Amazing Achill Island in 6 Stops
The island is 160 square kilometres in size and much of it is impacted by the constant attrition of the Atlantic Ocean. This has a big impact on the creation of magnificent seascapes and on the inhabitants of the island. The magnificent scenery features in the Oscar nominated movie The Banshees of Inisheerin.
- Grace O’Malley’s Castle.
- Ashleam Bay.
- Minaun Mountain.
- Keel Beach.
- Keem Beach.
- The Deserted Village.
Here is why you should not miss this attraction
1. Grace O’Malley’s Castle.
If you are visiting the island make sure that you take the turn to the left signposted Atlantic Drive. This will take you along Achill Sound where you can visit the remains of pirate queen Grace O’Malley’s castle in Kildavnet. The castle is hidden from ships in Clew Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Hop over the entrance style to get a view inside and imagine what life was like for a pirate queen in the 16th Century.
2. Ashleam Bay
This is where you can see the real impact of the wild Atlantic Ocean on the coast. The result is an awe-inspiring seascape of white cliffs and sea stacks. The view beyond the bay to the north is Croaghaun, the location of some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. Naturally this is a ‘discovery point’ on the Wild Atlantic Way.
3. Minaun Mountain
This is accessed from the main road from Achill Sound to Keel. It’s a steep climb to the summit in your designated transportation but work every minute of the journey. From here you have a 360 degree vista of the surrounding landscape and seascape to the North, South, East and West. Lots of sheep and lambs will greet you to make your welcome special.
4. Keel Beach
This two kilometre beach is a favourite with swimmers, surfers and kite surfers. The rollers coming in from the Atlantic provide the energy for many marine activities. Why not take a stroll to stretch your lets or maybe take a swim which could be described as ‘refreshing’!
5. Keem Beach
Voted on many occasions to be one of the best beaches in the world. It’s located at the very end of the island and is surrounded on three sides by mountains. The road climbs out of Dooagh village and you wonder what is the point until, suddenly, your first view of the beach comes into view. ‘Quick, get the camera!’ There a number of opportunities to get some great shots of the beach to your left. Continue your drive to the beach and get some sand between your toes as you enjoy the ambience of the area. This never fails to impress.
6. The Deserted Village
Located under the shadow of Slievemore (671m) the deserted village consists of the remains of 80 houses set on either side of a pathway on the south facing slope of the mountain. As recently as the 1940’s the houses were used for ‘booleying’, the practice of minding cattle here during the summer before returning west to Dooagh for the winter. The people looked after their cattle and planted potatoes in ‘lazy beds’ for sustenance. You can explore the ruined remains of the houses and imagine what life was like for these poor hardworking farmers. The view from here is pretty cool too!
This is just a sample menu of what you can ‘taste’ on Achill Island. There are lots more sites to be stopped at and explored and of course great places with culinary delights to eat. Don’t forget to give yourself lots of time to get the best from your day here. To truly experience it all, our Achill Island Tour is the perfect choice. With a private guide to share history, legends, and insider tips, you’ll uncover the very best of this wild Atlantic jewel on an unforgettable day out.
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