N/A
“Indeed the Nephin Beg range of mountains is, I think, the very loneliest place in this country”
Robert Lloyd Praeger
Listen to nature’s voice
Welcome to Wild Nephin
National Park
Located on the Western seaboard in northwest Mayo, Wild Nephin National Park covers a vast 15,000 hectares of uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness, dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. To the west of the mountains is the Owenduff Bog, one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Western Europe.
The National Park also protects other important habitats and species including alpine heath, upland grassland, heath, lakes and river catchments. Greenland white-fronted geese, golden plover, red grouse and otters are just some of the important fauna found within the National Park.
Discover our walking trails, learn more about the habitats and species we protect, or explore our education programmes.
Boundary Map of
Wild Nephin National Park
Area
S.P.A:
Location in Co.Mayo
Legend
-
Parking -
Lake -
River -
N59
-
Mountain Peak -
Forest Land -
Visitor Center -
Park Boundary
The detail on this map is generalised: it is not suitable for hill-walking. The map does not show legal title to property. Cartography ©2009 – ESRI Ireland Ltd and the National Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. Based on Ordnance Survey Ireland data. Licence No. EN 0059208. © Ordnance Survey Ireland / Government of Ireland.
Wild Nephin Nature Festival 2026
Ballycroy (Festival Hub)
All Weekend
- Self-guided treasure hunt
- Self-guided nature trail worksheet
- New community playground open
Friday, 5 June
- 10:00 – 12:00 – Claggan Coastal Trail – Guided Walk
- 12:00 – 13:00 – Native Tree Workshop & Tree Nursery Tour
- 14:00 – 16:00 – Guided Nature Walk (Visitor Centre Grounds)
- 17:30 – Wild Nephin: Nature Awakening Film Screening
- 18:00 – Light Refreshments
- 18:30 – Festival Launch & Talks
- 19:00 – Music Circle
Saturday, 6 June
- 11:30 – Guided Walk & Talk – Ballycroy Visitor Centre
- 12:30 – 15.30 – Cruinniú na nÓg – Community Centre
Booking required through Ballycroy Community Centre
Sunday, 7 June
- 10:30 – 15:00 – Circus 250 – Family Fun Day – Ballycroy visitor Centre
- 15:00 – 17:00 – Native Woodland workshop – Ballycroy Visitor Centre
Letterkeen Trailhead (Wild Nephin National Park)
Saturday, 6 June
- 10:30 – Nephin Begers “Hidden Treasures” Guided Hike* booking required
- Bus departs from Brannens, Newport 10:30 – €5
Registration at 11:00 at Letterkeen with Nephin Begers required (includes membership) – €10 - 12:00 – Marine Institute Family Fun Day
Learn all about salmon, trout, eels and freshwater pearl mussels of Wild Nephin - 14:00 – 16:00 – Traditional Boxty Making in the Bothy
- 15:00 – 17:00 – Rambling House (Bothy)
Enniscoe North Mayo Heritage Centre
Saturday, 6 June
- 17:00 – Biodiversity Walk
- 18:00 – Cattle Talk & Conservation Grazing Discussion
Including the story of Queen Maeve - 19:00 – Food & Refreshments
- 19:00 – Magic Show with Dan
- 20:00 – 21:00 – Music & Dancing (Moffett School of Dancing)
- 21:00 – Bat Walk* booking required
Bangor Erris
Sunday, 7 June
- 11:00 – Guided Hike – “Home to Erris”* booking required
With Eoin McGreal (Wild Atlantic Nature), along the Bangor Trail from Ballycroy - 14:00 – Sheepdog Demonstration & Sheep Shearing
- 15:00 – Women’s Group Showcase
Local crafts, activities, and nature/gardening insights - 16:00 – 17:00 – Light refreshments and Children’s Activities
- 16:00 – 17:00 – Magic Show with Dan
- 17:00 – 18:00 – Rambling House & Traditional Music
Geesala Erris Coast Hotel (Festival Finale)
Sunday, 7 June
- 19:00 – Light Refreshments
- 19:00 – 20:00 – Music & Dancing (Moffett School of Dancing)
- 20:30 – Talk: Corncrake Conservation Project
- 21:30 – Bus to Belmullet Corncrake Site
Listen to live bird calls in their natural habitat
* Booking required please see News & Notices below
News & Notices
Wild Nephin Nature Festival 2026
27 May 2026
Summer Shuttle Bus Wild Nephin National Park
27 May 2026
National Biodiversity Week 2026
21 May 2026
Where the darkest skies reveal the brightest stars
Mayo Dark Sky Park
Wild Nephin National Park showcases some of the darkest, most pristine night skies in the world and is officially certified as a Gold Tier standard International Dark Sky Park. The Mayo Dark Sky Park extends across the entire National Park, and on a clear night visitors can see thousands of twinkling stars, other planets in our solar system, the Milky Way and even meteor showers, all with the naked eye.
Our very experienced team of guides at the Ballycroy Visitor Centre welcome visitors and run the Dark Sky Educational Programme. They can provide guidance to get you started with stargazing, and while the Visitor Centre closes during some winter months, the viewing sites within the Dark Sky Park are open to the public year round.
Picks of the Park
Interactive exhibition at Ballycroy
Visitor Centre
Our interactive exhibition captivates visitors of all ages and offers an overview of the biodiversity of the National Park as well as some of the cultural heritage of the region. On the site take a leisurely stroll along the Tóchar Daithí Bán Nature Trail and experience panoramic views of Achill Island, The Nephin Beg Mountain Range and the Atlantic Ocean. Learn more about this 20-30 minute walk, which can be easily undertaken by individuals or groups.
Ancient forests of our past
Habitats
Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail is situated on the Wild Atlantic Way between Mulranny and Ballycroy and is the perfect location for photographing this stunning area. You will find ample parking and a gentle 1km return along a stony shoreline. Evidence of our ancient forests are visible here, with ancient pine stumps on the shore and emerging from the bog. Wildlife that frequent the shore include otters (Lutra lutra), ringed plovers (Charadrius hiaticula) and grey herons (Ardea cinerea).
Big Sky Country
Mayo Dark Sky Park
The skies above Ireland’s Wild Nephin National Park are really something to be celebrated, enjoyed and cherished. The Owenduff Bog in the National Park is the largest expanse of intact Atlantic blanket bog in Ireland and Western Europe. This expanse of bog with the rolling hills of the Nephin Beg Mountain Range underpin the constantly changing big skies of this part of North West Mayo.
Shuttle Bus
Our FREE National Park Shuttle Bus will be running again from Tuesday 2nd of June to the end of August.
Running from Tuesday to Saturday for June, July and August 9am – 7pm.
No bus Sunday and Monday.
This year the bus will run from Bangor Erris to Westport via the east of the park, taking in a request stop at Derry Lower (Western Way joins R312) and then Srahrevagh/Letterkeen (Srahrevagh Car Park*) this is to facilitate transport for walkers that may wish to do the Western Way/Bangor Trail or stay at one of our designated campsites** overnight.
It will then continue to Newport (Circle K Express Station) and Westport (Maxol Service Station, Newport Rd) before returning to Bangor Erris, via Newport again, Mulranny (Hotel Car Park), a request stops at Claggan Coastal Trail (Trail Car Park) and Ballycroy Visitor Centre.
There will be a late bus departing Westport at 18:05 servicing the trails along the east of the park back to Bangor Erris for 19:00, with request stops at Srahrevagh/Letterkeen and Derry Lower.
We hope this service will enable you to make the most of the National Park whether you are taking a short stroll and coffee at the Ballycroy Visitor Centre or embarking on the ambitious Bangor Trail!
Take note this is a new route this year with some stop changes.
*Request Stops – please signal/inform driver
*The Srahrevagh Car Park is before the Letterkeen Trailhead (on the right) coming from the south and after it (on the left) coming from the north.
**We ask all overnight campers to register here http://www.campingwildnephin.com and to choose a designated campsite location.
See bus timetables below:
Bus Timetable
| Bus Stop – Request Stop | Morning Service | Afternoon Service | Evening Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor Erris (Playground) | Dep. 09:00 | Arr. 12:45 Dep. 12:50 | Arr. 16:30 Dep. 16:35 |
| Derry Lower (Western Way joins R312) | Arr. 09:20 Dep. 09:25 | Arr. 13:10 Dep. 13:15 | Arr. 16:55 Dep. 17:00 |
| Srahrevagh / Letterkeen (Srahrevagh Car Park) | Arr. 09:45 Dep. 09:50 | Arr. 13:35 Dep. 13:40 | Arr. 17:20 Dep. 17:25 |
| Newport 1st Stop(Circle K Express Station) | Arr. 10:10 Dep. 10:15 | Arr. 14:00 Dep. 14:05 | Arr. 17:45 Dep. 17:45 |
| Westport (Maxol Service Station, Newport Rd) | Arr. 10:30 Dep. 10:35 | Arr. 14:20 Dep. 14:25 | Arr. 18:00 |
| Newport 2nd Stop(Circle K Express Station) | Arr. 10:50 Dep. 10:55 | Arr. 14:40 Dep. 14:45 | |
| Mulranny(Hotel Car Park) | Arr. 11:20 Dep. 11.25 | Arr. 15:05 Dep. 15:10 | |
| Claggan Coastal Trail(Trail Car Park) | Arr. 11:35 Dep. 11.35 | Arr. 15:20 Dep. 15:20 | |
| Ballycroy Visitor Centre (Visitor Centre Car Park) | Arr. 11:45 Dep. 12:30 | Arr. 15:30 Dep. 16:15 |
Late Bus Timetable
| Late Bus Stop – Request Stop | Late Bus |
|---|---|
| Westport (Maxol Service Station, Newport Rd) | Dep. 18:05 |
| Newport (Circle K Express Station) | Arr. 18:20 Dep. 18:20 |
| Srahrevagh / Letterkeen(Srahrevagh Car Park) | Arr. 18:35 |
| Derry Lower(Western Lower joins R312) | Arr. 18:50 |
| Bangor Erris (Playground) | Arr. 19:00 |
Wild Nephin Shuttle Bus Stop Map
Walking & Hiking
Wild Nephin National Park is a spectacular place to experience some of the most remote lands in Ireland. While the main body of the park is suitable for the more experienced hillwalkers, there are also easier walks that allow visitors of a range of abilities to enjoy the scenery and wildlife here at Wild Nephin.
Protecting nature is the main aim of a National Park. Conservation work goes hand in hand with responsible outdoor recreation and visitors can help play their part by following these useful tips.
Plan Ahead
Think about the best time to visit and how you’ll travel here, to minimise your environmental impact. Check the weather and make sure you have everything you need to bring.
Be Considerate
Be aware of how your activities and behaviour can impact nature, the experience of other visitors and those working here. Be mindful of any noise you make and how you interact with others along the way.
Respect Wildlife
Dogs are very welcome but must stay on the lead. If you can, avoid sensitive times for wildlife nesting and breeding.
Travel and Camp on Durable Ground
The marked trails let you take in all the best parts of the Wild Nephin wilderness. Only experienced hikers should venture into the hills. Only Wilderness Camping is permitted: review the guidelines here.
Leave What You Find
Do take photographs of the landscape and plants, but please leave even the smallest details untouched, so others can enjoy the Wild Nephin wilderness just as you did.
Dispose of Waste Properly
Litter is a huge threat to nature. By bringing your waste home, you help protect the park and its wildlife, and keep Wild Nephin healthy.
Minimise the effect of fire
We can’t allow fires of any kind in our national parks. Fires can cause lasting impacts and devastate plants and animals. Talk to our rangers or Education staff if you need advice, and check our Wilderness Camping guide for details.
Heritage & Culture
Travel back in time along the Bangor Trail, as you hike where the herders of yesteryear walked. Experience an ancient landscape where Atlantic blanket bog dominates, beneath the shadows of the Nephin Beg Mountains.
Let the wide open vistas of this big sky country inspire you, with the setting sun on Wild Nephin revealing thousands of stars as the National Park transforms to the Mayo Dark Sky Park. Let the team of dedicated Guides share with you the biodiversity, history and the myths of this unique landscape that is Wild Nephin, our heavenly place and sanctuary for our wildlife.
OPEN:
10:00am–17:30pm
ADMISSION:
Free
The Visitor Centre is the main information point for Wild Nephin National Park.
Relax and enjoy the hospitality at the Visitor Centre, which houses an interactive exhibition, experienced National Park Guides, the Ginger & Wild Café and the accessible Tóchar Daithí Bán Nature Trail (2km).
We run special events throughout the year and regular guided walks and kids clubs during the summer months. Keep an eye on our social media channels for upcoming walks, talks and activities.
-Stunning panoramic views of Wild Nephin National Park and Achill Island
-Interactive exhibition
-Nature trail with pond and viewing point
-Education Centre
-Information desk
-Ginger & Wild Café
-Guided walks and special events
-Mayo Dark Sky Park Viewing Point
OPEN:
10.00-17.00
Mid-March – September
10.00-16.00
October – 5th November (inclusive)
The Café is closed over the winter until mid March.
OFFERING:
-Indoor dining
-Outdoor dining
-Takeaway
Phone:
+353 (0)87 6666 633
WEB:
www.gingerandwild.com
The cafe’s light, airy seating area offers a bird’s-eye view to Achill Island, the majestic Nephin Beg Mountains and the magical wild Atlantic coast. An exceedingly warm welcome awaits you at this family run café.
The food is all homemade using locally-sourced produce and quality ingredients — teas, coffees, fruit juices, vegetable soups, paninis, quiches, salads, scones, cakes etc, with all delicious tasty goodies made by Jean-Pierre.
Contemporary art adorns the café walls – exhibitions change continually and all work is for sale.
If you are a coach party and planning a lunch stop, please let us know in advance. Call Nicola on the number listed here or visit our website.
