Achill Island area is cca 150 square kms (57 square miles),which makes it the country’s largest island. Its biggest town is Achill Sound, straight after the swing bridge connecting it to the mainland since 1887. The current bridge dates to 2008 but, interestingly, the swing is still manual to allow boats pass when necessary. We love visiting, mainly for the stunning beaches of Achill Island.
The island is well suited to cycling (which is how we took it in on one of our visits). There are three excellent looped cycle routes on the island available through the Achill Cycle Hub. If you’re up to it, you can even cycle to Achill the 42km (26 miles) from the town of Westport, on the world-class Great Western Greenway. This is a track running along a disused railway line from Westport to Achill Sound. However, we simply left the car on the mainland and cycled across the bridge onto the island to explore.
Visit The Blue Flag Beaches of Achill Island
But if you’re tight on time, driving is perfect. For example, you could tour all Achill’s stunning Blue Flag Beaches* in one day – and take in many other coves and strands along the way. (*Assessed annually, the Blue Flag award is a prestigious international scheme for beaches and marinas; qualifying criteria include water quality, environmental education & management, safety and services.) Always follow local signage for safe swimming areas. Many beaches are bathers-friendly indeed but local currents can be strong.
1. Golden Strand
Going anticlockwise, i.e. north from when you cross the bridge from the mainland at Achill Sound is the Golden Strand Beach, aka Barnyagappul. The name is an anglicised version of the Irish Trá Bhearna na gCapall, meaning ‘the beach of the gap of the horses’. It reminds us to the times when locals used horses to bring in seaweed from the coast to the fields as fertiliser.
2. Silver Strand
The bay leads onto the Silver Strand on the other side of Doogort village, looking out over the Blacksod Bay and the Mullet Peninsula. About 5km (just over 3 miles) from Doogort, on the way to Keem Bay, is the fascinating Slievemore Deserted Village. Archaeologists and historians established that people had lived in this area on the Slievemore mountainside for more than 5,000 years. But the village was gradually abandoned due to frequent evictions for non-payment of rent, the 1845-49 famines and resulting emigration. Up until the 1940s, some of the houses were in use for booleying – the practice of living in different locations during summer and winter, to allow cattle to graze in summer pasture.
3. Keem Bay
Continuing further west from the Deserted Village, on the tip of the island, lies the majestic Keem Bay. This is one of the filming locations used in The Banshees of Inisherin. Its perfect horseshoe shape nestles between hills and access to the bay is via a spectacular cliff-top road. The nearby Croaghaun Cliffs have a number of walking trails on which to discover their wildlife. At 688 metres, they are the highest sea cliffs in Ireland – compare to the more popular and touristy Cliffs of Moher at 214 metres.
4. Keel Beach
Taking the road back east from Keem and keeping along the south coast will bring you to Keel Beach. On the way you will be passing through Dooagh village, the home to Ireland’s oldest summer school. Scoil Acla, established in 1910, takes place in July, promoting and teaching traditional Irish music and culture. Keel Beach, aka Trawmore Strand, stretches for three kilometres (two miles) and is possibly Achill’s most popular beach. Because it is perfect for all kinds of watersports – kiteboarding, windsurfing, surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkelling, etc. In early July, the village of Keel is also the gathering point for Achill Island’s popular Half-Marathon and 10k races.
5. Dooega Beach, Achill Island
A short 15 minute drive from Keel, along Achill Island’s spectacular Atlantic Drive, brings you to the charming Dooega seaside village. Its bay is the fifth Blue Flag Beach on Achill. From here you can cycle or drive up to the iconic Minaun Cliffs, following the steep maintenance road to the car park by the transmission masts on the top. The views from here are some of the best of Achill and Clare Islands and back to Keel Beach. A walking path from the masts leads further up the cliffs to the ruins of 19th century houses. Particularly on a clear day, this is a stunning spot for sunset watching.