Things To Do
FOR ANGLERS:
The Glenisland Anglers Co-op's boat house and dock on Lough Beltra is a five minute drive from our front door, and access to the Cement Bridge pools and the car park for Pat McDermott's pool on the Newport River is another 10-minutes farther on. The Newport House boathouse and dock on the southwest corner of Lough Beltra is a 10 minute drive via Glenhest
Lough Conn is a 20-minute drive (15 km) and the River Moy a 30-minute drive (26 km) to the east. Carrowmore Lake and the Owenmore River are 35-minutes (40 km) to the north, Tourmakeady on Lough Mask is 50 minutes (45 km) to the south. And the Bundorragh (Delphi) and Erriff rivers in south Mayo are both under an hour's drive to the southwest. A detailed description of all the fisheries convenient to Lough Beltra Lodge can be found on the "Where to Fish" pages of this website.
FOR HILL WALKERS:
Co. Mayo offers almost every type of walk over well-maintained trails: from mountain and hill walks, to coastal and island walks, to rural and urban walks. The Burrishoole Loop Walks are some of the most popular, and for the most experienced and adventurous walkers there's the famous Bangor Trail – a 29 kilometer path from Newport to Bangor Erris through the Nefin Beg mountains, the last true wilderness in Europe.
www.mayo.me/derradda-a-walkers-paradise
www.alltrails.com/trail/ireland/county-mayo/the-bangor-trail?u=i
Mayo Walks provides a comprehensive list of walks, each graded by level of difficulty, with four-colour maps and photographs. Our local hill walking group, the Nephin Begers, frequently lead group walks, which they announce on their Facebook page as well as on Brannen's pub's page.
www.facebook.com/Nephin-Begers-612009842270436
www.facebook.com/brannensnewport
FOR CYCLISTS:
Newport is the hub of the much-acclaimed Great Western Greenway bicycle trail from Westport to Mulranny and Achill Island. It's the longest off-road cycling trail in Ireland, and the most scenic stretch is between Newport and Achill Sound where it follows the route of the old Westport to Achill Railroad. That section includes stunning views of Clew Bay with Croagh Patrick in the distance, stone bridges, sheep farms and a vast blanket bog with the wilderness Nephin Beg mountain range beyond.
Both traditional and electric bicycles are available for rent in Newport from the Greenway Bicycle Hire, who also offer a shuttle service to facilitate one-way trips.
For DIY cyclists, we have a large, secure shed behind the lodge to store your bicycles, and there are quiet backcountry roads that make it possible to cycle to Bofeenaun, Lahardaun (and its Titanic Memorial Park) and the Windy Gap -- or into Newport -- without travelling on main roads -- which you should avoid. The main roads from Glenhest to Castlebar (R312) and Newport (R317) are narrow and heavily travelled at times, so dangerous for bicycling.
Other Activities:
GOLF:
Co. Mayo is home to a complete array of golf courses, some championship level, some oceanside links and others through groomed parkland. All of the courses listed below are located within 60 km of the lodge, with the Westport and Castlebar clubs the closest.
(Due to COVID-19, some venues remain closed at this time. Best to check with them prior to arriving there.)
HORSE RIDING:
Several equestrian stables offer pony treks, with those along the shore of Clew Bay the most adventurous and popular.
(Due to COVID-19, some venues remain closed at this time. Best to check with them prior to arriving there.)
www.facebook.com/croaghpatrickstables1/
SURFING/WIND SURFING:
The west of Ireland boasts the best surfing in the country.
www.bigstyle.ie/louisburgh-kite-school-mayo/
TENNIS:
The Newport Tennis Club has a newly refurbished court and is open from 9am to 9pm daily for a fee of €5 per hour. Stop into Sheridan's Centra in Newport to book slot & collect a key.
SHEEP FARM & WOOL FIBRE MILL:
Our 62-acre sheep farm and wool fibre mill, where we process raw wool to fill our Sheepish Dog wool dog beds, is right next door to the lodge. Family visits and private tours of the farm, sheep and mill are available by arrangement. Our two donkeys love carrots, so don't forget to bring some with you!
THE BEACHES:
Mayo is home to twelve blue flag beaches, the closest being the popular Mulranny beach. Keel strand on Achill is a hugely popular kite surfing destination, nearby Keem is a world-class destination and Carrowinski, south of Louisburgh on the Atlantic coast is noted for its surfing and surf fishing.
www.mayococo.ie/en/Services/Environment/LeisureAmenities/Beaches/