| Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail | |
|---|---|
| Croagh Patrick | |
| Length | 61 kilometres (38 miles)[1] |
| Location | County Mayo, Ireland |
| Designation | National Waymarked Trail[1] |
| Trailheads | Balla, Murrisk[1] |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation Gain/Loss | 1,205 m (3,953 ft)[2] |
| Highest point | 310 m (1,017 ft)[2] |
| Trail difficulty | Moderate[1] |
| Season | Any |
| Website | http://www.croaghpatrickheritagetrail.com/ |
The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail (Irish: Siúlóid Oidhreachta)[2] is a long-distance trail in County Mayo, Ireland. It is 61 kilometres (38 miles) long and begins in Balla and ends in Murrisk. It is typically completed in three days.[2] It is designated as a National Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and is managed by the Tóchar Valley Rural Community Network.[1] It was opened by Éamon Ó Cuív, T. D., Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs on 6 March 2009.[3] The trail won the runners-up prize in the Heritage category of the 2009 Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place awards.[3]
The trail travels in a westerly direction from Balla on a mixture of quiet roads, boreens, fields and forest and mountain tracks past the villages of Clogher, Ballintubber, Killavally and Aghagower before crossing the northern flanks of Croagh Patrick to reach Murrisk.[4]