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Achill Island
ℹ️Practical info — Achill Island
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- The weather changes rapidly; dress in layers and always carry windproof clothing.
- The road to Keem Bay is steep and winding; drive very carefully, especially in misty conditions.
- The Atlantic Drive provides spectacular coastal views, best experienced by driving clockwise.
- Visit the Deserted Village at Slievemore to see poignant ruins from the famine era.
🍽 Food
Try fresh fish at the seafood restaurants near the villages of Keel or Dooagh.
Often featured in local dishes or used to flavor artisanal chocolates.
Hearty soups and soda bread provide the first-rate warming meal after a windy walk.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Discover paintings that capture the rugged landscapes and seascapes of the island.
Buy a jar of locally harvested sea salt as the excellent culinary souvenir.
An atmospheric and intensely quiet spot resting at the base of the mountain.
Visit early to beat the day-trippers for a solitary, peaceful beach experience.
Water temperature…
Achill Island in County Mayo is connected to the mainland by bridge and gives some of Ireland's most dramatic scenery. The island is defined by the massive Croaghaun cliffs, among the highest in Europe, and the Slievemore Deserted Village, a poignant settlement abandoned during the 19th-century Famine. Visitors flock here for five Blue Flag beaches, most notably Keem Bay, and excellent conditions for surfing, hiking, and sea angling. The island's gastronomy is famous for Achill Mountain Lamb, which gains a unique flavor from the salt-sprayed coastal pastures. Access is easiest by car via the N59 road from Westport or Castlebar. The best time to visit for outdoor pursuits is from May to September, when the wild Atlantic weather is most favorable.
- Location: Ireland, Ireland
- Top sights: Keel Beach · Our Lady of the Assumption
- Nearby: Mulranny (17 km)
- Population: ~582
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Rain mm | 134 | 106 | 96 | 76 | 88 | 91 | 109 | 116 | 107 | 127 | 141 | 143 |
Geography
Facts
- Largest island in Ireland
- Accessible via road bridge
- Croaghaun cliffs rise 688m
- Keem Bay is a Blue Flag beach
- Deserted village of 80 cottages
- Terminus of Great Western Greenway
- Major hub for surfing and hiking
- Famous for local mountain lamb
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Achill Island (2)
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Achill Island?
Which beach is the most famous?
What is the Deserted Village?
Can you go hiking on Achill?
What else is the island known for?
Achill Island: where is it located?
Achill Island: what is there to see?
Achill Island: when is the best time to visit?
Achill Island: why is it worth visiting?
Nearby cities
