Achill Island – 5 Reasons to Visit Mayo’s Hidden Gem

Updated On: January 16, 2024 by   Ciaran Connolly

Achill Island is one of the best places to visit in Ireland if you want to experience the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way, traditional Irish culture, and good craic all in one place! Located off the coast of mainland Ireland, Achill should be on your travel bucket list when visiting the West.

Achill Island in Co. Mayo is a jewel in the crown of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. With beautiful secluded beaches, the highest sea cliffs in Ireland, and the iconic Keem Bay, the island is the perfect place for a getaway.

Achill Island, one of our favourite locations in the West of Ireland, was also shortlisted by The Irish Times as one of the top 5 best places to holiday in Ireland. The movie The Banshees of Inisherin was filmed on location in Achill island, which certainly added to its charm. Colin Farrell won ‘Best Actor‘ at the Venice Film Festival for his role in the film.

In this article, we are exploring all that Achill Island has to offer and 5 incredible reasons why you should visit this Irish destination. Scroll down to continue reading, or click on one of the highlighted sections below to jump ahead in the article!

General Information for Your Stay at Achill Island

Achill Island is the largest island in Ireland, located off the west coast of the country. The island is located in County Mayo and is known for its natural beauty, rugged landscapes, and stunning coastline. Achill Island is a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts due to its wide range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, fishing, and water sports.

How to Get to Achill Island

Achill is accessible by car via the Michael Davitt Bridge, which means you can drive to and from this destination at any time during your visit. The Michael Davitt Bridge makes the island easy to visit and explore on a day trip or weekend getaway for those staying nearby.

Thinking about taking the road trip to Achill Island? Here’s how long it takes to drive to the island from some of the most popular destinations in Ireland:

• Dublin to Achill Island: 4 Hours
• Shannon Airport to Achill Island: 3 Hours
• Belfast to Achill Island: 5 to 6 Hours
• West Airport Knock to Achill Island: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
• Galway to Achill Island: 2 Hours 20 Minutes

West Airport Knock is the closest airport to the island and a great destination to fly into if you want to stay on Achill Island. You can organise car rental options before you arrive and you will avoid heavy traffic and motorway journeys from larger cities.

Located in the East of County Mayo, the airport is close to all of the best attractions in the West of Ireland. West Airport Knock offers flights mainly to and from Mainland UK. However, it also provides some flights to destinations across Europe, such as Majorca, Cologne, Milan, Međugorje, Lourdes, Barcelona, and more!

If you’re starting your journey to Achill Island from Dublin, there are rail services available that take riders to Castlebar and Westport, which are close to the island. From these towns, visitors can take an hour-long bus ride to the island. Additionally, boats to and from Clare Island to Achill Island can be organised if you wish to do a bit of exploring during your stay!

Getting Around Achill Island

It is generally recommended to travel around the island by car, but you can also rent a bike to get around. Achill Island features a bus service for locals and tourists, but it is seasonal and not available during some of the year, so make sure to check ahead if you plan to travel by bus!

A car will give you the most freedom during your stay, especially outside of the summer season when some public transport services are limited or unavailable.

Where to Stay on Achill Island

There are plenty of accommodation options on the island, from an extensive selection of B&Bs, hostels, and guesthouses to self-catering options. You may choose to go camping or stay in a caravan during your time in Achill. There are also hotels in Achill Island for those wishing to relax in the evenings. You can find out more about all of the types of accommodation as well as eating and drinking options on the official Achill Tourism website.

Achill is a very tourist-friendly destination. The locals are the best guide to any area and make up the majority of the staff working in the service sector. Your barman, receptionist or waiter can give you great tips about the island, such as the best things to do and the best times to visit places of interest.

5 Great Reasons to Visit Achill Island

#1 The Wild Atlantic Way

Achill Island is at the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way. If you are taking the coastal road trip, I would highly recommend visiting Achill for a day or even a weekend.

The small island encompasses everything that is great about the Wild Atlantic Way, including traditional Irish pubs and food, friendly seaside towns, stunning coastal views, the beautiful Irish countryside, historic sites and a magical atmosphere that you can’t get anywhere else in the world.

#2 Beaches on Achill Island

On a fine summer’s day, there is nowhere more perfect than Achill’s beaches; the crystal clear water and soft sand will make you forget you’re in Ireland. One of the best things about Irish beaches is that they are much more secluded than in other countries – you may have a whole beach to yourself when you visit!

Achill has 5 blue-flag beaches:

• Keem Bay Beach
• Tramore Strand beach
• Silver Strand beach
• Golden Strand beach
• Dooega Beach

There is also a sixth blue beach nearby in Mulranny, the village which connects Achill Island to the mainland. The Blue Flag scheme is an international standard that recognises the cleanest beaches with the best water quality, environmental education management and safety services

Keem Beach

Keem Bay was named the best Wild Swimming Spot in the UK and Ireland and is located at the western tip of Achill Island. Nestled in between the slopes of Croaghaun Mountain and Moyteoge Head, Keem Bay is the most popular beach for tourists due to its picturesque views and secluded atmosphere.

Keem Bay is almost uninhabited (the only building there is a former coastguard station), and it’s a very peaceful retreat; you’ll feel as though you are sitting on an exotic beach on a warm summer day.

In terms of activities, the bay is very popular for water sports, and there are surfing schools in the local area. The beach is lifeguarded during the bathing season, and more information can be found on the notice boards located at the beach. You can even try snorkelling on the Bluewater Trail at the bay!

The bay has a strong connection with fishing. It was the location for much of Achill’s shark fishing industry during the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, the basking shark was a frequent visitor to the waters around Keem Bay and was hunted for its liver oil. Much of this fishing took place in Currach’s, the traditional canvas-covered wooden vessels of the west of Ireland.

Trawmore Beach

One of the best-known and most photographed beaches in Achill, Trawmore Beach (also known as Keel Beach) stretches 3km and is located at the foot of the Minaun Cliffs. The beach is popular with bathers and for water sports such as surfing and kayaking.

Important to know: The waters on the eastern half of the beach are dangerous due to treacherous local currents. Lifeguards usually patrol during the summer season, and there are prominent safety notices that you should read before swimming in the sea. Avoid swimming in the sea if lifeguards are not on duty.

Silver Strand Beach & Golden Strand Beach

On the north side of the island, the village of Dugort has two beautiful beaches. Both beaches face Backsod Bay and the Belmullet Peninsula. The Blueway kayak trail is located in this area; visitors can paddle from Silver Strand to Golden Strand. You will see seal caves and bird colonies during your stay!

Dooega Beach

Dooega is a picturesque fishing village which overlooks Clare Island and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. The beach at Dooega is called Camport Bay. There are many historic sites around the area, including two forts.

#3 Historical Sites on Achill Island

No trip to Westport, or County Mayo in general, would be complete without a visit to Achill Island. The island was first inhabited almost 5,000 years ago and is the largest of all islands off the coast of Ireland. The people who have lived here for thousands of years have left their mark on the island. Below, we have included some interesting locations you can visit.

Grace O’Malley’s Castle

Grace O’Malley, or Granuaile, was the Pirate Queen of Ireland. Grace was born on the nearby Clare Island. The 15th-century Kildownet Castle became one of the strongholds of the pirate queen. The National Monument is a tower house.

The tower house provided protection and defence and was also an important strategic location for the pirate queen. The castle is an impressive structure of four storeys high that dominates the otherwise untouched area.

Kildamhnait

Named after St Damhnait, who founded a church there in the 7th century, Kildamhnait Castle has a rich history. There is a holy well just outside the graveyard of the castle.

You can learn more about the history of Achill on the official tourism website, including a fascinating 17th-century prophecy about the island’s former railway system that actually came true.

#4 Achill Island is Bursting with Arts and Culture

Pubs and Food:

There are plenty of pubs, restaurants, cafés and takeaway options on the island. You will get to enjoy traditional Irish dishes with the best of local produce and catch, as well as all of the modern dishes you would expect.

Achill was an island of farmers and fishermen throughout the centuries, and the delicious meals in Achill are evidence of Ireland’s firm reputation for producing high-quality food. If you are living in a self-catering accommodation, there is a supermarket on the island for your convenience.

To add to its cuisine, County Mayo organises The Achill Seafood Festival in mid-summer around July, which offers the best delicious gourmet seafood in Ireland, with plenty of restaurants and pubs participating in events.

Arts and Culture:

Both organised and impromptu music sessions are held frequently in pubs on the island. Scoil Acla is a summer school that has taught traditional Irish music for over a century, so you can be sure to hear some great music during your stay!

If you are an experienced musician, you are more than welcome to join in during the session! You can check out Achill Tourism’s weekly event listings to see what’s on during your stay!

#5 More Amazing Things to Do on Achill Island

Water-Based Activities

Achill Island is most certainly a paradise for lovers of outdoor pursuits and water sports of all types. Popular water sports on Achill Island include swimming, windsurfing, surfing, kite surfing, kayaking and canoeing.

Moreover, Achill Island also has Europe’s third-highest sea cliffs on the northern slope of Croaghaun Mountain. While cliff diving is very dangerous, they are simply amazing to just gaze at and admire.

There are plenty of other options for water sports activities on the island, including canoe/kayaking lessons, coasteering, ferries and boat trips, kitesurfing, and surfing lessons. No matter which interests you most, you’re sure to have a great experience!

Snorkelling

There are a wide variety of fish species and marine features for scuba divers and snorkelers. The snorkelling experience at Achill is one we can’t wait to try!

With any water-based activity, make sure to be safe. Don’t attempt to go snorkelling or partake in any other water-based activity without professional supervision and assistance. Check lifeguard schedules and weather conditions before you enter the sea.

Land Based Activities

If you prefer to stay out of the water, why not go fishing? Fishing off the Irish coast is a popular activity for locals and tourists due to the country’s extensive coastline and abundant marine life. Ireland offers a wide range of fishing opportunities, from sea angling and deep-sea fishing to freshwater angling in rivers and lakes.

Another great activity is shark and dolphin sighting through guided tours. Watching dolphins and sharks off the Irish coast is a thrilling and memorable experience for wildlife lovers. While Ireland may not be as famous as some other destinations for marine wildlife encounters, it does offer opportunities to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

If dry land is more your style, you can hike around the island or hire a bike to explore. Guided tours, hill walks, and horse riding adventures are also available. The island’s rugged and scenic landscapes, combined with its natural beauty, make it an excellent destination for hiking and exploring.

Additionally, Achill Island is a scenic place to visit to play a few rounds of golf. Although the island is not typically known as a golfing destination when compared to other regions in Ireland like County Kerry or County Clare, Achill Island does offer a unique and scenic golfing experience for those looking to enjoy the sport in a picturesque coastal setting.

Achill’s Blueway, Greenway & Atlantic Drive

Achill’s Blueway network is a network of water trails where you can experience a variety of water sports, including kayaking and snorkelling.

The Greenway is a world-class cycling and walking trail and the longest one in Ireland. The route follows a trail from Westport to Achill. In 2011, the Great Western Greenway was awarded the EDEN European Destination of Excellence Award for Sustainable Tourism.

The Atlantic Drive comprises over 20km of coastal scenery, which is a perfect car or bike adventure. On the route for the Atlantic Drive, you will spot the tower at Kildavnet, a 16th-century Irish tower used by the legendary Pirate Queen Granuaile.

Courses and lessons

You can take surfing lessons on the island at Achill’s Surf Activity Centre. Surfing on Achill Island is a popular activity for tourists and locals due to the exposed coastline and the consistent swell from the Atlantic Ocean. The island offers a variety of surf spots suitable for surfers of different skill levels, making it a great destination for both beginners and experienced surfers.

Additionally, there is a range of summer camps in this part of Ireland, which makes it a great destination for kids! The camps host different activities such as outdoor adventures, nature exploration, water sports, arts and crafts, and more. They provide a way for children and teenagers to engage in fun, educational experiences while enjoying the natural beauty and recreational opportunities that Achill Island has to offer.

Achill Island is a Fantastic Destination in Ireland!

We hope this article has encouraged you to visit Achill Island! There is so much to do in terms of water and land activities. Life at Achill is relaxed; you can spend your days exploring the island or strolling the many Blue Flag beaches at your own leisure.

At night, locals and tourists alike will flock to pubs to enjoy hearty meals, plenty of pints and great live music. If you want to experience traditional Irish life at its best while still enjoying modern comforts, then Achill Island is the place for you!

If you have enjoyed this article, why not check out more blogs on Ireland’s best tourist destinations, including:

County Clare Travel Guide | Best Bars in Ireland by City: The Ultimate Irish Pub Guide | Things to do in Galway | The Names of the 32 County of Ireland Explained | Galway Pub Guide: The Best 25 Bars