County Mayo - Ireland
in a Horse Drawn Caravan

 

The Irish countryside

The Irish countryside is as green as its reputation. Its 'forty shades of green' are spread over a landscape as varied as it is beautiful, featuring mountains, hills, lakes, rivers, valleys, woods and forests.

Our base camp, "Carra Caravan and Camping Park", Belcarra, is a small touring site approved by Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Tourist Board. The area, although beautiful in its own right, remains undiscovered by most tourists and its quiet country roads are ideal for this kind of holiday. You will spend your first night, and your last night, at Belcarra. On-site facilities at Belcarra include showers, toilets, campers' kitchen, public telephone, private parking area, TV Lounge and laundry equipment.

Village amenities include shops, pubs (meals served), post-office, public telephone, free fishing area, indoor sports centre (handball, badminton, racquetball). From our Campsite Library you can borrow reading and reference material at the start of your holiday. Many of our books are of local interest.

For an aerial view and more information visit the Belcarra web site.

 

Nearby

• Welshpool Lough (2km Belcarra) free pike-fishing.
  
  
• Cloonagh Lake (2km) shore-fishing
  
  
• Belcarra River - trout fishing
  
  
• Frenchill Memorial - in memory of French soldiers of Humbert expedition who died here 1798.
  
  
• A Bogland Walk - spend a few hours enjoying the flora and fauna of an Irish bog at Cloonconragh (1km).
  
  
• Ballintobber: Visit the world-famous Ballintobber Abbey (built 1216) and Interpretive Centre. Conducted Tours available. Pitch and Putt Course. The 'Tochar Phádraig', St Patrick's pilgrim road to the summit of Croagh Patrick (Ireland's holy mountain) begins here. A delightful charted walk through fields and farmlands for 25km. Irish Set Dancing at the 'Scioból' most Thursday nights (1km). Good restaurant. Visit the Celtic Furrow Interpretive Centre.
  
  
• Burriscarra: Visit Castlecarra and Burriscarra Abbey. Swim in the moat at Castlecarra!
  
  
• Carnacon: Beside Lough Carra (Trout Fishing). Boat hire and fishing rods available. Sandy beach. Explore Moorehall Forest Park. Visit Kiltoom, burial place of the Moores.
  
  For more information visit
  (a) The Moorehall Site
  (b) The Moores of Moorehall or
  (c) The History of Moorehall.
  
  
• Hollymount: Enjoy a few hours of trout fishing on the River Robe, Cycle to Derryfad Bog or Claremorris. Pleasant walks.
  
  
• Ballyglass: Use bicycles provided here to explore the quiet country roads. Visit the "Old Ground" or "The Abbey Tavern" at night for a drink and a chat.  

Rural Ireland

Rural Ireland is uncrowded and unspoiled. Your horse drawn caravan will travel through areas dotted with farms and villages.

You become a part of this local scene during your holiday. When you park your caravan you can shop at the country store, have a meal at the local restaurant or pub, or take in musical, sporting or other activities.

Ireland of the Welcomes

Ireland is renowned as 'Ireland of the welcomes'. Irish people have a strong and old tradition of welcoming the stranger, and you will experience plenty of personal contact with the local people.

Meet the People

The nature of the horse-drawn caravan holiday fosters this kind of contact; you meet and get to know the farmers at whose farms you park at night; you ask the way at the cross-roads, and you travel at a speed that encourages a chat with the man or woman you meet on the road. And the children will love it!

Quote

What more could one ask of a holiday than the freedom to relax, to talk, to walk, to read or even to fish; the children doing what they wish, answerable to none ............ I enjoyed myself ridiculously!

Anne Atkins, Sunday Telegraph 17/10/'99

 

 

 

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