Heritage hot spots History, nature, art, environment

Ballycroy National Park

What is it?Ballycroy, which was established in 1998, is the newest of the Republic's six national parks. It encompasses 11,000 hectares of blanket bog and mountainous terrain on the western seaboard in northwest Co Mayo. Geographical features of the area include the Nephin Beg mountain range and the Scardaun loughs. The Owenduff bog is one of the last intact active blanket-bog systems in western Europe.

Why visit?The national park is part of the Owenduff/Nephin Complex special area of conservation and special protection area. A protected zone for rare and important habitats and species, it lets visitors experience a range of landscapes, such as alpine heath, upland grassland, lakes and river-catchment areas, that are home to Greenland white-fronted geese, golden plovers and red grouse, among other birds.

Other species you might spot include foxes, badgers, mountain hares, otters and feral American minks. There is also a huge diversity of insects, particularly in the bog pools.

When you need to escape inside, the spacious and bright tea room above the visitor centre has views over Ballycroy, Achill Island and Blacksod Bay.

Why now?Ballycroy National Park has a summer programme of activities. Tomorrow at 2.30pm in the visitor centre, there is a talk for adults on the forests of Ireland, past, present and future. There are also plenty of short guided walks for adults and children over the summer. Walks start from the visitor centre tomorrow and next Wednesday at 11.30am and 2.30pm, for example, and on Monday at 2.30pm.

There is also a free children’s nature group, the Plover Club, which has talks and nature activities for children up to the age of 12 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays this month and next.

The website has full details of forthcoming events, maps and guides to flora and fauna in the park.

How do I get there?The visitor centre is in the village of Ballycroy, on the N59 between Mulrany and Bangor.

The visitor centre and tea room are open daily from 10am to 5.30pm until September 30th.

Access to the national park itself is via the Bangor Trail.

Admission is free. Call 098-49888 or see ballycroynationalpark.ie.