A BEAUTIFUL BUT BREEZY WALK

At the weekend we decided to check out the boardwalk at Aughadahore near Carrigart and Glen village.  A number of people had told me it was great and worth a visit and I found they weren’t wrong.

The weather had been changeable all morning but when we arrived the sun was shining and the sky was blue with just a few fluffy clouds.  Which was lovely from inside the car.  Getting out of the car however, we found it was a different story!  Very, very breezy and the wind was bitingly cold.  On went the jackets (and a woolly hat on me) and off we went.

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The boardwalk is very well made and winds its way through sandy dunes to the magnificent horseshoe-shaped Tramore beach.  It is also wide enough that people can pass each other without anyone having to stand aside. 

Along the way there are viewing points where walkers can stop off and take in the scenery including great views of Muckish mountain across the water.  There are seating areas in a couple of them but sadly none (yet?) further along the boardwalk.  Lazy walkers, like me, might appreciate a seat but as the boardwalk is only 1km long they aren’t really necessary. 
At the end of the boardwalk you can step off it and straight on to Tramore beach. 

The sandy beach is about 7km long so for people who want a long walk, it is there for the taking.  Along the beach you can enjoy views back to Muckish and across to Trabeg (the smaller beach that runs alongside the village of Downings). 
One thing I noticed about Mamore beach is the abundance of shells there.  Many beaches I go to are not as rich in shells as is this one.  However, the sand is a bit softer so quite arduous to walk at any pace on.  Probably good for toning the legs though.

We walked about 2km along the beach enjoying the sounds of the seabirds and the Atlantic rolling in to the shore. 
Once back on the boardwalk and back to the start I noticed the building at the entrance serves tea/coffee and cakes.  Fortunately it was still closed so no cakes were damaged in the making of this blog post.

TO GET THERE:
From Carrigart on the road to Glen you come to a fork in the road.  The road to the left takes you to Glen village and the road to the right takes you to Lackagh Bridge and on to Creeslough.  Take the road to the right and a little way along it you will come to the entrance to Cuan na Ri, a holiday resort.  Drive through the large gates and you will come to a carpark.  There you can park up and then walk over to the small green gate to the right of the building there and that takes you straight to the boardwalk.

NOTES:

1. Do NOT let dogs off their leads.There is cattle and sheep on the lands around the boardwalk and farmers do not want their animals disturbed by roaming dogs.I also noted a single wire running along each side of the boardwalk, attached to wooden posts, this may or may not be an electric fence.I didn’t test it but I am sure dogs would not like it should they touch it.
2. If you do take a dog and s/he does their business, pick it up and bag it.The boardwalk is completely clean of dog mess and I would hope it be kept this way.
3. Take a jacket.As I said, it can be windy.
4. And obviously, leave no litter.
5. If you want to make a really long walk/run of it, you can park at the start of Tramore Beach (near the Rosapenna Hotel, Downings) and walk the beach (7km), then the boardwalk (2km there and back) and back to your car (7km) making a total of 16km.

 

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