North Mayo & Céide Fields

North Mayo is Ireland's empty quarter - vast boglands, remote coastline, and an archaeological discovery that rewrote prehistory. The Céide Fields reveal a 5,000-year-old farming landscape preserved beneath the peat, while the coast offers dramatic cliffs and deserted beaches.

Why This Route?

North Mayo delivers genuine remoteness:

• Céide Fields - World's oldest known field systems
• Empty landscapes - Few tourists, vast horizons
• Dramatic cliffs - Rival the Cliffs of Moher
• Bogland beauty - Atmospheric peatlands
• Belmullet Peninsula - Wild Atlantic outpost

The Route

Starting from Ballina

County Mayo's largest town:

• River Moy (famous for salmon)
• Cathedral
• Good facilities
• Jackie Clarke Collection (museum)

Killala

Historic town with:

• Round tower
• 1798 Rebellion landing site (French invasion)
• Quiet harbour
• Souterrain passages

Ballycastle

A village with character:

• Crossroads of north Mayo
• Good base for exploration
• Traditional atmosphere

Downpatrick Head

Dramatic coastal headland:

• Dún Briste sea stack (cut off by storms in 1393)
• Blowhole (Poll na Seantainne)
• Cliff walks
• Free access

Céide Fields

The centrepiece of north Mayo:

• 5,000-year-old Stone Age farm landscape
• Preserved under blanket bog
• Award-winning visitor centre
• Guided tours of the site

Belderrig Valley

Secondary archaeological site:

• Walking trails
• Bog restoration projects
• Prehistoric remains

Belmullet

The peninsula's main town:

• Services and facilities
• Bridge to the Mullet Peninsula
• Fishing community

Mullet Peninsula

Remote western outpost:

• Blacksod Bay (lighthouse, D-Day weather forecast origin)
• Cross and Elly beaches
• Wild and windswept
• Birdwatching

Bangor Erris

Isolated village in the bog:

• Traditional character
• Mountain views
• Wilderness access

Return via Crossmolina

Through the Nephin Mountains:

• Wild Nephin National Park access
• Mountain views
• Quiet roads

Céide Fields

The Discovery

Local schoolteacher Patrick Caulfield noticed stone walls beneath the bog in the 1930s. His son, archaeologist Séamus Caulfield, later excavated the site.

What's Here

• Stone-walled fields covering 10 sq km
• Built around 3000 BC
• Older than the pyramids
• Houses, tombs, and enclosures

The Visitor Centre

Award-winning building by OPW:

• Pyramid design echoing the landscape
• Exhibition on prehistoric life
• Audio-visual presentation
• Guided walks on the bog

Why It Matters

The fields prove organised farming existed in Ireland 5,000+ years ago - rewriting assumptions about "primitive" prehistoric life.

Downpatrick Head

Dún Briste

The 50m sea stack was once connected to the mainland. Local legend says St Patrick banished a pagan king to the rock.

The Blowhole

Poll na Seantainne shoots spray high in rough weather. Fenced for safety but impressive.

Walking

Cliff-edge path with Atlantic views. Take care near edges.

Wild Nephin National Park

Ireland's newest national park:

Character

• Blanket bog
• Conifer forest (being removed for restoration)
• Dark sky reserve
• True wilderness

Access

• Limited access points
• Walking trails from Bangor
• Ballycroy visitor centre (south of this route)

Practical Tips

1. Céide Fields - Allow 2 hours for full visit; check opening times
2. Fuel - Fill up in Ballina or Belmullet; few stations between
3. Weather - North Mayo catches Atlantic weather; be prepared
4. Roads - Some narrow sections; take your time
5. Facilities - Limited in remote areas; bring supplies