Between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask lies An Fhairche, known in English as Clonbur: a Gaeltacht village in County Galway. Walking trails take you through woodland, along lake shores and past geological features; the history of the village and its surroundings offers more to discover. When choosing your accommodation, you can decide whether you would prefer to focus on walking, exploring the landscape or discovering traces of local culture.
Limestone, Woodland and Lakes
The Clonbur Limestone Pavement can be seen along the walking trail through Clonbur Woods. The limestone pavement contains fossil evidence of past biodiversity, linking a visible geological feature with clues to the former diversity of life. Clonbur Woods also provide a habitat for numerous bird species, pine martens, red squirrels and invertebrates, as well as a wide variety of plant species.
The Clonbur Wood Loop Trail passes through mixed woodland and along the southern shore of Lough Mask. Tree species there include beech, ash, hazel, birch, willow, yew, Scots pine and larch. An Fhairche also lies at the foot of Binn Shléibhe, also known as Mount Gable. The woodland, lake shore and mountain provide distinct landscape landmarks for the trails around the village.
Walking Trails of Different Lengths
The Clonbur Wood Loop Trail is an easy, flat 7.4-kilometre circular route, estimated to take about two and a half hours. The Seanbhóthar Walking Trail runs for ten kilometres from Cornamóna to Clonbur (An Fhairche), also taking about two and a half hours to walk. It follows the side of Binn Shléibhe, or Mount Gable, and offers views of Lough Corrib. The estimated walking times are similar, but the routes differ in length and course.
The Clonbur Walking Trails comprise four circular routes and one linear route. The designated circular routes include Big Island Loop, White Island Loop, Ballykine Loop and Village Loop; the Clonbur to Cong Walk is another designated route. These names can help you get your bearings when planning a shorter or longer day of walking, but you cannot infer walking times from the route list alone.
Mount Gable is another option for a walk. The mountain lies two kilometres west of An Fhairche; an easy ascent offers views of nearby lakes and the Connemara Mountains. The Mount Gable Walk is generally considered easy, but has a steep climb at both ends. Several old ruins along the route are the remains of a former village dating from the time of the Great Famine.
The Geopark and Cultural Traces
Geopark Tours Clonbur offers guided walks in the UNESCO Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark. The walks start in the village of Clonbur, and groups are kept small. A local guide with extensive knowledge of the region’s geology, history and folklore leads the tours. This gives you a guided way to learn about nature and culture together.
The ruins of Petersburgh Estate are located in An Fhairche. The estate once belonged to the Lynch family and later to the Guinness family. Part of the property was transferred to the state and is now an outdoor education centre. The remains of Ballykine Castle, a 13th-century fortress, lie between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, not far from the Clonbur Wood Loop Trail.
An Fhairche is also considered a good starting point for trout fishing. Along with its location between the two lakes, this offers another focus alongside the walking trails. If you prefer guided insights, the geopark tours may suit you; if you would rather choose a route yourself, the circular trails and longer routes described offer a range of lengths and landscapes.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Ballynahinch, Roundstone, Kilkieran, Inishmaan, Loughrea, Indreabhán, Barna, Salthill.
For the main travel overview: Galway.
