croagh patrick

The day started off sunny and not a cloud in sight, slightly hungover we ventured on up. The further you go the harder it gets, until you reach a flat are before it gets VERY steep. Unlucky here is where we were met with a huge rain cloud and got soaked!! The only shelter was about half a mile back into the public toilets, but we felt sorry for the poor people at the very top! The weather in the west is extremely unpredictable!!its a rewarding but very challenging day, you wont regret doing it!give it a try!

We were unlucky to climb this on a seriously windy day, made the going tough, and even u safe, in places. Mind you it's quite a climb even in a good day I'd say. Beautiful scenery though and well worth doing. Walking pole or stick a necessity as there is some loose/rough ground, plus decent walking boots or similar.

Dear Mayo County Council,We visited and and walked part of the Croagh Patrick climb over Valentines Weekend. I just could not believe the filth and dirt of the gents toilets and the fact that there were no toilet seats in the cubicles. The urinals and wash hand basins were discusting as an Irish Man in the middle of hundreds of foreign visitors I felt totally ashamed to be Irish. You would NEVER see anything as dirty in any part of civilised Europe so PLEASE, PLEASE do something about this filth in one of the most amazing places in IRELAND. I don't think anybody would mind paying 50c per use which I stongly suspect would pay for a full time attendant. Regards & Living In Hope,V & L K - Wicklow

A very enjoyable hike but seriously challenging. Got up in 1 hour 40 and back down in 1 hour 45. It's tuff going at times but worth it when you get to the top.

We visited and climbed Croagh Patrick in August. What an amazing walk this was! The road to the summet is deceivingly long, but the views during the walk (and at the summet) are more than worth the effort.

I have been lucky enough to have climbed Croagh Patrick three times so far in my 32 years and every single time I do it, I wish I could or came to do it every year. It's a challenge when half way but its utterly breathtaking winter spring summer or autumn. Bring your camera, a snack and a few layers as it can be wickedly cold up there on the top.Enjoy every minute and remember that you are one of the lucky ones to see all the tiny islands scattered around the bay...it's like watching down on the co of Mayo with the angels in the clouds..STUNNING

A truly exhilarating experience this was! The hike itself is no small feat as it gets quite steep on the last ascent but the breathtaking views from the top make it all worth it. Be sure to have shoes with good grip as the ground beneath on the way back down isn't very steady. Some loose coins on arrival will also come in handy as the car park at the base is pay and display. If you can at all go on a clear day and be sure to bring a bottle of water.

My wife, daughter and I visited in early June. As Catholics, this was a must see for us. The climb is not to be taken lightly, but the views from the top were amazing (360 and for 30+ miles). While there is a guy, and a tired donkey, at the tip with a few basic refreshments, you might want to take some water and a snack. You will have to carry it up, obviously, and there is no real path toward the top. The story of Croagh Patrick is very inspiring and interesting to discover. There is a one or two week window, generally when the local kids are having their final tests, when the weather is amazing. We packed for cool and damp, but had to rewash and wear the few summer (Shorts and t-shirts) we had. Be prepared for anything, but in early June you might see sunny and 75 every day!Very Inspirational

Highlight of my trip to Mayo. Was advised against going up because of the fog and poor visibility, but delighted I went against the advice. It was tough going but up and down, especially near the summit, as the rock underfoot it very loose, so you would want to be careful at this part.The view at each stage of the climb is unbelievable, every time you stop and look back or around, you are just in awe of the scenery.About 3 quarters of the way up, we were literally walking through cloud but as we neared the top, the sun was out, we were looking down on clouds as well as the unbelievable scenery of Murrisk, Westport and the surrounding areas. If you are in any way thinking about doing this, just do it, if I never do it again at least I can say I have it crossed off the bucket list, a great sense of pride after reaching both the top and on completion.Got a great kick out of the two sheep on top of Croagh Patrick, especially when one of them started following an American tourist around the Church looking for treats, it was very funny!

If you're fit and healthy, you can't pass up an opportunity to climb Croagh Patrick if you're in the area. Wear good hiking boots/shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.

Croagh Patrick is located in Westport. After paying the 3 euros parking fee, we began our steep, uphill hike on the very loose gravel, rocky terrain. Though for much of the lower hike we were in sun & wind, from the saddle to the top we were blanketed in freezing cold, windy fog. There is an old, closed monastery on top that provided shelter from the wind. There were many hikers of all levels and nationalities. Feet and ankles were happy we wore good shoes; hands and head were happy for gloves and hat! And we dressed in layers. It took us 1 hour, 40 minutes to summit, and about the same to get down. Bonus: there is a restroom at the saddle! We hike many Colorado 14ers, and we found this hike to be scenic, challenging and extremely windy. Go for it!

For the religious, non-religious, the thrill seeking, scenery seeking or active among us I would recommend a hike to the top of the reek. The views are fantastic from the top and there is a silent spirituality/tranquility of achievement once you get there. Go for it!

Very hard for me and steep exactly the last part of the climb. But I took my time, didnt rush and that was the success! it took me 4 hours up and 4 hours down but the weather was really great and because I hurt my ankle before it was better to took all the time what I needed. At the end I did it! Im so proud it was such a hard climb because of the last steep and very rocky part. Take really great shoes. I had ankle boots and it was ok. Take your time cause the last part is really bad and take some food and water with you because there is nothing on the top. But the view is stunning! If you are near Galway its a must! You can also borrow or buy sticks and trust me they will be a great idea for the climb down. Enjoy it and good luck! :)

The only reason I am not giving it 5 starts is due to the weather which impeded on the view from the summit. Overall, if you are reasonably fit and able, can maintain your concentration on the steeper sections and are motivated you will have no problems reaching the top. Coming down from the upper section is fairly tricky, and if you suffer from ankle problems especially it might be worth your while to wear hiking boots. I wore a pair of well supported running shoes and they suited me fine. Also, it got very blustery once we reached the shoulder of the mountain so a jacket or windbreaker of some sort is definitely required, especially at this time of year. It took about 2 hours 40 for us to complete the ascent and descent, but as the views were not terrific we were not stopping much to take photos etc.

Climbing the mountain is free, parking is not. The mountain is 2,507 feet high, which is no big deal if you've climbed Kililmanjaro, but for the rest of us, it's a hike! As many have mentioned, hiking boots are a must and ones that support your ankles are best. I definitely reccomend a walking stick which will come in very handy going back down. Take water, some protein bars, and put it in a backpack, you'll need your hands free. You can break the climb into three sections, the initial climb, the shoulder, and the summit. The initial climb is a steady incline until the shoulder which is relatively level, then the climb to the summit which is quite steep and very rocky. The entire climb is rocky. Prior to visiting Croagh Patrick, definitely spend a few weeks or better still months hiking and climbing. If you tucker out by the time you get to the shoulder, it will be worth the effort as the view from the shoulder is spectacular. The view from the summit is magnificent. I would not climb this mountain if you have a fear of heights. To keep my footing and to keep from being intimated by the incline I focused on 2-3 feet in front of me and where I'd put my foot, a tactic that worked particularly well when I got to the summit ascent. A friend who also went and is in very good shape took 2 1/2 hrs to get up and 3 hrs to get down. Take all the time you need, mostly you just want to make sure your footing is stable. It is very well worth the effort and a great boost to your personal sense of accomplishment.