Seeking to uncover one of the best of Western Eire? Add Westport to your bucket record. This charming city in County Mayo is brimming with beautiful surroundings and distinctive cultural sights. So, it’s no surprise hundreds of tourists a 12 months come right here from far and huge. When you might simply spend weeks exploring this wild facet of Eire, I like to recommend seeing Westport in a weekend. Learn on to seek out out why!
Positioned on the west coast of Eire, Westport is unquestionably value visiting. It’s the quintessential Irish city – providing a dose of nature, tradition, historical past, and (becoming for Eire) a full of life and genuine pub scene. A beautiful river flows by means of city with tree-lined promenades and cafés on each side. It’s only a stone’s throw away from the Atlantic Ocean and Eire’s most sacred mountain, Croagh Patrick. Nonetheless, it’s the native way of life that attracts folks to Westport over different locations.
Although this Georgian city is small, it packs a punch with so many enjoyable issues to do in Westport. I just lately spent 48 hours right here throughout a guided tour with Globus Journeys, the place I bought to discover the town heart and surrounding areas. This was considered one of Globus’ Selection Excursions, which mixes typical touring with a extra native, immersive expertise. It was a enjoyable and hassle-free approach of touring, and it introduced me to wonderful locations that I probably wouldn’t have seen in any other case.
Able to soak within the magnificence and timeless allure of Westport? Right here’s my information to visiting Westport in a weekend.
Drive alongside the Wild Atlantic Means
If you’re visiting Westport and Western Eire (typically), the star of the present is undoubtedly the Wild Atlantic Means.
This driving route spans 1,500 miles (2,500 km) alongside Eire’s western shoreline, providing unbeatable views of rugged cliffs, sandy seashores, lush mountains, and many sheep. It brings you previous Westport, the place many guests seize a chew to eat and a pint earlier than persevering with up the coast. Nonetheless, I believe you’ll wish to spend not less than a few nights in Westport to get a correct really feel for the world.
Throughout my tour with Globus, we drove by means of a number of elements of the Wild Atlantic Means. The dramatic sea cliffs paired with the winding roads and grazing sheep made this a magical journey. I’ve carried out many stunning coastal drives, together with the Pacific Coast Freeway in California and Highway to Hana in Maui, and I believe this one is the wildest of all of them.
In case you’re searching for epic coastal views, don’t miss the Wild Atlantic Means throughout a go to to Westport.
Go to the seashores and sea cliffs of Achill Island
As the biggest of the Emerald Isles, Achill Island is a must-see vacation spot close to Westport. It’s dwelling to hovering sea cliffs, secluded seashores, and quite a lot of wildlife. The landscapes are vibrant and verdant, making the scene completely unforgettable.
Achill Island is the crown jewel of Eire’s Wild Atlantic Means. My favourite spot was Keem Bay with its rugged shoreline and crystal-clear waters. On a transparent day, it’s an awesome place for swimming and watersports, together with browsing, kitesurfing, and windsurfing. The climate throughout our go to was typical for Eire – cloudy, wet, and windy, which made the waves all of the extra highly effective and unrelenting as they battered the shoreline.
Achill Island is linked to the mainland by a bridge, so it’s straightforward to get there from Westport. Given the island’s sheer dimension, we spent the higher a part of a day exploring it. An itinerary of Westport in County Mayo wouldn’t be full with out it!
The place to remain in Westport, Eire?
Throughout my journey with Globus Journeys, I stayed on the Westport Plaza Lodge, which is conveniently positioned close to the Westport city centre. I cherished the breakfast and dinner right here, along with the facilities just like the spa and health heart. The workers was additionally tremendous pleasant and the room was trendy and comfy. Extremely suggest!
In search of a house base on this quaint Georgian city? Listed here are among the finest stays in Westport:
Bike trip alongside the Nice Western Greenway
As a part of Globus’ Selection Touring excursions, some members of our tour group had the chance to bike alongside the Nice Western Greenway and swore by it! At 42 km lengthy, it’s the longest greenway in Eire and an awesome place for a scenic stroll or bike trip. And naturally, there’s no scarcity of cafés and pubs to go to alongside the best way.
Previously an outdated railway line, these tracks have been transformed right into a greenway. It takes you previous one of the best of the Irish countryside, together with farms, mountains, rivers, shoreline, and villages. From Achill Island, you’ll be able to cycle all the best way to Westport or to the charming cities of Mulranny and Newport. It’s really one of the picturesque stretches conceivable, which is why you must contemplate it whereas in Westport IR.
Go to the native pubs
Not like in different European international locations, the place cities are constructed round cathedrals, life in Eire tends to focus on pubs. Westport is not any totally different.
When visiting Westport, don’t miss the prospect to crawl across the native pubs and luxuriate in pints of the black stuff. With dozens of pubs in and round Westport, there’s no scarcity of venues for conventional Irish music and native banter. My favourite pub is The Porter Home, which is within the coronary heart of Westport’s city heart. The reside music and comfy pub décor had been tremendous inviting and I’d suggest it to anybody.
One other conventional bar in Westport is JJ O’Malleys. Along with the beer and leisure, the meals right here is just wonderful. Cease by on Friday or Saturday to expertise the colourful reside music scene and another evening for a style of its menu, which covers Irish, European, and American cuisines.
One of the simplest ways to expertise life in Eire is thru its pub scene, and Westport is actually prime of the road. I’m so glad Globus gave us ample downtime to discover the city and expertise its conventional pubs and reside music.
Hike to the highest of Croagh Patrick, Eire’s holiest mountain
Overlooking Westport and the encircling bay is Croagh Patrick, probably the most well-known mountain in Eire. At 2,500 ft. (764 m) tall, it’s one of many highest mountains within the nation and it positively belongs in your Westport IR itinerary.
For hundreds of years, Croagh Patrick has been a preferred pilgrimage web site. In 441 AD, St. Patrick spent 40 days praying and fasting on its peak trying to transform Eire to Christianity. It’s steeped in historical past, faith, and mythology, which is why so many Irish catholics make the trek to the highest every year.
The principle path as much as the mountain peak is 7 kilometers, which takes roughly 3-4 hours to climb. And when you get to the highest, you’ll have beautiful views of the western shoreline and lots of islands within the distance. It’s no surprise, then, that it is a prime place to go to close to Westport.
Tour the Westport Home
At almost 400 years outdated, the Westport Home is among the prime historic websites in all of Eire. It’s the right wet day exercise, providing 30 rooms and 6 exhibitions showcasing the heritage of this non-public property.
Take a non-public tour of the grounds, which incorporates formal rooms and art work inside the home in addition to gardens outdoors. The property is about on 400 acres of gorgeous forest surroundings, providing you with a style of life at nation homes in centuries previous.
Along with the historic and cultural sides of this residence, Westport Home can also be dwelling to Pirate Journey Spot, a theme park for kids of all ages. With a lot to see and do across the property, it’s no surprise the Westport Home is among the many finest issues to do in Westport.
Soak within the panoramic views of Clew Bay
Solely a soar, skip, and a hop away from Westport’s city heart, Clew Bay is one other place to not be missed on a Westport itinerary. It’s dwelling to 365 islands, which might be seen from Croagh Patrick and lots of different mountains of North Mayo. John Lennon owned considered one of them, which he deliberate to show into a retreat heart. Although it didn’t come to fruition, there’s nonetheless an entire lot to see in Clew Bay.
The most important and most well-known amongst these islands is Clare Island, which is considered one of solely six inhabited islands. It’s accessible year-round by the Clare Island Ferry and is dwelling to Gráinne O’Malley, a Fifteenth-century pirate queen who’s well-known in Irish historical past and folklore.
For stunning ocean views, coastal mountaineering trails, and sandy seashores, you’ll want to take a look at Clew Bay in County Mayo. You gained’t remorse it!
Stroll the beautiful city of Westport, Eire
Final however actually not least on this information to spending a weekend in Westport is the apparent: strolling this small city. With a lot scenic magnificence and allure, Westport is a spot the place you’ll wish to take it sluggish and be current.
From the reside music on the pubs to the tree-lined promenade on the river, it’s an awesome place for a stroll any time of 12 months. Seize an Irish espresso at a riverfront café and marvel on the colourful buildings sprawled round city. It’s straightforward to see why Westport is such a livable city and an awesome place to go to.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions (FAQs) about Westport, Eire
Listed here are some FAQs in regards to the magnificent city of Westport in County Mayo.
What makes Westport tourism so particular?
Westport is thought for its quaint downtown and proximity to many pure treasures, together with Achill Island and Croagh Patrick. The meals and pub scene are among the many finest within the area and there are numerous out of doors sights in Westport any time of 12 months. Furthermore, it’s been constantly rated the “finest place to reside in Eire” by The Irish Instances.
What county is Westport in?
Westport is positioned in County Mayo, which is on the western facet of Eire. It straddles the Atlantic Ocean with views of Clew Bay and Clare Island.
What’s the inhabitants of Westport, Eire?
In accordance with the 2021 Census by the Central Statistics Workplace, Westport has a inhabitants of 6,198. Roughly 40% of the folks right here can converse the native Irish language.
The place is Westport Eire?
Westport is positioned on Eire’s western coast, not removed from Castlebar and Galway. It’s only a stone’s throw away from Croagh Patrick, Eire’s holiest mountain, and Clew Bay.
How do you get from Westport to Galway?
Galway is simply 50 miles (80 km) south of Westport, which takes simply over an hour by automobile, bus, or taxi.
How do you get from Dublin to Westport Eire?
Westport is 155 miles (250 km) west of Dublin, which is a three-hour drive with no site visitors.
What are one of the best cities and cities in County Mayo, Eire?
The highest locations to go to in County Mayo are Westport, Cong, Castlebar, Ballina, Mulranny, Claremorris, Belmullet, and Knock.
What are some Westport actions this weekend?
Each weekend you’ll be able to take pleasure in reside music at lots of the pubs in Westport’s city centre. The normal Irish music is second to none and it goes late into the evening. Don’t miss it!
Exploring Westport IR in 2022
Hope you loved studying about all of the issues to do in Westport, Eire. Have you ever visited this charming Georgian city? Have you ever fallen in love with the plethora of Westport actions in and across the city? Let me know on Insta or within the feedback beneath!
Completely satisfied Travels! -Jon
In search of extra Eire journey inspiration? Learn subsequent:
– Western Eire Journey Information
– High Day Journeys from Dublin
