Ballycroy National Park was established in November 1998, it is Ireland’s sixth National Park and is located on the Western seaboard in northwest Mayo. It comprises of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain, covering a vast uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. Between Nephin beg and Slieve Carr, at 721metres above sea level, the highest mountain in the range, lie the Scardaun Loughs. To the west of the mountains is the Owenduff bog. This is one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe and is an important scientific and scenic feature of the National Park. The Park also protects a variety of other important habitats and species. These include alpine heath, upland grassland, heath and lakes and river catchments. Greenland White-fronted geese, Golden plover, Red Grouse and Otters are just some of the important fauna found within the Park. Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre is located along the main road (N59) between Bangor-Erris and Mulranny. At the visitor centre there are the following things to see and do; 1. Interactive exhibition on the habitats of Ballycroy National Park and the surrounding area 2.Information Desk 3. Nature Trail with pond, interpretation panels and viewing point There is a tearoom on site that serves Soup, Sandwiches & Light Lunches. The Visitor Centre is open daily (10.00am - 5.30 pm) from March until the end of October. An education programme is also run at the centre and school groups (primary and secondary), colleges/university and other interested groups can be catered for. Booking is necessary for these programmes.
