Molls Gap to Mám Éan — Connemara and Kerry Highland Pass Circuit via Maumturk Mountains
Bog pass pilgrimage on Ireland's wild west.
Mám Éan — the pass of the birds — sits in the Maumturk Mountains north of the R336 in Connemara, a rough track climbing to a saddle at roughly 1,100 feet where a small saint’s well and a stone oratory mark the route of an ancient pilgrimage path. The drive up from Maam Cross on green-lane quality track is tight, boggy at the edges in wet conditions, and littered with embedded limestone. The companion leg, Molls Gap on the N71 in Kerry, is the smoother of the two — a legitimate paved pass between Kenmare and Killarney — but the connecting back roads through Sneem and over the Beara and north via Kilgarvan are where the proper back-road overlanding happens, linking the two regions via genuinely remote tarred and untarred single-track lanes.
Mám Éan specifically requires a high-clearance vehicle — a standard crossover will ground out on the rocky crown. The surface is wet, soft-shouldered bog track above the 700-foot contour; traction control is your friend. No fuel between Maam Cross and Kenmare via these routes. The payoff is extraordinary: the Twelve Bens on your left, Lough Corrib country behind, and the Atlantic showing silver through every gap. Go between May and September; winter turns the bog margins into traps. Wild camping is legal under Irish access norms in open mountain.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 34 mi / 54.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 1148 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD recommended |
| Nearest town | Maam Cross, County Galway |
| Land manager | Local landowners / open mountain access (Ireland Land Reform) |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | galwaytourism.ie |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Defender or high-clearance SUV handle this route, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Defender, Land Cruiser, or Hilux is sufficient. Lifted rigs aren't necessary, but low-clearance crossovers and standard passenger cars will bottom out on the bog road sections and green lanes between the passes.
When is this route actually driveable — does the bog road wash out or close in winter?
May through September is the reliable window. Winter brings saturated bog ground, frequent low cloud that kills visibility on the passes, and track sections that turn to deep mud. The route isn't formally closed, but getting stuck in an Irish bog in November with no cell service is a bad day.
Do I need a permit to drive through or camp on this route?
No formal permit is required. Ireland operates under open mountain access principles, and this route crosses land managed by local landowners rather than a national park authority. Dispersed camping is tolerated on open mountain ground — leave no trace, don't block farm gates, and don't light open fires during dry spells.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually be ready for?
The bog road sections connecting the two passes are the crux — soft ground, undefined track edges, and water-filled ruts after rain. Mám Éan itself is steep and loose on the approach. The elevation isn't dramatic at 1,148 ft, but the combination of soft substrate, tight green lanes, and sudden Atlantic weather is where unprepared rigs get into trouble.
How far is the nearest fuel stop, and is there any resupply between Molls Gap and Mám Éan?
Maam Cross is your closest fuel and resupply point — fill up there before heading into the circuit. There are no petrol stations or shops on the route itself. The 34-mile circuit is short enough that fuel range isn't a crisis, but running on fumes into remote Connemara bog is unnecessary risk.
Trail track
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