Tochar Phádraig (Patrick’s Way)

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Tochar Phádraig (Patrick’s Way): Pilgrim Route to Croagh Patrick

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 1 July 2026

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Ranked #472 of 974

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HikeList Score

Tochar Phádraig (Patrick’s Way) scored 80/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 59
Balanced challenge 84
Scenery & wildness 98
Varied terrain 71
Accommodation 74
Food & support 81
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

Tóchar Phádraig is a 35 km point-to-point pilgrim path in County Mayo, west Ireland, from Ballintubber Abbey to the summit of Croagh Patrick above Murrisk. It takes 1–2 days and is graded hard because the long overland route ends with the steep, loose climb of Croagh Patrick. This is for fit walkers who want history, field paths, rural lanes, boggy ground and a demanding mountain finish, not a casual waymarked stroll.

Route Overview

The route starts at Ballintubber Abbey, near Castlebar and Claremorris, and heads west across private pilgrim land towards Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay. Key places on the way include Lankill, the Boheh Stone, Aghagower and Murrisk, before the final ascent to the 764 m summit of Croagh Patrick. It is a point-to-point walk, so plan transport carefully: independent walkers have no official backup or return transport and must arrange their own pickup from the Croagh Patrick/Murrisk end. For gentler Mayo days after the pilgrimage, compare the Great Western Greenway or Achill Island Trails.

A medieval pilgrim road with older origins

Tóchar Phádraig follows the line of an older chariot road linked with the royal seat of Connacht at Rathcroghan/Cruachan and Croagh Patrick. By tradition, St Patrick walked this way before his 40-day fast on the mountain in the 5th century, and the route later became a major medieval pilgrimage road. Ballintubber Abbey, founded in 1216, has served pilgrims for over 800 years and helped revive the path in modern times with Pilgrim Paths of Ireland.

Notable highlights

Ballintubber Abbey (start): An Augustinian abbey founded in 1216 and still central to the route. Register here before setting out and stamp the Pilgrim Passport at the start.
Boheh Stone / St Patrick’s Chair: A Neolithic/Bronze Age cup-and-ring carved rock. It is known for the “rolling sun” alignment, when the setting sun appears to roll down Croagh Patrick when viewed from here.
Aghagower: An early monastic settlement around the halfway point, with a ruined round tower, holy well, St Patrick’s Bed and St Patrick’s “Bath”.
The stiles: Expect roughly 100+ stone stiles over field walls. They are a memorable feature of the route and add real fatigue over a long day.
Croagh Patrick summit (764 m): The high point and finish, with views over Clew Bay. It is also the focus of the Reek Sunday pilgrimage, held on the last Sunday in July.

Challenges to expect

The main difficulty is the combination of distance, repeated stiles and the final steep, loose ascent of Croagh Patrick. Underfoot you can meet forest tracks, pasture, rural lanes, boggy ground, gravel and rock. The route has distinctive yellow Tóchar pilgrim markers, but navigation still needs attention across open ground. Registration is compulsory because much of the walk crosses private land.

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Ranked #472 of 974

See the Top 100 →