs wrote: »

Done the Clonbur woods run this eve, 2 thumbs up. Lovely wide trails, few little steep hills, love going around the island, splashing through the lake that was washing across the trail. Didnt make it to Cong tonight, 6 mile is a long run for me at this point in time!

I did a few miles from the Cong side this morning myself. The lake has receded enough off the trail to get past without getting your feet wet I'd nearly forgotten how lovely it is to run there great to be off the road.

pete_mcs

littlebug wrote: »

I did a few miles from the Cong side this morning myself. The lake has receded enough off the trail to get past without getting your feet wet I'd nearly forgotten how lovely it is to run there great to be off the road.

Was back there again this eve, only done 4 this eve, was to late getting there and it was turning dark by the time I got there. Forest trail gets dark fast. Looking forward to these evenings getting brighter. Thanks for the tip off, love these trails.

pete_mcs

hardCopy wrote: »

Might be slightly out of your area, but Portumna Forest Park is a fantastic place to run

I rarely get to East Galway, end up covering west galway and mayo. Will have to head up to Portumna some weekend to check it out. Thanks for the tip.:)

pete_mcs

Does anyone know any good locations in Conemara area? Plenty of quiet roads out there but dont know of any trails. Is the national park any good for trail running?

littlebug

The Mountain and Hill running group are running at Derroura on Sunday morning though I think it's primarily a mountain bike trail.
Never been there myself.

pete_mcs

littlebug wrote: »

The Mountain and Hill running group are running at Derroura on Sunday morning though I think it's primarily a mountain bike trail.
Never been there myself.

Thats a lovely trail, but it is a mountain bike trail so u have to be ready to jump off when you see/hear one coming. Its not one for speed, a lot of little obstacles that u could turn a ankle on.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/69099100
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/69098368
Couple of routes in my neck of the woods, not off road but quiet roads