From the car park, walk west along the road past the boathouse, then take the first road on the right and ascend steeply up switchbacks through the forest. This walk is signposted by yellow arrows. With its steep escarpments, evergreen conifers, picturesque lake and charming waterfall, Glencar is also known as IrelandвЂ™s Swiss ValleyвЂ¦ a dusting of winter frost or snow caps it off. Why: The Irish poet WB Yeats immortalised the area in his poem The Stolen Child. Route type: Out-and-back Distance: 7km Time: 2 hours Follow this road for another 2.5km, then park opposite the entrance to Glencar Waterfall. After around 11.5km, turn right into the L4145 signed Glencar Waterfall. At a crossroad s around 3km further, turn right into the е…ѓ507 signed Knocknarea, then right again after 850m to reach a car park. After around 6.5km, turn left into the е…ѓ503 at St AnneвЂ™s Church. From Sligo, take the R292 towards Strandhill.

If this is closed, look out for their f ood t ruck. O r try the Lakeside CafГ© at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park loughkey.ie. visitroscommon.ie/trailsДЇinishing line: T he T ea R ooms at the KingвЂ™s House /kinghousetearooms. You can also check out the visitor centre at the KingвЂ™s House to learn the story of Boyle and its people. If you have time, stop by the well-preserved Boyle Abbey, ConnachtвЂ™s first Cistercian monastery dating back to the 12th century. It takes you past Boyle Marina, along the Boyle Canal and then through scenic woodlands, later finishing at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. Why: This is a newly opened and delightfully scenic route serving both walkers and cyclists. Route type: Linear Distance: 8km Time: 2 hours The walk begins from a riverside park in Boyle town centre and ends at Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. ThereвЂ™s a cracking range of craft beers, ciders, wine and a whiskey tasting menu too. Located in Murrisk, t hereвЂ™s a cosy fireplace and an excellent menu at The Tavern, which serves the freshest of Atlantic fish. mayo.ie northmayo.ieДЇinishing line: T he Tavern. From up on the dunes, youвЂ™ll appreciate Clew Bay and its jigsaw of glacial-formed drumlins - locals say there are 365 islands, one for every day of the year. At sunset over the winter months, youвЂ™ll get vibrant colours in the sky in the direction of Croagh Patrick, even sweeter if itвЂ™s sugar-coated with snow. From the peninsulaвЂ™s northeast tip, youвЂ™ll get a spectacular view of Croagh Patrick, IrelandвЂ™s holy mountain. Walk in a clockwise direction along its sandy fringes to the end of a narrow peninsula then later cross a split of dunes. Why: With Croagh Patrick looming above and the lapping waters of Clew Bay, thereвЂ™s something really magical about this beach.

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