Ireland West Camino - The Way of the Sun
Below is an introductory video of the entire route, followed by links to each individual day in sequential order along the Ireland West Camino starting in Downpatrick through Croagh Patrick. The Ireland West Camino consists of three major legs totaling 540-km. It can be walked in entirety, depending on pace, in 22-30+ days. The three legs, and their historic Irish names from the Dindshenchas (a collection of medieval Irish legends and place-name lore), are as follows:
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Leg 1: Downpatrick to Drogheda - Slí Mhidhluachra
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Leg 2 : Downpatrick to Rathcroghan - Slí Assail
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Leg 3: Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick - Slí Assail nó Tóchar Phádraig
Introduction to Whole Route
The YouTube video on the left was filmed on site while walking the revitalized Ireland West Camino from February 2024 and March of 2025. The video provides a excellent coverage of the enitree route. This is for the 27-day pilgrimage route beginning in Downpatrick and ending at Croagh Patrick.
Inaugural Documentary
The 3.5-minute YouTube video was produced after 20 pilgrims walked from Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick for the first time for Reek Sunday at the end of July in 2024. This is also for Leg 3, or the final 8-9-day pilgrimage winding through St. Attracta's parish and Lough Gara.
Ireland West Camino - Leg 1: Downpatrick to Drogheda
Leg 1, Day 1
15 miles / 24.1 km
Downpatrick, Co. Down, N. Ireland to Newcastle, Co. Down, N. Ireland
Key sites: St. Patrick's Grave, Downpatrick Cathedral, Ballynoe Stone Circle, Lasmahon Motte, Dundrum Castle, Watersk Dolmen, Murlough Nature Reserve, Irish Sea
Leg 1, Day 2
13.4 miles / 21.5 km
Newcastle, Co. Down, N. Ireland to Attical, Co. Down, N. Ireland
Key sites: Glen River Gorge, Mourne Mountains, Slieve Donard, Greater and Lesser Cairns, Slieve Corragh, Slieve Beg, Hare's Gap, Slieve Barnagh, Blue Lough, Lough Shannagh, Mourne Wall, Cnocknafeola Wood, Silent Valley
Leg 1, Day 3
10.5 miles / 16.9 km
Attical, Co. Down, N. Ireland to Rostrevor, Co. Down, N. Ireland
Key sites: Mourne Mountains and Wall, Slievemageogh, Eagle Mountain, Rostrevor Forest, St Bronagh's holy well, St Bronagh's bell, Celtic cross, Kilbroney Standing Stone, Fairy Glen, Holm Oak, Kilbroney Park
Leg 1, Day 4
10.9 miles / 17.5 km
Rostrevor, Co. Down, N. Ireland to Newry, Co. Down, N. Ireland
Key sites: Carlingford Lough, Mourne and Cooley Mountains, Milltown wetlands, crannóg, Lough Grianan, Greenan Wood, Newry Mass Rock, Troubles memorial, Cathedral of St Patrick and Saint Colman
Leg 1, Day 5
11.8 miles / 19.1 km
Newry, Co. Down, N. Ireland to
Carricksdale, Co. Louth, Ireland
Key sites: Newry Canal, Newry River, Fathom Forest, Victoria's Lock, Flagstaff Viewpoint, Clontygara Cairn, Clontygara Stone Circle, famine cottages, Clontygara Wood, Cooley Mountains, Ravensdale Park, Fairy bridge, Ravensdale stone circle,
Leg 1, Day 6
8.9 miles / 14.3 km
Carricksdale, Co. Louth, Ireland to Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland
Key sites: Cooley Mountains, Kilnasaggart Pillar Stone, Moyry Castle, Lissacashel, St Brigid's Oratory, Dun Dealgan Motte, St Brigid's shrine, St Patrick's Cathedral, St Dominic's Cathedral
Leg 1, Day 7
13.4 miles / 21.6 km
Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland to
Annagassan, Co. Louth, Ireland
Key sites: Dun Mhic Aoghain, Irish Sea, coastline walking, Ladies Beach, St Oliver Plunket Church, Blackrock Seawall, Dromiskin Monastary, Dragon ship Viking heritage memorial, Dromskin roundtower
Leg 1, Day 8
21.5 miles / 34.6 km
Annagassan, Co. Louth Ireland to
Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland
Key sites: Irish Sea, coastline walking, Djun Aine, Dunanny Wood, Dunany Point, Clogherhead, Glaspistol Castle, Termonfeckin Castle, St Fechin's Church, holy well, Baltray standing stones, Inbher Colptha, Lady's Finger, Boyne River
Ireland West Camino - Leg 2: Drogheda to Rathcroghan
Leg 2, Day 1 (Day 9)
11.7 miles / 18.9 km
Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland to
Slane, Co. Meath, Ireland
Key sites: Boyne River, Amergin's mound, St. Peter's Church, St Mary's Priory, Battle of the Boyne, Dowth Castle, Dowth, Newgrange, Knowth, The Millhouse, Hill of Slane, Motte, St Patrick's Church
Leg 2, Day 2 (Day 10)
8.7 miles / 14 km
Slane, Co. Meath, Ireland to
Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland
Key sites: Boyne River, St Erc's Hermitage, Drive Woods, Slane Castle, Boyne bluffs, Rock Wood, waterfalls, weirs, locks, Cruicetown Wood, Cockers Wood, WWII pilboxes, Ardmulchan Motte, Dunmoe Castle, Ardmulchan House, Babe's Bridge,
Leg 2, Day 3 (Day 11)
15.6 miles / 25.1 km
Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland to
Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland
Key sites: Blackwater River, Donaghpatrick, Donaghpatrick standing stone, Rath Airthir, Telltown (Tailteann), the Knockauns, Rathdhu, Baile Orthai Seaipeal, bog road, Emlagh standing stones and church, St Patrick's Holy Well, Market Cross
Leg 2, Day 4 (Day 12)
14.5 miles / 23.3 km
Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland to
Loughcrew, Co. Meath, Ireland
Key sites: Blackwater River, St Colmcille's House, Kells Round Tower, St Colmcille's Well, Spire of Lloyd, Castlekeeran Church & Celtic crosses, ogham stone, St Ciernan's well, Patrickstown standing stone, Loughcrew cairns and megalithic complex
Leg 2, Day 5 (Day 13)
15.5 miles / 24.0 km
Loughcrew, Co. Meath, Ireland to
Ross Castle, Co. Meath, Ireland
Key sites: Lough Bane, Cnoc na nBan, Seafin Hill Ráth, Celtic tower house ruin, drumlins, Lough Doo fairy fort, Mullaghmeen Forest and hill, megalithic cairns
Leg 2, Day 6 (Day 14)
10.5 miles / 16.9 km
Ross Castle, Co. Meath, Ireland to
Gránard, Co. Longford, Ireland
Key sites: Lough Sheelin, drumlins, bogs, Caisleán an Tóchár, Marian shrine, Celtic Cross, River Inny, Crannóg, Bracklagh Lough, ráthanna (fairy forts), Granard motte and bailey, St Mary's Church, Our Lady's Grotto, St Patricks Church
Leg 2, Day 7 (Day 15)
15.4 miles / 24.8 km
Gránard, Co. Longford, Ireland to
Longford, Co. Longford, Ireland
Key sites: Lis Ráth, holy well, Coolagherty church ruin and cemetery, ráthanna (fairy forts), mottes, Carrickglass Demense, St Mel's Cathedral
Leg 2, Day 8 (Day 16)
11.4 miles / 18.4 km
Longford, Co. Longford, Ireland to
Termonbarry, Co. Roscommon, IRL
Key sites: Royal Canal, Famine Way, Royal Canal Junction, castle ruins, canal locks, St Patricks of Kilnashee, ráthanna (fairy forts), Cloonmore, Royal Canal Greenway, St Brendans Church, Cloondara Abbey, Shannon River
Leg 2, Day 9 (Day 17)
11.4 miles / 18.4 km
Termonbarry, Co. Roscommon to
Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, IRL
Key sites: Shannon River, Marian grotto, Famine Way, bullaun stone, bog, ráthanna (fairy forts), Church of St Anne, Scramoge River, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strokestown Park & Gardens
Leg 2, Day 10 (Day 18)
7.5 miles / 12 km
Strokestown, Co. Roscommon to
Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Key sites: Ráthanna (fairy forts), Loch an Duloigh, standing stone, bog, Marian shrine, famine cottages, St Eithne & Fidelma Church, Tulsk Abbey, Dominican Priory graveyard, Rathcroghan Visitors Centre
Ireland West Camino - Leg 3: Rathcroghan to the Reek
Leg 3, Days 19-27
105.6 miles / 170 km
Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, Ireland to
Croagh Patrick, Co. Mayo, IRL
(all 8-9 days in one video)
Key sites: Ogulla Holy Well, Ráth Cruachan, Oweynagat, Lough Gara, Monasteraden, St Attractas Well, Clogher Stone Fort, An Cashel, ogham stones, Kilmovee, Urlaur, Knock Shrine, castles, dolmens, Balla round tower, Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail, Tóchar Phádraig, Luna Mor, Ballintubber Abbey, bogs, Aille Caves and cliffs, Aghagower round tower, holy wells, Lankill standing stone, Boheh stone, Lough na Corra, Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, Murrisk
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