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Here are some suggested walks in the Galway area, if you have others that you enjoy, please let us know, and we'll add them!
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Coole Park
There are several walks available at Coole Park, but the Family Walk is our favourite of course! Start off at the visitor centre, walk up past the deer enclosure on your left, then branch right and head to the walled garden, past the Autograph Tree (don't forget to stop at the sundial in the middle of the garden). The walk takes you out of the garden and into the forest. You reach one cross"roads" where you can go right down to the river, go straight on for a longer walk or turn left to go back to the visitor centre. There are toilets and baby changing facilities available just up from the deer enclosure.
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Barna Woods
Park the car just off the main road, and start your walk by following the path through the woods. When you come out of the woods, you can either go right and walk up towards the Cappagh Road playground (great selection of equipment for different age groups), or continue on straight and do a longer loop around the playing fields. The new Rusheen City Park is also nearby, situated across the road.
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Terryland Forest Park - a natural habitat close the City Centre
The Terryland Forest Park project is an ambitious project designed to ultimately create an harmonious blend of recreational/educational facilities and natural habitats of wetlands and woodland that, on completion, will cover over 120 acres of land in the Terryland River Valley commencing at the ruins of Terryland Castle adjacent to the Quincentennial Bridge and finishing at the limestone crag between Glenburren Park and Castlegar village. A recommended walk would start on the Dyke Road near to the Black Box. From there continue along the banks of the River Corrib as far as Terryland Castle in order to enjoy the natural scenery and wildlife of the River Corrib, which is without doubt one of Ireland’s most important natural corridors. Galway City is unique amongst Irish cities in having such a large area of its riverbanks untouched by built development. One can enjoy the sights of otters in the waters close to Jordan’s Island and kestrels hovering over the fields as well as hearing the sounds of reed warblers emanating from the wetlands. From the castle ruins, retrace your steps, go under the bridge and take the stairs up onto the Quincentennial Bridge road, entering the Terryland Forest Park from the main gate. The circular path will bring the walker past the Terryland River through woods of native Irish trees that have quickly become a magnet to a diverse range of flora and fauna including pheasant, voles, hare, heron and mushrooms.
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Monivea Woods
Take the Monivea road out of Galway past Carnmore Cross lights until you reach the village of Monivea. The entrance to the woods is at the end of the village. Drive on down the road until you reach a parking area. Taking the road to the right brings you to the ffrench family Mausoleum, an amazing castle-like structure. You can take a left there through the woods to see the old Ice House and loop back round to where you started. If you take the path to the right of the mausoleum you can do a longer walk round back to Monivea or straight on to an old windmill. All paths are safe to cycle on.
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Newcastle River Walk
Parking is available by the sports grounds. Walk down towards the river, you will see Menlo Castle across the river at the bottom of the track. Turn right at the river and walk along past the old tea house. You can continue for some time until you reach Corrib Village, if open you can go up through the grounds and out onto the main road and back to where you started, or if you want a longer walk, you can continue along to the NUIG campus, then double back on yourself.
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