Western Way
Description
- Name Western Way
- Length of trail 179 km, 111 miles
- Length in days 7 days
- Start of trail Oughterard
- End of trail Ballycastle
- Traildino grading MW, Moderate walk, backpacking trail
- Hut tour grading T1, Walk


Western Way, Oughterard - Ballycastle, 179 km, 7 days
Prepare for a real muddy experience, and this isn't even New Zealand. This trail explores some of the bleakest and most midge infested areas of Ireland, the west. This is the unhappy scene of the 19th century, when thousands of poor peasants died from famine, followed by an emigration wave that depopulated the area.
The Western Way starts on the shores of Lough Corrib, climbs a windy pass, descends to Killary Harbour - a pretty fjord like sea inlet. Follows a more populated area. Further north, the path enters a true wilderness area, mountains dominate the horizon, wind farms beyond, bog beneath your feet. At places, The path has been reinforced with planks. You will cross vast areas of conifer plantations. If you want a B&B for sleep, you probably have to arrange a pick up in this area.
Opinions

- Oranginas, long distance hiking trails Europe April 1994
- Rate 8
- Positive Moors, peat, Crough Patrick, The Twelve Bens, the fantastic Bangor-trail: slowly increasing, clumps of grass and looking for the best Western-way.……...sometimes with a lot of water, from above and on the ground, in the shoes, in everything….. emptiness........
- Negative Some sections with asphalt

- Henk Nouws August 1997
- Rate 7
- Positive Emptiness.
- Negative Midges, billions.

- Joke ter Weele August 1997
- Rate 6
- Positive The beautiful green landscape
- Negative Midges and rain
Links
Facts
- Irish Trails - Western Way (Galway)
Fact sheet and online maps.
- Irish Trails - Western Way (Mayo)
Fact sheet and online maps.
- Hiking trails walking routes Ireland Western way
Seven stages of this trail in the West of Ireland
- Western Way - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia