Cornamona: Hiking, Geology and Culture

Cornamona in Joyce Country

Cornamona (Corr na Móna) is a Gaeltacht village and townland in County Galway. It lies north of Lough Corrib and in the heart of Joyce Country. Several specific themes can help you plan your trip: the old Seanbhóthar walking trail, a folded marble outcrop, historic structures, and activities at Cornamona Pier. You can tailor your stay depending on whether you are mainly interested in hiking, geology, or local cultural and lake activities.

Hiking the Seanbhóthar

Seanbhóthar—the old road—is a 10 km paved walking trail between Corr na Móna and Clonbur; walking the route takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The Mount Gable Walk also follows the Seanbhóthar between Cornamona and Clonbur; the approximate walking time of 2 hours and 30 minutes is given for the Seanbhóthar. This keeps the route name and time clearly linked as you plan your trip.

Marble and local history

The Corr na Móna Marble Outcrop is a metamorphic marble rock outcrop in the village with several internal folds. It formed 480 million years ago, when a prehistoric ocean began to close, and is among the oldest rocks in the developing geopark. The folds describe the structure of the rock; the age places its formation in a very early geological period. For those interested in geology, Cornamona brings together a distinctive rock feature and a remarkable story of its formation.

Cornamona Bridge is a single-arch bridge over the Cornamona River and dates from around 1825. Another historic structure is the Cornamona lime kiln: it was built around 1800 and stands on a hill above the houses. As the kiln is on private property, you can view it from the public road. Tobar Mhuire & Feichín is a named feature of the holy wells of Chorr na Móna.

Fishing, kayaking and sauna at Cornamona Pier

Corr na Móna is a popular spot for trout and salmon fishing. At Cornamona Pier, Lough Corrib Adventures offers kayak hire on Lough Corrib and guided experiences; the same provider also offers a lakeside sauna there. This lets you distinguish between fishing, activities at the pier and the sauna when planning your trip. Check the booking and time-slot information before planning your sauna visit.

More hiking examples in the Galway destination

The wider Galway destination offers more hiking examples with different route lengths. The Family Trail in Coole Park is an easy 1.75 km walk that leads from the site of the former house, through the walled garden, to the Autograph Tree. The 4.5 km Seven Woods Trail in the same park passes a viewpoint over Coole Lake and extensive wetlands. In Connemara National Park, the 6.5 km Diamond Hill Walk climbs to the 445 m summit of Diamond Hill. These routes add to the regional comparison of walking trails; they are examples from Galway.

Explore more destinations: Clifden, Letterfrack, Recess, Farmerstown, Leenane, Inisheer, Spiddal, Clonbur.

For the wider travel overview: Galway.