The Mulranny Loop leads to Ireland’s only stand of Mediterranean heather and through Trawoughter Bay. Together with the coastal trails and cultural attractions, it shapes the options for a stay in Mallaranny: you can give different weight to nature, trail length and local culture.

Circular Trails, Heather and Coast

The Mulranny Loop is a moderate 5.5-kilometre circular trail, with an estimated duration of about two and a half hours. It runs along Mulranny’s unique causeway through Trawoughter Bay and leads to Ireland’s only stand of Mediterranean heather. The trail starts at the Mulranny Park Hotel. Check the route details locally before setting out.

For a different distance, there is a 4-kilometre circular trail that runs from Mulranny Village towards Mulranny Saltmarsh; trail conditions may vary. The saltmarsh lies outside the village centre, beyond Mulranny Beach, and is one of the largest salt marshes along Clew Bay. The sandy beach is southwest of the village. From there, you can look across the sheltered waters of Clew Bay to the mountains beyond.

The Greenway and Other Starting Points

The Mulranny–Achill section of the Great Western Greenway is 13 kilometres long and passes through the Rossmurrevagh machair in the Mulranny area. An official access point to the Greenway is at Mulranny’s old railway station, behind the Mulranny Park Hotel. Check the local signage before setting out.

For a different type of route, the Mulranny–Lookout Hill Loop starts and ends at Mulranny Pier. This makes it easy to compare: you can assess the Mulranny Loop by its length, moderate rating and approximate duration; for the Mulranny–Lookout Hill Loop, the pier serves as both the start and end point. This lets you choose based on whether trail length and time frame or a named starting and finishing point matter more to your plans.

Art and Heritage

Mulranny Arts is housed in a former convent building, built around 1904 and later converted into an arts and cultural centre. Courses are offered as day, weekend and week-long sessions, as well as workshops. As the programme may change, check the current offerings before making plans.

A visit to the Old Irish Goat Visitor Centre includes seeing the old Irish goat, art, history and science exhibitions, a documentary about the conservation project, and a craft shop. Mulranny’s goats have been identified as some of the last surviving representatives of the old Irish goat type. Alongside the exhibitions, the goat heritage is also a central focus. The elements of the offering may change; check the current visitor information.

Discover more destinations: Ballyglass, Ballinrobe, Neale, Knock, Hollymount, Ballina, Cornaroya, Louisburgh.

For the wider travel overview: County Mayo.