The medieval Ashford castle in Cong, is one of those structures that are made for intercepting the diagonals of the sun and transforming them into pure serenity. In a park overlooking the boundless Lough Corrib, the mighty outlines of the fortress towers cut through the sky, casting their huge shadows on the lawn. The castle, built in 1228, has for many years now been a hotel and in its long history has been host to many historical figures.
Lough Lannagh is a beutiful lake located in the town of Castlebar. It is suitable for families and for those who like sports such as cycling, kayaking, etc. Don't lose the sunset at Lough Lannagh!
There are few vistas which take one’s breath away as the Doo Lough Valley does, particularly when approached from Louisburgh, having woven through narrow, winding roads and sheep-populated hills, with traces of long ago dried-up potato beds etched into them. Stone ruins recall the people who dwelled in this remote place.
Killala Bay is formed out of the estuary of the River Moy and straddles counties Mayo and Sligo, forming part of the Wild Atlantic Way route. It has long been a place for famously good salmon fishing, a fact that became internationally known in part due to the second home of the Republic of Ireland’s football team manager, Jack Charlton.
Killary Harbour (An Caoláire Rua) is the Republic’s only glacial fjord which slices the mountains north and south of it, creating a natural border between counties Galway and Mayo. Stretching 16 kilometres in length, it runs 45 metres deep the unspoilt scenery has a magnetic calmness about it.
With over 70 islands scattered about the lake -from tiny (50 m²) to substantial (2.5 acres)- the lake is a favourite among landscape painters with such a variety of vistas and reflections in the ever-changing light.
A small rocky ridge of land is all that separates the larger Lough Conn from its southerly neighbour Lough Cullin, whose formation is explained in a colourful legend which tells how Celtic hero, Fionn MacCumhaill was out hunting boar with his two hounds, Cullin and Conn. The dogs were chasing a boar when water began gushing from the boar’s feet. The steady flow of water from the boar drowned Conn and Cullin while simultaneously forming two lakes: Conn and Cullin.
Lough Mask is a large limestone lake just north of Lough Corrib, which empties into the Corrib River and ultimately out into Galway Bay. With its picture-postcard scenery, Lough Mask’s jagged rocky shores, surrounded by gentle sloping hills, draw people from near and far, particularly anglers.
There is something profoundly literary about the life of a salmon. Born into the waters of a river, they head to the mouth of the river at a young age, fattening up and preparing for the changes in water salinity that they will experience as adults.
Hill walking and scenic walks are in
abundance in the Pontoon area and there are beautiful beaches within easy drive. A spot by
the water offers tranquillity and plentiful scenery. For the angler, time moves at a different
pace and patience pays dividends, whether knee-deep in galoshes or sitting in a boat on the
lake with nothing but the sound of lapping water for company.
Among anglers, the River Moy is considered one of the premiere fishing spots in Europe. A destination in its own right, people travel from all parts of the globe to fish its world-class waters and there is something for every budget. The sight of fishermen on its banks are a permanent feature during the fishing season.
A journey through the southern part of the County, from Castlebar to Cong and along Lough Mask.
The fjord is almost a peninsula in reverse, the sea claiming its right to be habitable as it moves forward into the unknown. From the sea, the land perches on the horizon.
The picturesque village of Tourmakeady sits on the
west side of the lake, nestled between the water and the Partry Mountains, with beautiful
views of the rugged shoreline of Lough Mask.
The Tourmakeady Forest Walk is a
manageable 6km walk through the Millennium Forest alongside the Glensaul River and
culminates in a secluded cove with the beautiful Tourmakeady Waterfall.
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