Leenane Mountain Walking Festival 2016

Leenane Mountain Walking Festival 2016

Leenane Mountain Walking Festival 2016

This May Bank Holiday will see Leenane Village,Co. Galway, hold it's 8th Mountain Walking Festival. The festival has been a great event throughout the years due to the fact that they have walks to suit all levels and they get special permission from the local land owners so that they can bring you on the mountains that you may not normally have access to. If fact some of the farmers join the walks as local guides and welcome walkers into their homes to enjoy homemade scones and refreshments

Leenane Mountain Walking Festival 2016

Each day there is a choice of at least 4 walks from Strenuous to low level or something a bit different with a geology or archeology fieldtrip. This years programme includes Mweelrea, the Sheefreys, Maamtrasna and also the Maunturks. All the walks are lead by qualified Mountain Leaders with transport and refreshments after each walk included. There is also free entertainment each evening and the weekend is finished off with a cracking nights dancing in the hotel.
“ The festival has become a great event for the area and we have a number of walkers that return each year to take part. I think people love the fact that you get to experience amazing walks, while also getting a sense of what it is like to live in a rural village on the West Coast of Ireland. This year we have a number of people who have signed up from abroad to take part – UK, America and France to name a few”, states Martin Gavin, Chairperson of the festival “As a local farmer myself, I love going out on the walks and telling people about life here and the history of the area. In fact this year, one of the walks will be finishing in my house for tea and scones.”
The other nice thing about the festival is that all the profits made from the festival are pumped back into the village through the local Development Association. What better way to experience the landscape, culture & people of a rural village in Connemara!

The full programme of events can be found on the village website. www.leenanevillage.com. Walkers must register online for the events.
Please email mwf@timfydesigns.com with any questions or call Martin on 087 6737075