Ballycroy Wild Nephin National Park
Prepare to be surprised and delighted.
Ballycroy Wild Nephin National Park, in North Mayo, is one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe.
The Visitor Centre in Ballycroy village is the main information point for the Park. Relax and enjoy the hospitality at the Visitor Centre, which houses an interactive exhibition, experienced National Park Guides, the Ginger & Wild Café and the accessible Tóchar Daithí Bán Nature Trail (2km).
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| Achill's Slievemore (from the viewing point) |
We started off on the nature trail (quite a bit of it is on a boardwalk) and finished later in the afternoon on another easy trail, the 2km Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail. We stopped first at a long-standing pool with wildflowers and many insects, including those busy water beatles, to be seen.
Soon we got a helping hand from S——- and spotted the tadpoles flying around just below the surface. We helped net a few for the nearby hut where visiting kids (somewhat younger than us!) get an idea, both entertaining and educational, of what lives in the park. (If your school can’t come, they will go to you!).
Go to full size to see the tadpoles!
Much of what they do here is hands on, as with us and the tadpoles, and insects such as the rower (on his belly) and the paddler (on his back). As you move on, keep an eye out for insect-eating plants such as sundew and butterwort, as well as hares, hen harriers and peregrine falcons. !
More to learn then from a sod of turf and how it stores carbon and how that carbon is released if the turf is lifted. In the visitor centre itself there are some marvellous exhibits, on life in the old days (Mammy's kitchen), including a history of currachs.
Much of it here is also hands on, Lift a “grassy” cover and underneath you get a big lump of bog butter. Another shows various wild plants and how they can feed us. Like the Bilberry for instance. Spin the choices next to it and you see its berries and what they can be used for.
And speaking of food, the cafe’s light, airy seating area offers a bird’s-eye view to Achill Island, the majestic Nephin Beg Mountains and the magical wild Atlantic coast. The food is all homemade, using locally-sourced produce and quality ingredients. We would have had eaten there had we known but had already had enjoyed lunch on Achill.
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| Visitor centre |
After the pool, we continued on the walk and detoured to the higher viewing point and got great views of the park and its mountains and especially out towards Achill where Slievemore was directly across from us. There are information boards all along the walk, some of them attached to exposed bog wood.
I've only scratched the surface. There are walks much longer than 2km, but check the camping regulations and consult the guides. They have guided walks and special events and then there is the Mayo Dark Sky Park Viewing Point. Check it all out on the website.
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| Bog timber |
We said goodbye to the friendly and helpful staff and headed down the road to our second walk, the Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail surrounded by mountains and sea inlets. We weren’t alone in the shining sun, Marvellous.
And, by the way, it doesn’t cost you a cent to visit the magnificent park.
Ballycroy National Park
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| The coastal walk |
Also on this trip
Superb Dining At Westport's The Pantry & Corkscrew
Achill Island in the sun. And wind.
Sipping Mescan Beer. Doolough Valley.
Ballycroy National Park
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