Toormakeady: Woodland Paths, Waterfall and Geology

Woodland paths, a waterfall and striking traces of the Earth’s history give Toormakeady its distinctive character. In Tourmakeady Woods, a path leads to an impressive waterfall; the Tourmakeady Geodiversity Trail also makes the geopark’s geodiversity tangible through ten different erratic boulders. This gives you a choice when planning your trip: walks, a longer route or a tour with a geological focus.

Woodland Paths and Waterfall

The Tourmakeady Loop Walk follows woodland paths, forestry roads and some minor roads. Along the way, you’ll see the waterfall, which flows into a wide plunge pool. A wildfowl pond is also on the circular route, with views of the Partry Mountains from there. The route brings together different landscape impressions: woodland, water and mountain views.

The trail markers help you find your way on the Tourmakeady Loop Walk: black posts about one metre high and purple directional arrows mark the route. If you’re particularly interested in the waterfall, you can also take into account the path from the car park to the falls. It is mostly level. This description refers to the path to the waterfall; it does not describe the entire Loop Walk.

Discover Geology Along the Way

The Tourmakeady Geodiversity Trail leads through Tourmakeady Woods to a waterfall. Among its features are ten different erratic boulders, which illustrate the geopark’s geodiversity. At each boulder, an information panel describes the rock’s characteristics and how it formed. The trail combines time in the woods with specific geological discoveries: rather than simply seeing rocks as part of the landscape, you can learn more about their properties and origins at each stop.

The Tourmakeady Geosite is part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Joyce Country and Western Lakes. An audio guide accompanies the walk and provides background information. This offers visitors interested in nature and the Earth’s history a distinct way to explore the geopark. The trail has a different focus from a walk centred mainly on distance, the waterfall or the views.

Choose Walks by Distance

For a shorter route, the Lake Walk in Tourmakeady is 1.5 kilometres long, takes about half an hour and is considered easy. The Nature Trail is longer at 2.5 kilometres, takes about an hour and is also considered easy. These details make it easy to compare the routes by length and approximate duration. If you’re planning several walks during your trip, you can weigh up the shorter and longer options without treating them as the same route.

Tourmakeady Woods can be reached by car from the village of Tourmakeady. A signposted access road also leads on foot from the village car park into the woods. When choosing a holiday rental, the excursions described here can help you decide whether to focus your stay on short walks, longer woodland trails or the Geodiversity Trail.

A Cultural Note

The Church of Ireland in Tourmakeady is also part of the local scene: it was built in the 1850s and opened in September 1853. Alongside the trails and the geosite, it adds a historic cultural landmark to a stay focused on nature. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Toormakeady, you can take these different interests into account when choosing where to stay, without limiting your trip to just one kind of excursion.

Other places at the same level: Killadoon, Ballinrobe, Charlestown, Doohooma, Claremorris, Keel, Crossmolina, Westport.

For the broader travel overview: County Mayo.