Comprising 15,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain, Wild Nephin National Park, Co Mayo is a visiting destination that is unlike any other.
Overlooked by Nephin Beg mountain range and Ownduff Bog, one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Western Europe, Wild Nephin National Park is an important location for scientific research as well as visitors drawn by its majestic beauty.
Part of the Natura 2000 Network, which protects rare and important habitats under the EU Habitats and Birds Directive, the region is home to native and introduced flora and fauna like Greenland white-fronted geese, golden plover, red grouse and otters.
Dark sky park
The beauty of Wild Nephin National Park does not diminish when the sun goes down, in fact due to the park's status as a 'golf tier standard international dark sky park', visitors can enjoy some of the darkest, most pristine nights skies in the world. Depending on cloud cover and visibility, from Wild Nephin National Park one can see thousands of twinkling stars, other planets in the solar system, the Milky Way and even meteor showers, all with the naked eye.
The park's team of guides at the Ballycroy Visitor Centre, welcome guests and run the Dark Sky Educational Programme, as well as providing guidance and information to aspiring star gazers. Despite the visitor centre closing during some winter months, the viewing sites withing the Dark Sky Park are open to the public all year round.
Built heritage and historical significance
Now exclusively a home to creatures of a non-human variety, the presence of previous occupants of lands that now make up Wild Nephin National Park have also been preserved.
The aptly named McCann Cottage at Wild Nephin National Park was home to local man, Paddy McCann and his family until their death during An Gorta Mór (the Great Famine ). The newly restored cottage now serves as a bothy for visitors, walkers and star gazers visiting the park. Beginning beside McCann Cottage is a newly unveiled walking trail to an area called 'Jamsie's well'. According to local folklore, the properties of water from the well is said to hold the cure for kidney stones.
Another of the park's trails, The Bangor Trail, has a long history and may date back to the 16th century. Before the introduction of modern roads, the trail served as a main route for people and their livestock travelling between the Bangor Erris region, and neighbouring Newport. Irish emigrants from Bangor Erris leaving on ships from Westport, also walked the trail as part of their 61 km journey to the port town.
Trails
Wild Nephin National Park features seven different loops and trails, varying from easy, moderate, strenuous and very difficult. Tóchar Daithí Bán Trail (Visitor Centre ) (2km ), Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail (2km ) and Vary’s Loop (2.5 km ) are categorised as 'easy', and the Tóchar Daithí Bán Trail is an accessible route.
The single 'moderate route' is the Bothy Loop (5km ) which leads to McCann Cottage. The Lough Avoher Loop (10 km ) and Letterkeen Loop (12km ) are classified as 'strenuous'. These three loops are Letterkeen Loop trails, and are possible without a map and compass.
The Bangor Trail (40km ) is the park's only 'very difficult' route, and is for very experienced hikers only. Described as a 'remote upland route with steep slopes, very variable and rough underfoot, and sometimes indistinct trails that may be unmarked'. As such, it is recommended that only hikers of a 'high level of experience, who are very fit and competent mountain walkers with navigational skills' embark on the trail. Specific outdoor walking footwear and clothing required.
Any walker looking to the park's advanced routes must register with Wild Nephin National Park via its website.
Day trips, night trips and camping
In addition to the various trails at the park, visitors to Wild Nephin National Park can enjoy the hospitality of the Ballycroy Visitor Centre, which houses an interactive exhibition, guides and the Ginger & Wild Café. The park holds frequent special events through the year, including its bi-weekly, summer 'Wild Child Clubs' on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the months of July and August, where children can learn about the park and burn off some excess energy.
The park does not provide accommodation services, but visitors are welcome to camp following registration online using the park's system and adhere to the 'camping code'. Those interested in staying in the bothies at the park should be aware that they are available on a 'first come first served basis', and despite visitors to the shelters also needing to register, it is not a booking system. Visitors hoping to stay in the park's shelters should always bring a tent on the remote chance that the shelters are full.
Cost and transport
In keeping with the standard rule for Ireland's National Parks, there is no entry fee for Wild Nephin National Park.
During the months of June, July and August, Wild Nephin National Park operates a shuttle bus running from Westport to Bangor-Erris, with multiple stops along the way. The list of bus times are available on nationalparks.ie/wildnephin
