Ballinrobe: Walks along the River Robe, golf and history

Ballinrobe combines a route from the town to Lough Mask with riverside scenery, golf and historic sites. On The Bowers Way, the tree-lined Bowers towpath alternates with stretches along the River Robe; the extended route also includes a woodland section in Creagh Woods. If you like to include a variety of landscapes and cultural themes in your trip, you’ll find several specific options here to help plan your days.

Walking The Bowers Way

The walking trail leads from the town of Ballinrobe to Lough Mask. Its route connects the tree-lined Bowers towpath with a subsequent stretch along the River Robe. The extended option also includes the woodland section in Creagh Woods. This information can help you choose a route based on the landscapes you’d like to see: the Bowers towpath, the river and the woodland section each offer something different. If you enjoy linking your outings to a walk through the countryside, The Bowers Way may be a key reason to include Ballinrobe in your travel plans.

The name Bowers also appears in connection with a historic landmark: the ruins of the Cavalry Barracks stand on the site of Ballinrobe Castle, near Bowers' Walk. The route of The Bowers Way and the location of the ruins are separate details; the ruins can be considered a historic point of interest in their own right. So, as well as the route to Lough Mask, Ballinrobe offers a point of interest for those interested in the town’s history.

Golf and historic buildings

Ballinrobe Golf Club is a championship parkland course, founded in 1895. It is located on the historic, 300-acre Cloonacastle Estate. The club has a floodlit driving range with 12 tee bays, as well as dedicated chipping and pitching areas and a large putting green. If you’d like to make golf the focus of your trip, you can take these specific features into account when choosing where to stay. Golf offers another way to discover Ballinrobe, distinct from a trip along The Bowers Way.

The golf club’s buildings also have a historic connection: the clubhouse is housed in a 250-year-old house and restored outbuildings. If you’re interested in historic architecture, this is another aspect to explore alongside the course’s sporting appeal.

History and family research

St. Mary's Church is one of Ballinrobe’s religious and artistic landmarks. It was completed and officially opened in 1863. The church has four double-light windows by Harry Clarke depicting early Irish saints. For a trip that combines exercise with art and history, these windows are a specific detail that offers a glimpse into local culture.

The historic walking tour of Ballinrobe includes Augustine Abbey, among other sites. Together with the ruins of the Cavalry Barracks and the site of Ballinrobe Castle, there are several historic points of interest, without needing to treat them as a single attraction. Ballinrobe also hosts an annual Heritage Day, which draws visitors to the town. This recurring event adds a date in the annual calendar alongside the historic sites.

The South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe offers a different way to explore the past. The centre is for people researching their family history and offers a comprehensive service. It has digitised more than one million records and specialises in individually researched family history reports. This also makes the town interesting to travellers whose interest in history is connected to their own family research.

Getting here and choosing where to stay

The nearest railway station to Ballinrobe is Claremorris, with a bus connection from there. This information is useful if you’re considering travelling by train. When looking for a holiday apartment or house, you can also consider which experiences matter most to your trip: The Bowers Way connects the town with Lough Mask, the golf club offers a sporting focus, and the historic sites and family research centre appeal to other interests. This can help you choose Ballinrobe as a destination based on the activities you’re looking for.

More places to explore

You can also explore these place pages: Cornaroya, Toormakeady, Dooagh, Islandeady, Breaffy, Swinford, Ballytoohy and Mayo.

See the overview for the wider area: County Mayo.