Information
Landmark: Achill IslandCity: Mayo
Country: Ireland
Continent: Europe
Achill Island, Mayo, Ireland, Europe
Overview
Achill Island, the largest in Ireland, sits just off County Mayo’s rugged western coast, where cliffs drop into the Atlantic.Achill draws visitors with its dramatic cliffs, long stretches of golden sand, and deep roots in Irish tradition, offering a mix of outdoor thrills, rich history, and breathtaking scenery.Achill combines wild Atlantic cliffs with misty mountain slopes, offering some of the most striking and beautiful views you’ll find anywhere in the country.Number one.Achill Island sits off the northwest coast of County Mayo, its rugged cliffs facing the Atlantic, and you can reach it by crossing the bridge at Achill Sound.Achill Island covers about 57 square kilometers (22 square miles) and lies within the Mayo Gaeltacht, where you’ll often hear Irish spoken in shops and cafés.Only a few hundred people live there year-round, but summer brings a wave of visitors.The island’s scenery is striking-rugged mountains, long sandy beaches, and cliffs that drop straight into the Atlantic.The island draws nature lovers with its mix of rugged cliffs, quiet beaches, and winding trails, offering endless ways to explore and breathe in the salt air.Mountains and Hills: The Achill Mountains tower over the island, their slopes breaking sharply from the heather-covered ground below.Croaghaun towers as the island’s highest peak, rising 688 meters-about 2,257 feet-into the mist.This mountain’s known for its sheer cliffs and the breathtaking sweep of the Atlantic, where the wind smells faintly of salt.Slievemore rises boldly over the landscape, drawing hikers with its sweeping views across the island.Achill Island also boasts some of Ireland’s finest sandy beaches, like Keem Bay-a bright curve of sand cradled by steep green cliffs and often named among the country’s best.Famous for its crystal-clear waters, it’s a go-to place for swimming or spreading a blanket for a picnic; just down the road from Doogort, Golden Strand shimmers with warm golden sand and calm waves, ideal for a lazy afternoon; White Strand stretches wide and pale, drawing walkers who linger over the sweeping sea views; and Achill’s cliffs rise sheer and wind-scoured, among the tallest in all of Ireland.On a clear day, the cliffs at Croaghaun and Slievemore open up to sweeping ocean views, with the Aran Islands and even the distant Cliffs of Moher sharp against the horizon; people have called this island home for thousands of years.Archaeologists have uncovered signs of prehistoric life on Achill, including Stone Age tools worn smooth from use.In the 6th century, early Irish monks likely lived on the island, leaving behind ancient Christian sites like the small stone St. Brendan’s Oratory.As part of the Gaeltacht, it still carries a deep cultural heritage, and you can often hear Irish spoken in its winding lanes.On Achill, music, dance, and storytelling weave through daily life, filling festivals and village gatherings with lively tunes and old tales.The Great Irish Famine of 1845–1852 left its mark here too, as it did across much of Ireland.During and after the famine, thousands left the island, some carrying only a small bundle of clothes, hoping to find better chances in America and beyond.During that period, the island’s population fell sharply, and you can still find quiet, wind-worn villages standing empty as haunting markers of the past.For those who love the outdoors, Achill Island delivers-whether it’s a gentle stroll along the cliffs or a tough climb up its rugged mountains.The Achill Way winds around the island in a long loop, leading walkers past sheer coastal cliffs, quiet beaches, and rugged mountain slopes.The trail unfolds in six stages, letting walkers take in the island’s varied beauty at an easy pace, from windswept cliffs to sunlit meadows.It’s also a cyclist’s dream, with quiet country lanes, rugged coastal paths, and winding mountain roads.You can pedal the Achill Island Loop, a winding route that passes cliffs, heather-covered hills, and sea views that catch the light.With miles of rugged coastline, the island’s also a lively spot for kayaking, surfing, and other water sports.Surfers flock to the island, and for good reason-Keel Strand’s rolling breakers make it one of Ireland’s best surf beaches.Swimming, sea kayaking, and windsurfing draw plenty of visitors, especially along the island’s sheltered beaches where the water lies still and bright.Just offshore, the clear, teeming waters make Achill a favorite spot for fishing.You can cast a line for mackerel along the coast, drop a lure into a quiet lake, or chase salmon in the rushing rivers nearby, then stop by the Achill Heritage Centre in Bunnacurry to explore the island’s history, culture, and folklore.Inside, you’ll find exhibits on the island’s Famine history, its native language, and the handmade crafts once common here.Just up on Slievemore Mountain, the wind whistles through the stone ruins of the Deserted Village-a stark reminder of the island’s past.Stone cottages, left empty since the Famine, line the quiet village, their walls cool and rough beneath your hand; visitors wander among the ruins to glimpse the islanders’ struggles of that era.St. Brendan’s Oratory, an early Christian monastic site, rests partway up the slopes of Slievemore Mountain.Legend has it that St. Brendan of Clonfert founded it, the same monk said to have crossed the Atlantic in the 6th century with only a small wooden boat and a steady wind.The little stone chapel, framed by weathered ruins, offers a quiet glimpse into the past.Just down the road, Achill Sound-a sheltered natural harbor-invites you to sit back, breathe in the salty air, and watch the water drift by.Here, a bridge links Achill Island to the mainland, and you’ll find cozy pubs and small restaurants serving fresh-caught seafood.Birdwatchers flock to the island’s rugged cliffs and quiet wetlands, where gulls wheel overhead and herons stalk the shallows.In spring and again in autumn, you might spot swans, geese, and wading birds sweeping low over the marsh.The island shelters puffins, kittiwakes, and gannets, their calls carrying on the wind, while the Achill Island Nature Reserve-set between Keel and Doogort-protects rare plants and countless birds in its rugged, windswept habitats.It’s a great place for nature walks and snapping wildlife photos, and the waters around Achill teem with life-dolphins cutting through the waves, seals bobbing in the surf, even the occasional whale rolling in the distance.From Achill Sound, you can hop on a boat tour and watch for these animals-summer’s the best time, when the water glints in the sun.If you’re driving, just cross the Achill Sound Bridge, and you’re on the island in minutes.From Westport, just a half-hour’s drive, you can follow the N59 road toward Rea, winding past green hills and stone walls.
