Tawnyard

Rising above the northern shores of the lough that shares its name, this modest South Mayo peak offers a wild and quiet alternative to the more popular Sheeffry Hills. The terrain is quintessential Atlantic bog and heath, leading to a summit that provides an exceptional vantage point over the winding Erriff Valley.

• •The name derives from the Irish Tamhnach Árd, translating as 'High Field' or 'High Clearing', which suggests a patch of upland pasture once used for seasonal grazing amidst the rougher mountain bog.
• •From the summit, walkers are rewarded with a direct view of the jagged southern cliffs of the Sheeffry Hills to the north, particularly the sprawling bulk of Barrclashcame.
• •The hill overlooks the remote Tawnyard Lough, a site historically noted for its solitude and as a spawning ground for sea trout and salmon migrating through the Erriff catchment.
• •In this part of Mayo, the 'clearing' described in the name is strictly relative; expect to spend significantly more time navigating deep peat hags than strolling through anything resembling a field.