Mweelrea
814 m
Ireland
Also known as Cnoc Maol Réidh, МвилреAlso known as
Cnoc Maol Réidh · Мвилре
- Elevation
- 814 m
- Prominence
- 779 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- May–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The shortest and easiest way up Connacht's highest mountain: from a farm track near Silver Strand on the Atlantic side, a long, pathless-to-vague climb through bog and a grassy bowl leads to the col between Ben Bury and Mweelrea, then a stony ridge with cliffs on the left to the broad summit. About 8–9 km return and 670–860 m of ascent; 3–5 hours.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 4 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- low confidence 0.4
- Silver Strand farm track → Mweelrea: dem (unreachable, 3.9 km)
- unresolved waypoints: Ben Bury–Mweelrea col
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.9 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +773 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 814 m
- Time Up
- 3h 04m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 02m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive the coast road south from Louisburgh towards the Lost Valley and Silver Strand. About 1 km before the beach, at a wide bend (grid ref. L 764 688), a farm track leads to a gate onto the open hillside; there is room for only one or two cars without blocking the tractor passing place, so most people park at the larger Silver Strand Beach car park and walk back 10–15 minutes. This is an active sheep farm: keep the gate closed, and dogs are not allowed. Beyond the gate the route is a long, steady climb on boggy ground, roughly in a straight line, with the Bens of the north-east ridge on the left. Head for the small bowl to the south-east, which leads up to the col between Ben Bury and Mweelrea (roughly 650 m). Many paths made by walkers, sheep and runoff criss-cross the lower slopes and some lead nowhere useful. From the col turn a few degrees east of south and follow the ridge, now on loose stone, to the summit. This is the most serious section: steep crags drop away to the east, towards Lough Bellawaum, and the summit is frequently in cloud with strong winds. The rounded top has a small cairn of loose stones. Return the same way, keeping well right (west) of the cliff edge in mist. Wikipedia gives 8 km and about 3 hours; Tough Soles gives about 9 km, 862 m of ascent and 3–5+ hours.
Start
Silver Strand farm track39 m
- None to the trailhead; a car is needed (nearest bus services reach Louisburgh).
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Strand farm track → Mweelrea | 3.9 | 773 | 0 | 3h 04m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Silver Strand farm track39 m
Grid ref. L 764 688; parking for 1–2 cars, otherwise use Silver Strand Beach car park
- Summit: Mweelrea814 m
Key Passages
- Boggy lower slopes with misleading sheep paths
- Stony ridge from the col with cliffs to the east
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
The highest mountain in Connacht and County Mayo (814 m), the hub of a cliff-ringed horseshoe that rises straight from the Atlantic and the Killary fjord. The easiest way up is a boggy slog from Silver Strand; the classic is the exposed Ramp through the Lugmore corrie from Doo Lough.
Mweelrea (Cnoc Maol Réidh, 'smooth bald hill') stands on the Atlantic coast of south-west Mayo at the mouth of Killary Harbour. It is the centre of the Mweelrea Mountains, a horseshoe of summits including Ben Lugmore (803 m) and Ben Bury (795 m), bounded by Killary Harbour to the south and Doo Lough to the north. The rock is Ordovician sandstone and conglomerate with bands of volcanic tuff, quite different from the quartzite of the Twelve Bens across the fjord. From the west it looks like a smooth whaleback; from Doo Lough it shows dark corries walled by cliffs up to 400 m high.
There is no constructed path on the mountain. The Silver Strand route from the west is the shortest (8–9 km return) but is mostly bog with a stony, cliff-edged upper ridge. The Ramp from Doo Lough slants across the headwall of the Lugmore corrie and is the most spectacular line; the full Mweelrea Horseshoe from Delphi (about 15 km, 6–7 hours) is regarded as one of the finest ridge walks in Ireland.
The summit is often in cloud and fully exposed to Atlantic gales. Navigation is the main skill required: several key sections are pathless, and steep crags drop from the ridges into the corries.
Climbing Notes
Experienced hillwalkers with sound map-and-compass skills can manage either route; newcomers are advised to go with a local mountain leader. Allow 3–5 hours for Silver Strand and 6–7 hours for the Ramp or the horseshoe. Wear waterproof boots for the bog, carry full waterproofs and warm layers, and pick a clear day: the Ramp in particular should not be attempted in poor visibility, high wind or when wet and icy, and its top cairn is hard to find in mist. In winter conditions the Ramp and the north-east corries are a mountaineering proposition needing an ice axe and crampons. The land is grazed by sheep: close gates and leave dogs at home.
Season
Best May–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Short days; gales; snow or ice possible on the ridges
- Feb
- Short days; winter conditions possible
- Mar
- Lambing season on the hill farms; keep away from sheep
- Apr
- Lambing season continues
- May
- Often the driest month
- Jun
- Long days
- Oct
- Shorter days; autumn storms
- Nov
- Wet, windy, short days
- Dec
- Short days; snow or ice possible
Access & Permits
- Rules
- The mountain is privately owned hill farmland grazed by sheep: keep gates closed and do not block farm tracks or tractor passing places
- Dogs are not allowed on the Silver Strand route (active sheep farm)
- Getting There
Louisburgh; Leenaun (Leenane) and Westport for services
Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC); Shannon (SNN)
- Car to Silver Strand: from Louisburgh follow the coast road south towards the Lost Valley; the road becomes a single-track lane ending at Silver Strand Beach car park
- Car to Doo Lough: the R335 between Louisburgh and Leenaun passes the north end of the lough; roadside pull-in at grid ref. L 828 696. Groups should park in Leenaun and share cars
- No public transport reaches either trailhead
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure
- Remoteness
- River crossing