Overview
The Foxford Way is longer than most people think. The full waymarked trail runs 86km in a loop right around Foxford in County Mayo, taking in mountains, bog, lakeshore and the banks of the River Moy. Almost nobody walks it in a single push. What most people mean by ‘the Foxford Way’ is the 33km day loop from the playground car park – and that alone is a hard day: seven to nine hours of country lane, grassy path, rough mountain track and peaty bog, best attempted by walkers with the fitness and the gear for it.
Navigation is straightforward when the cloud stays up. The route follows the yellow walking-man symbol and directional arrows on black posts, and the going is well marked even where the path drops into bog. It is free, and there is no ticket or gate – just a right-of-way trail across working hill country.
The route and terrain
The loop is built to keep changing under your boots: firm lanes give way to open heathland, then to mountain track and waterlogged bog where the ground can stay soft well into spring. It is not wheelchair accessible, and it is not a walk to underestimate. If you only have half a day or want an easier outing, this is not the trail – pick one of the shorter marked loops around Foxford instead.
- Full trail: 86km waymarked loop; the popular day option is the 33km loop
- Estimated time (33km loop): 7–9 hours
- Difficulty: Hard – for experienced walkers with good fitness
- Waymarking: Yellow walking-man symbols and arrows on black posts
- Start/finish: Car park beside the children’s playground, off the N26
- Backup: OSI Discovery Sheet 31 and a downloaded GPX file (Mayotrails hosts one)
The yellow markers are reliable, but carry a map or loaded GPX anyway. On the exposed bog stretches, low cloud can drop visibility to a few metres fast, and there is no obvious line to follow once you lose the posts.
History and heritage
The trail is modern, but the ground is old. Walkers pass stone ring forts, the outlines of old field systems, and early-Christian crosses, most of them sitting quietly in the heather and easy to miss unless you stop and look. It is worth stopping.
Foxford itself grew around the River Moy, one of Ireland’s best-known salmon rivers, and became known worldwide for the Foxford Woollen Mills, founded in 1892 by Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard. The mill still works. Down on the Moy’s banks near the trailhead is the memorial to Admiral William Brown, the Foxford-born founder of the Argentine Navy. Through the summer there are usually guided walks along sections of the Way, which are the easiest way to see the archaeology with someone who can point it out.
Walking tips and safety
- Footwear: Waterproof boots with ankle support. The bog is deep and slick even after dry weather.
- Weather: Mayo’s changes fast. Pack a proper waterproof, warm layers and a hat; wind and rain arrive quickly on the exposed ridges.
- Phone coverage: Fine in Foxford and along the N26, patchy to none out on the bog. Tell someone your route and expected return.
- Supplies: No refreshments on the trail. Carry at least 2 litres of water, food and a basic first-aid kit.
- Timing: Start early. The distance is real, and you do not want to be finishing the last bog section in the dark.
Practical information
Parking and facilities There is free parking at the playground car park at the trailhead, and public toilets there too – the last you will see until you return. Foxford village, a short distance away, has cafés, pubs and the Woollen Mills visitor centre.
Getting there Foxford is on the N26, 16km south of Ballina between Swinford and Ballina. It is straightforward by car. Handily, Foxford has its own railway station on the Manulla Junction–Ballina line, so you can reach the trailhead by train without a long transfer from Castlebar or Ballina.
Trail resources North Mayo Council publishes a printable Foxford loop walks overview, and Mayotrails hosts the GPX file and any updates on trail conditions – worth checking after a wet spell.
Nearby
- Foxford – the town itself, for the Woollen Mills, the Moy and a feed before or after the walk.
- Ballina – Ireland’s salmon capital, with riverside walks and good food, 16km north.
- Wild Nephin National Park – blanket bog and the Nephin range, a drive north for anyone wanting more mountain.
Start at first light, tell someone your route, and do not count on the bog being dry before June. Get those three right and the Foxford Way is one of Mayo’s most complete day hikes.