Last Updated on: 17th November 2022, 11:54 am

A day trip to Achill Island, Ireland’s largest island, is a must when visiting the island’s west coast.

Located in County Mayo, Achill Island is easily accessible from the mainland via a 740 ft (approx 220 meters) swing bridge.

It’s home to hundreds of sheep, gorgeous sandy blue flag beaches, and the third-highest sea cliffs in Europe. The island of Achill really makes a great day out from Westport or Galway.

Atlantic Drive

The Atlantic Drive on Achill Island is part of Ireland’s stunning 2500 km Wild Atlantic Way. With its rocky headlands and cliffs, this drive is not only one of the best stretches of coastline on the Wild Atlantic Way but was even named one of the world’s most scenic drives by National Geographic.

Did You Know?

Achill Island is home to Croaghaun Sea Cliffs, the third-highest sea cliffs in Europe, after Hornelen in Norway at 860 metres (2,820 ft) and Cape Enniberg on the Faroe Islands at 754 metres (2,474 ft).

Standing at an impressive 688 m (2257 ft) tall, these sea cliffs are not to be missed when exploring Achill Island.

At 688m, the Croaghaun cliffs are actually nearly three times taller than the world-famous Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare (214m or 702ft) and almost 100 meters higher than the famous Slieve League cliffs in Donegal.

The best way to see these cliffs is to hike around Croaghan Mountain. Apparently, it isn’t the easiest of hikes; but the views are meant to be worth it!

Keem Bay

The horseshoe-shaped Keem Bay is a sheltered beach situated in a valley between the cliffs of Benmore to the west and Croaghaun Mountain to the east.

Keem Bay is said to have been blessed by St. Patrick during his stay on Croagh Patrick. According to legend, St. Patrick looked out from the mountain, saw the beautiful golden beach at Keem Bay and declared that no one would ever drown in its waters.

During the summer, basking sharks, often accompanied by a pod of dolphins, can be seen in Keem Bay.

This beach is part of Ireland’s Blueway which means it’s an excellent place for snorkelling.

It was an incredibly windy day, the day we visited. As I was travelling by bus as part of a Globus Choice Tour, the bus could only park at the top car park, so to get to Keem Bay meant a walk down, and you know what that means, yes there’s a fairly steep walk back uphill to get the bus.

However, it was not a challenging walk, but the wind that day as you climbed the hill was strong, and sheep would wander into your path.

Kildamhnait Castle

The 15th-century Kildamhnait Castle is a tower house associated with the infamous O’ Malley Clan, who were once a ruling family of Achill.

Can You Walk Around Achill Island?

The island is 15 miles (24 kilometres) long and 11 miles (18 kilometres) wide, so walking around the whole island on a day trip to Achill Island would be a bit of a challenge.

But the island is an excellent place for those that enjoy a good walk. Hillwalking is particularly popular on Achill Island as most of the higher ground is common ownership, so it’s accessible to everyone.

What To Do In Achill Island When It Rains

I was lucky with the weather when I visited Achill Island. Still, on every Irish travel itinerary, it’s always a good idea to have a rainy-day backup plan that does not depend on good weather.

So if you don’t fancy putting on your rain jacket and embracing the bad weather, why not visit the Achill Experience Aquarium & Visitor Centre or enjoy a massive plate of fish and chips and a pint of Guinness in a local pub?

Where To Eat On Achill Island

Gielty’s Bar and Restaurant is allegedly the most westerly pub in Europe and does a mean fish and chips. But make sure you’re hungry, as these portions are enormous.

Do You Need A Ferry To Get To Achill Island?

Achill Island has been connected to the mainland by a bridge since 1887, so there is no need to worry about ferry timings or scary crossings; just drive straight onto the island.

Getting Around Achill Island

You will need some form of transportation to get around Achill Island.

On A Tour

I could have taken a country bike ride or learned how to make Irish soda bread, but instead, I chose to take a day trip to Achill Island as part of my Global Choice Tour in Ireland. Check out this post on what’s is like to travel from Dublin to West Coast Ireland on their new Travel by Design: Green with Envy Tour.

By Car

Renting a car in Ireland is a great way to explore independently. Check here for prices and availability on car rentals in Ireland.

By Bus

Don’t fancy driving; you could always take the public bus (seasonal services). Check bus schedules to Achill Island here.

By Bicycle

Are you feeling super fit? Consider exploring Achill Island by bicycle. See here for bicycle rentals.

How Long Does It Take To Drive Around Achill Island?

Allow yourself at least two to two and a half hours to get around Achill Island. And I guarantee you’ll be making plenty of photo stops.

Can You Stay On Achill Island?

A day trip to Achill Island not enough? If you want to stay, there is a wide variety of accommodation to be found on Achill Island, including hotels, bed and breakfasts and rental accommodations.

Check here for accommodation suggestions.

For More Posts On Ireland, Check Out These

Dublin to West Coast Ireland

A Day Trip To Inishmore, Aran Islands


What Does It Cost To Live In Dublin?

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Disclaimer:   I was a guest of Choice Touring by Globus on their Green with Envy: Ireland By Design Tour from Dublin to West Coast Ireland, but all opinions expressed here are my own. A big thank you to Globus for this fantastic opportunity. 

Some of the links on this website are “affiliate links”, meaning that if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost. This helps me to keep my website running and continue to share my travelling knowledge with you. I thank you for using the links on my website.

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