Walk the coastal boardwalk
A gentle 2 km loop, roughly half of it boardwalk, crosses Atlantic blanket bog and a sheltered shoreline. It is graded easy and is wheelchair accessible, taking most people well under an hour.
Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail
4.7 (175)
About
A gentle 2 km boardwalk loop across Atlantic blanket bog and a sheltered shoreline, squeezed between the Nephin Beg mountains and Bellacragher Bay. It doubles as one of the national park's Gold Tier Dark Sky viewing points.
Things to Do
Ancient forest stumps on the shore
Pine stumps from woodlands that once covered this coast still stand on the shore and emerge from the bog — the trail's most unusual sight and a window on the area's lost forests.
Watch for otters, seals and wading birds
Curlew and ringed plover call across the bay, while otters, grey herons and seals are regularly seen from the shoreline path. Dogs are welcome but must stay on a lead.
Stargaze from a Gold Tier dark sky point
Claggan is one of three signature viewing points in Mayo Dark Sky Park, with no artificial lighting on site. Watch the sky from the car or walk to a quieter spot overlooking the bay.
Add the Ballycroy Visitor Centre
Eight kilometres north on the N59, the centre has an interactive exhibition, National Park guides, the Ginger & Wild Café and the accessible 2 km Tóchar Daithí Bán nature trail.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: The trail is an unstaffed outdoor route, open year-round and used after dark as a Dark Sky viewing point. Ballycroy Visitor Centre, 8 km north, is open 10:00–17:30.
- Admission: Free
- Parking: Ample parking at the trail's own car park on the N59. It is a request stop on the free National Park shuttle bus (Tuesday–Saturday, June–August).
- Food: No food or drink at the trail. The nearest café is Ginger & Wild at Ballycroy Visitor Centre, 8 km north — homemade soups, paninis, quiches, salads, scones and cakes, open 10:00–17:00 mid-March–September and 10:00–16:00 October–early November, closed over winter. Mulranny, 5.5 km south, is the nearest village; Ballycroy village is 1 km from the visitor centre.
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