Seeking to uncover the most effective of Western Eire? Add Westport to your bucket listing. This charming city in County Mayo is brimming with attractive surroundings and distinctive cultural points of interest. So, it’s no marvel 1000’s of holiday makers a yr come right here from far and huge. Whilst you might simply spend weeks exploring this wild aspect of Eire, I like to recommend seeing Westport in a weekend. Learn on to search out out why!
Situated on the west coast of Eire, Westport is unquestionably price 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 stunning river flows via 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. Nevertheless, it’s the native way of life that pulls 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 lately spent 48 hours right here throughout a guided tour with Globus Journeys, the place I bought to discover town heart and surrounding areas. This was one in every of Globus’ Selection Excursions, which mixes typical touring with a extra native, immersive expertise. It was a enjoyable and hassle-free method of touring, and it introduced me to superb locations that I probably wouldn’t have seen in any other case.
Able to soak within the magnificence and timeless appeal of Westport? Right here’s my information to visiting Westport in a weekend.
Drive alongside the Wild Atlantic Means
Once you’re visiting Westport and Western Eire (usually), 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 chunk to eat and a pint earlier than persevering with up the coast. Nevertheless, I believe you’ll wish to spend no less than a few nights in Westport to get a correct really feel for the world.
Throughout my tour with Globus, we drove via 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 finished 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.
When you’re on the lookout 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 most important of the Emerald Isles, Achill Island is a must-see vacation spot close to Westport. It’s house to hovering sea cliffs, secluded seashores, and quite a lot of natural world. 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 amazing 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 related 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 Resort, which is conveniently situated 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 employees was additionally tremendous pleasant and the room was trendy and comfortable. Extremely suggest!
Searching for a house base on this quaint Georgian city? Listed here are a number of the greatest stays in Westport:
Bike journey 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 amazing place for a scenic stroll or bike journey. And naturally, there’s no scarcity of cafés and pubs to go to alongside the best way.
Previously an previous railway line, these tracks have been transformed right into a greenway. It takes you previous the most effective of the Irish countryside, together with farms, mountains, rivers, shoreline, and villages. From Achill Island, you possibly can cycle all the best way to Westport or to the charming cities of Mulranny and Newport. It’s actually some of the picturesque stretches possible, which is why you must think about it whereas in Westport IR.
Go to the native pubs
In contrast to in different European nations, the place cities are constructed round cathedrals, life in Eire tends to focus on pubs. Westport isn’t any completely different.
When visiting Westport, don’t miss the prospect to crawl across the native pubs and revel 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 comfortable pub décor have 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 solely superb. Cease by on Friday or Saturday to expertise the colourful reside music scene and some other night time for a style of its menu, which covers Irish, European, and American cuisines.
One of the best ways to expertise life in Eire is thru its pub scene, and Westport is definitely 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 well-liked 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 annually.
The primary 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 gorgeous views of the western shoreline and lots of islands within the distance. It’s no marvel, then, that this can be a prime place to go to close to Westport.
Tour the Westport Home
At practically 400 years previous, the Westport Home is without doubt one of the prime historic websites in all of Eire. It’s the proper wet day exercise, providing 30 rooms and 6 exhibitions showcasing the heritage of this personal property.
Take a personal tour of the grounds, which incorporates formal rooms and art work inside the home in addition to gardens exterior. The property is ready on 400 acres of gorgeous forest surroundings, supplying 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 be house 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 marvel the Westport Home is among the many greatest issues to do in Westport.
Soak within the panoramic views of Clew Bay
Solely a leap, 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 house to 365 islands, which will be seen from Croagh Patrick and lots of different mountains of North Mayo. John Lennon owned one in every 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 one in every of solely six inhabited islands. It’s accessible year-round by the Clare Island Ferry and is house 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, make sure you try Clew Bay in County Mayo. You gained’t remorse it!
Stroll the stunning city of Westport, Eire
Final however definitely not least on this information to spending a weekend in Westport is the apparent: strolling this small city. With a lot scenic magnificence and appeal, Westport is a spot the place you’ll wish to take it gradual and be current.
From the reside music on the pubs to the tree-lined promenade on the river, it’s an amazing place for a stroll any time of yr. 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 amazing place to go to.
Regularly Requested Questions (FAQs) about Westport, Eire
Listed here are some FAQs concerning the magnificent city of Westport in County Mayo.
What makes Westport tourism so particular?
Westport is understood 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 greatest within the area and there are numerous out of doors points of interest in Westport any time of yr. Furthermore, it’s been constantly rated the “greatest place to reside in Eire” by The Irish Instances.
What county is Westport in?
Westport is situated in County Mayo, which is on the western aspect 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 situated 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 the most effective 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 possibly can take pleasure in reside music at most of the pubs in Westport’s city centre. The normal Irish music is second to none and it goes late into the night time. 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 under!
Comfortable Travels! -Jon
Searching for extra Eire journey inspiration? Learn subsequent:
– Western Eire Journey Information
– High Day Journeys from Dublin
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