Westport House, Gardens & Pirate Park

Built in the 18th century on ancestral castle foundations belonging to pirate queen Grace O’Malley, the Browne family created Westport House.  Enjoy tales of architecture, kings and queens, pirates, slave emancipators as well as beautiful art and artefacts with their tour guides. Kids will love the Pirate Adventure Park which has rides for all ages, from the swinging pirate ship to the log flume adventure. Go for a paddle on the Swan Pedalo Boats, take a turn on the bouncy castle, jump in a go-kart, or just let the kids run around in the Pirates Playground.  It also has its own caravan & camping park on site.

The Great Western Greenway.

Hop on your bike, or rent one in Westport, and cycle the incredible Great Western Greenway. A 42km stretch from Westport to Achill, taking in Newport and Mulranny, the route hugs the breathtaking coastline of Clew Bay.  The smooth, level track is ideal for cycling. It begins in the popular seaside town of Westport and traverses through the quaint villages of Newport and Mulranny before coming to a gentle finish at Achill Sound.  

Museum of Country Life

Discover the modern galleries of the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life in the spectacular grounds of Turlough Park House, near Castlebar. Uncover Ireland’s rural past through exhibitions and events. Home to the national folk life collection, the National Museum of Ireland-Country Life, in Castlebar, gives a fascinating insight into our past. Visit the museum’s exhibitions and galleries to experience the history of Irish countryside between 1850 and 1950. View the unique artefacts, detailed displays, archival video footage and interactive screens.

Achill Island

No boat needed to get to Ireland’s largest island, simply drive over the bridge. Starting at Achill Sound, the 40km Atlantic Drive is the ideal way to explore the island, as it guides you through small villages, around cork-screw bends, past epic seascapes  Stretching for 3.5km to the cliffs of Minaun, Achill’s Keel Beach is blissfully secluded, surrounded by dramatic mountainous backdrops. Conditions are ideal for surfers and swimmers who find it hard to resist the clear waters on a sunny day. Look to the south and spot The Bill, a legendary arrangement of three rock stacks.  You simply can’t leave Achill without taking in Keem Bay, one of the most special parts of the island. When the iconic view of the beach appears on the cliff-side drive up, you get a sense of the magic of this sheltered spot. You can swim, snorkel or hop in a kayak around the bay, or simply admire from the shore – you might even spot a basking shark out at sea.

Céide Fields

The Céide Fields are the oldest known field systems in the world, over five and a half millennia old. Combinations of warm Gulf Stream factors and cold deep waters have resulted in the wild beauty of this region including the unique ecology of the bogland, with its colorful mosses, sedges, lichens, heathers, flowers and insect-eating sundews. The amazing geology, archaeology, botany and wildlife of this North Mayo region is interpreted at the Céide Fields Visitor Centre, with the aid of an audio-visual presentation and exhibitions