Walking in Oughterard :
Oughterard is an area of great scenic beauty, with rolling hills, rivers and lakes. The town is situated on the banks of the Owenriff River, close to the shores of Lough Corrib. Known as the 'The Gateway to Connemara'. Walking in and around Oughterard is fantastic and there is natural terrain to suit all levels. Stroll at your leisure and take in the natural beauty of the village and immediate area or take the challenge of the testing mapped trails in Connemara.
Our community has an energetic walking club - "Corrib Ramblers" -who have a great reputation of welcoming the novice or experienced walking enthusiast and are delighted to show the visitor the magict hat is found in our local environs. The "Corrib Ramblers" which have been in existence now for some years enjoy walking in the vicinity of the village, in the Connemara region and some of the islands like The Aran Islands, Inis-boffin, Clare Island and the Burren in County Clare. Members assemble every Sunday throughout the year at 10.30am at the Oughterard Car Park. A list of more challenging walks is also prepared in advance and these walks take place on every alternate week.
The Western Way, one of the National long distance walks starts in Oughterard. Making the town the perfect base to enjoy the treasures of the West. The many and diverse walks all at many differ-ent ability levels means you can enjoy a new walking route every day.

The Owenriff Way Walk: 3 km. / 1.9 miles (approx.) in length.
This short walk takes you around the northern side of the village of Oughterard, and is almost entirely along the banks of the Owenriff River, upon which Oughterard is built.
The walk takes you by the river and the boathouse where you can see the local fishing boats moored along the banks in their numbers. Over a narrow little bridge into the quiet townland of Eighterard back along the river again and finally down the main street of Oughterard to finish your walk where you started.
As this walk is almost entirely along the banks of the river, great care must be taken if there are juniors taking part in the walk. Crossing the Glann road can also be very dangerous, especially in Summer, as traffic can be quite busy - so observe the rules of the road....

Cregg-Canrawer Walk: 4 km. / 2.5 miles (approx.) in length.
This short walk takes you in a circle around the south-western side of the village. After starting at the Car Park in the village you climb up the Cregg road where you have wonderful views down over the village with the lake in the background. You pass by the back of the old railway station, which is now the world famous Dixon handmade carpets factory. You continue on down a country lane under this quaint disused railway bridge, past the riding stables and on down into the village to finish the walk.
This walk can also be driven or cycled.

Bunnagippaun-Magherabeg-Aughnanure-Waterfront House Walk: 13.5 km. / 8.5 miles (approx.) in length.
This walk takes you from high up over Lough Corrib at Bunnagippaun Hill, with magnificent views all around, through winding roads lined with natural woodland, over bridges and streams passing by Aughnanure Castle, and along by the shores of Lough Corrib to the Waterfront House.
This walk can also be driven or cycled.


Doon-Raha-Cloosh Walk: 16 km. / 10 miles (approx.) in length.
If you've still got a twinkle in your eye and want to sit on a little bridge, surrounded by mature natural woodland, at the top of a quaint waterfall, hand in hand with the one you love - then this is the walk for you!!
You walk along winding country lanes that merge at crossroads, where, in the not-too-distant past, local people gathered to pass the time on Sunday afternoons (and late Summer evenings!), playing "Pitch & Toss" - or just sat, talked, joked and played music - or where many a young man and woman met and courted - time after time - before giving themselves to each other in marriage!!
This walk can also be driven or cycled.


The Western Way - Galway

The Western Way (Galway) is one of the shortest ways in the country, however this is well compensated for in the beautiful of the scenery along the walk. This route starts at Oughterard and follows the shore of Lough Corrib to Maam. From Maam, it finds a low level way through the great quartzite ranges of the Maum Turks and the Twelve Bens, before descending to the deep, narrow valley of the Killary Harbour and the junction with the Mayo Western Way near Leenane. The total distance of the way is 31 miles taking in Oughterard, Maam, Maumeen, Toorena-coona and Leenane. The longest stage is that between Maumeen and Toorenacoona a distance of 14 miles. Maumeen is the highest point at 850 ft.