WESTPORT to DONEGAL
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, Ballycroy. The huge natural area, made up by lakes and bogland, is part of the largest European moor.
- Yeats County. In and around Sligo, there are places connected to Nobel Prize W.B. Yeats. From Rosses Point, where he spent his childhood summers, to Drumcliff, where he was buried.
- Achill Island Atlantic Drive. The scenic route reaches all the most spectacular Achill Island’s locations, from Keem Bay to Minaum Cliffs, on Trawmore beach.
- Knocknarea, Strandhill. At the top of a bare mountain, a powerful cairn, probably the tomb of Maeve, queen of Connaught.
- Downpatrick Head, Ballycastle. The cliffs off-the-beaten-track, with a spectacular geyser effect, wrought by the rough sea, and the lonely Dún Bríste rock.
- Pubs in Sligo. Hargadons’ has been open since 1868 and offers a good local cuisine. For music and craft beers go to Thomas Connolly or Shoot the Crows.
- North Mayo Sculpture Trail (Tír Sáile). Land art works on the remote Mayo North coast, from Blacksod to Ballycastle.
- Mullaghmore Head, Mullaghmore. The kingdom of surfing, in the shadow of Ben Bulben, with spectacular big waves, up to 15 meters high.
- Great Western Greenway. A 42 kilometres cycling track linking Westport to Achill Island, with amazing views of Clew Bay and gorgeous food stops.
- Seaweed baths. Directly from the ocean, at Kilcullen’s Seaweed Baths, the Edwardian bath house in Enniscrone or at the contemporary Voya Seaweed Bahs, in Strandhill.
AUTHOR’S TIPS
Great Western Greenway, Westport.
A 42-kilometre cycle path between Westport and Achill Island, with views of Clew Bay and gourmet stops along the way.
Nevins Newfield Inn, Mulranny.
Along the Greenway, a pub with rooms, good food and great music. Nice view of the sea and the mountains.
The Valley House, The Valley, Achill Island.
An atmospheric old house overlooking Blacksod Bay and Nephin Mountain. It is both a hostel and a pub.
John Butler, Keel, Achill Island.
A craftsman who builds uillean pipes, the Irish bagpipes, with a sweet sound and the greatest range of scales.
Fernadale Luxury B&B, Keel, Achill Island.
A turquoise cottage with six themed rooms, including medieval, Venetian, Roman gymnasium, Arabian night.
McLoughlin's Bar, Achill Sound, Achill Island.
To wait for the sunset in the beer garden on summer evenings or sit in front of the fireplace in winter. Trad music, billiards and local beer.
www.facebook.com/McLoughlinsBarAchill/
Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, Ballycroy.
An immense natural area formed by lakes and grasslands that is part of the largest moorland in Europe.
https://www.nationalparks.ie/wild-nephin/
McDonnell's Pub, Belmullet.
The place to be for an evening of traditional music after exploring the Belmullet Peninsula. Known as The Lobster Pot.
https://visitbelmullet.ie/gowilddetails/mcdonnells-the-lobster-pot/
North Mayo Sculpture Trail (Tír Sáile), Ballycastle.
Contemporary art installations on the remote Mayo north coast, from Blacksod to Ballycastle.
https://www.northmayoarttrail.com/en/home-english
Stella Maris, Ballycastle.
In the former coast guard station (1853), just opposite Downpatrick Head, a country house hotel with a local menu.
Wild Atlantic Cultural Tours, Killala.
Walks in peat bogs, collection of shells and seaweed, archaeological visits.
https://wildatlanticculturaltours.weebly.com/tours-and-activities.html
Kilcullen's Seaweed Baths, Enniscrone.
It has retained the Edwardian style of when it opened in 1912: therapeutic baths with seaweed caught in the Atlantic.
https://www.kilcullenseaweedbaths.net/
Carrowmore Megalitic Cemetery, Carrowmore.
A Bronze Age village with 60 burial mounds. Great view over County Sligo.
https://heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/carrowmore-megalithic-cemetery
Rebelle Surf, Strandhill.
An all-female surf school to learn how to ride the waves while finding an inner balance.
Hargadon Bros, Sligo.
A historic pub, open since 1868, with many small rooms and good local cuisine.
Eala Bhán, Sligo
Overlooking the Garavogue River, this bistro uses local produce for classic dishes with a contemporary twist.
Sligo Food Trail, Sligo
Markets, cafes by the sea, gourmand restaurants. To be discovered on a gastronomic tour in and around the city.
The Model, Sligo.
The most important centre in the North-West of Ireland dedicated to contemporary and experimental art, with galleries, theatre, café and bookshop.
Liber Bookshop, Sligo.
An independent bookstore, specializing in Joyce and other Irish authors, but also offering vinyl, cookbooks, foraging and photography books.
Eithna's by the sea, Mullaghmore.
Great fish menus, right in front of the pier where the fishing boats dock.
Teaport Lane Glamping, Castlegal.
A treehouse, a vintage caravan, a cottage and cozy yurts. For unusual nights out.
https://www.glampingireland.ie/
Magee 1866, Donegal Town.
The oldest tweed shop, opened in 1866 in the central square of the town.
