Lockdown hikes inspire new Mayo walking guide

A NEW walking guidebook for Mayo has been penned by local author Ryan McGuinness.

Mayo A Walking Guide is a comprehensive walking guidebook, encompassing 45 of the best walking routes throughout the county.

The book will take the reader to some of the most popular locations in the county like Croagh Patrick, Downpatrick Head and Achill Island, as well as through a variety of terrains and settings ranging from pristine beaches and woodland forest to beautiful islands and spectacularly rugged mountain landscapes.

All the information a walker would ever need before setting off on a route can be found in each chapter including route descriptions, detailed and numbered coloured maps, stunning photos, grid references, GPS coordinates and offline directions to each trailhead, metric and imperial units for distance and height for both domestic and overseas visitors. There's also information on campsites, town amenities, Irish place names, if dogs are allowed on each trail, flora, wildlife, and local history.

Routes range from short walks over flat terrain to long and tough mountain hikes, making the book suitable for walkers of all abilities who wish to don their walking shoes and experience the beauty that Mayo has to offer.

The book is out now and available to purchase in local stores in Mayo and online via the author's website (https://mayoawalkingguide.com/) or on Amazon.

Ryan explains on his website how the book was devised and written over a two-year period, from late 2021 to 2023, after he moved home from college in Galway to Ballina due to the pandemic.

Like many others, he turned to the outdoors as a form of relief from the isolation of lockdowns and after climbing Croagh Patrick in August '21, Ryan became hooked on hiking.

Through his new book he hopes people can experience some of the beauty that Mayo has to offer and the joy you can get from lacing up your boots and venturing into the wilderness.