| Bluestack Way | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Length | 65 km (40 mi)[1] |
| Location | County Donegal,Ireland |
| Designation | National Waymarked Trail[1] |
| Trailheads | County Donegal,Ardara[1] |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation gain/loss | +1,230 m (4,035 ft)[1] |
| Difficulty | Moderate[1] |
| Season | Any |
| Surface | Bog roads, moorland, tarmac roads |
TheBluestack Way (Irish:Bealach na gCruach)[2] is along-distance trail through theBluestack Mountains inCounty Donegal,Ireland. It is 65 kilometres (40 miles) long and begins inDonegal and ends inArdara. It is typically completed in three days.[1] It is designated as aNational Waymarked Trail by the National Trails Office of theIrish Sports Council and is managed by the Bluestack Way Management Committee.[3]
The trail was first proposed by a local environmental group, the Bluestack Environmental Group, and was opened in 2000.[4] It was partly funded by theEU Peace and Reconciliation Fund and construction was carried out by workers on aFÁS Community Employment Scheme.[4] A review of the National Waymarked Trails in 2010 considered that the trail was suitable to be upgraded to a National Long Distance Trail, a proposed new standard of trail in Ireland intended to meet international standards for outstanding trails, and also recommended that the development of looped walks off the main route should be considered.[5]
Starting in Donegal Town, the trail heads north to reachLough Eske before crossing the Bluestack Mountains to the village ofGlenties.[6] From Glenties, it follows the course of the Owenea River to the end of the trail at Ardara.[6]
The Bluestack Way is proposed to be included in the Irish leg of theInternational Appalachian Trail (IAT), an extension of theAppalachian Trail throughCanada toNewfoundland, to all terrain that formed part of theAppalachian Mountains ofPangaea, including Ireland.[7]
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