Connemara Mountain Walking Festival, Leenane

28th April - 1st May 2023

This great festival has been designed to suit all levels of walkers from casual low level walks to the more experienced! Each day there is a choice of at least 3 walks from strenuous to low level.

SOLD OUT

May Bank Holiday 2023

Enjoy a unique combination of mountain and sea as Leenane is situated on the edge of Killary Harbour and surrounded by mountains in all directions.

14 Year Anniversary

This May will be the 14th year of the Connemara Mountain Walking Festival. All of our profits feed back into the local community. So far over €20,000 has been put into projects such as the community crèche, Red Cross first responders group, the Leenane community park and other projects overseen by the Leenane Development Association such as the seniors daycare programme.

Walks For All Abilities

This great festival has been designed to suit all levels of walkers from casual low level walks to the more experienced! Each day there is a choice of at least 4 walks from Strenuous to low level and for the 14th anniversary we adding even more unique events.

Professional Guides

Each walk is guided by qualified, experienced guides and covered by public insurance. Another unique element of the festival is that the local farmers get involved with guiding the walks and share their vast knowledge, folklore and history of the land.

Unparalleled Access

With the farmers involvement in the event, they kindly grant the participants permission to cross their lands and visit areas that are not normally open to the public. Transport to and from starting and finishing points will be provided as well as tea, coffee and scones at various local businesses at the end of each day.

Leenane Village

One of the most scenic areas in Ireland, Leenane Village always offers a warm welcome to visitors at any time of year. From cosy traditional bars to the bustling hotel and a range of restaurants and cafés, Leenane has everything to make your weekend a memorable one.

"Leenane is a place of contrasts. Situated at the head of Killary harbour, a 16km Fjord, it nestles under the Maamtrasna and Maamturk mountains on the Galway-Mayo border. The area has been inhabited since prehistory, evinced by ancient tombs and the potato ridges climbing the mountains.

Leenane is famous for the stunning and varied beauty of its location. It is this which has been attracting artists, sportsmen, geologists and leisure-seekers for over 150 years. The contrasts of sea and mountains offer vistas alive with colour; the intense green of the hills in summer, the oranges and russets of the autumn mountains, the slate blues of the winter seas. Sheep dot the high hills, roaming wide and free, and salmon can be seen leaping the beautiful Aasleagh falls at the head of the fjord."

Leenane Village Website Leenane Village Accomodation

The Organisers

The team that make it all happen...

The Connemara Mountain Walking Festival organisation team is made up from volunteers from all walks of life, united by their love of hill walking. Our guides are all mountain trained and certified, many belonging to mountain rescue teams in our area.

The local landowners are also involved and help us offer access to certain ascents that would not normally be available to members of the hill walking community. Backed up by IT professionals and world class tea and scone makers, our team strive to make your weekend a magical one.

All proceeds from this Festival are put right back into our local charities, helping sustain our rural community.

Address

Leenane Community Centre
Leenane
Co. Galway

Contacts

Email:
[email protected]
Phone (General Enquiries):
+353 (0) 872 819 825
Phone (Booking & Payments):
+353 (0) 871 422 452

Links

Leenane Village
CMWF Facebook Page
CMWF Instagram Page