Achill Island is a place of wild beauty, rich heritage, and unforgettable experiences. From towering sea cliffs and Blue Flag beaches to historic villages and ancient tombs, there’s no shortage of places to explore. Whether you're hiking mountain trails, cycling scenic routes, or enjoying watersports, Achill offers adventure for all. A lively calendar of festivals celebrates music, culture, and community, while the island's long and fascinating history has inspired artists and writers for generations. Discover what makes Achill truly unique - past and present.
Achill Island is home to breathtaking natural beauty and remarkable heritage sites. Among its four Blue Flag beaches, Keem Bay stands out - a stunning horseshoe bay often ranked among the world's best beaches. Towering above it is Croaghaun, whose northern cliffs plunge dramatically into Blacksod Bay, forming the highest sea cliffs in Ireland. Traversing both Achill Island and the Currane Peninsula, the Atlantic Drive offers panoramic views including the striking white cliffs of Ashleam and the dramatic coastline at Cloughmore.
The island's mountainous heart includes Slievemore, beneath which lies the haunting Deserted Village - over 80 abandoned stone cottages linked to the Great Famine. The Slievemore Heritage Trail also features two megalithic tombs and traces of prehistoric settlement.
Achill's historic attractions include Granuaille's Castle, once a stronghold of the legendary pirate queen Grace O’Malley, and the Colony at Dugort, a 19th-century Protestant mission site. For sweeping views, visitors can drive up Minaun Heights, which rises to 466m (1,529ft).
Achill Island is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Hikers and hillwalkers can explore lowland trails like the Slí Gráinne Mhaol, or take on scenic peaks such as Croaghaun, Slievemore, Minaun, and Curraun Hill. Cyclists can enjoy the Achill Cycle Hub routes or follow the 47km Great Western Greenway all the way to Westport.
The island's coastline offers superb watersports - including surfing, kayaking, kitesurfing, and paddleboarding - with local providers offering rentals and lessons. Boat trips run regularly to view the towering Croaghaun sea cliffs or visit the uninhabited Inishkea and Achill Beg islands, with chances to spot dolphins and basking sharks.
Other attractions include The Achill Experience aquarium and heritage centre, the Achill Sea Salt Visitor Centre, and Achill Distillery with tours and tastings. Visitors can also unwind in a seaweed bath or beach sauna, or enjoy a round at Achill's nine-hole golf course. For the serious golfer Westport (58km from property) boasts an 18 hole championship course while Carne Golf Links in Belmullet (80km), designed by Eddie Hackett, is regarded as one of the top ten courses in Ireland.
Achill Island's calendar is rich with cultural events, seasonal festivals, and unique local traditions. New Year's Eve is especially memorable, with Achill offering one of the last sunsets in Europe due to its far western location. In lower Achill, local pipe bands mark the countdown to midnight by parading through their villages - a tradition that continues with a New Year's Day swim in the Atlantic at Dugort's Silver Strand beach.
St. Patrick's Day is celebrated with pipe band marches across lower Achill, while Easter Sunday sees a lively parade at Achill Sound. The Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend, held each May Bank Holiday, welcomes writers, artists, and musicians for a weekend of creativity and discussion.
In summer, Scoil Acla, Ireland’s oldest Irish arts school, hosts workshops and concerts alongside village festivals and the Mayo International Kite Festival. The season closes with highlights like the Battle for the Lake kite surfing and music event, the Tour de Achill, and the Dooagh Folk Festival.
Achill Island has a rich and ancient history, with evidence of human settlement stretching back over 5,000 years. The island remained accessible only by boat until the Achill Sound bridge connected it to the mainland in 1887, followed by the arrival of passenger train services in 1895. The railway, which ran until 1937, played a key role in establishing Achill as a popular tourist destination.
Achill has long inspired artists and writers. The 16th Century Pirate Queen Gráinne Mhaol (Grace O'Malley) had strong links to the island. In the early 20th century, painter Paul Henry captured its thatched cottages and moody skies in works that came to define the image of the west of Ireland. In the 1920s, American artist Robert Henri painted vivid portraits of local children in Dooagh, a village later home to the modernist painter Camille Souter. Heinrich Böll, Nobel Prize-winning German author, chronicled his time in Dugort in his Irish Journal (1957), and made regular visits from the 1950s to 1970s.
Distances (in brackets) refer to distance from Golden Strand View.
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