Maam to Leenaun

Walk Information

START MAUM
FINISH LEENAUN
DISTANCE 29 KILOMETRES
HEIGHT GAINED 540 METRES
DURATION 6 – 9 HOURS

O/S maps 1:50000 numbers 37, 38 and 44

Directions

From Maum the trail follows a minor road that leads to Maumeen. At Maumeen the trail loops away to follow the western slopes of the Maumturk mountains. The Twelve Bens mountain range forms the western border of the Glen Inagh. While the trail skirts the western slopes of the Maumturk Mountains. Eventually it loops around the northern slopes of the Maumturk mountains before reaching Leenaun along an old coach road.

Features

Maum Éan is a place of pilgrimage; the pilgrimage may have evolved from pre- Christian times in honour of the God, Lugh, who was honoured at Lughnasa. It is said that St. Patrick stood here and blessed Connemara. There is a small church, a holy well and a statue of Patrick to remind one of the significance of this place in Irish Christianity.