scenic drives mayo

The Achill Drive - (121km/76mls - Detour 22km/14mls)
Westport - Newport - Mulraney - Achill Sound - Dooega - Keel - Dooagh Keem Bay - Dugort
Leave Westport on the N59 road for Newport. On the right, 1km outside town , is a monument commemorating a major event in Irish History. It was here, in June 1879, that the Irish Land League, an organisation established to protect tenant farmers, had its most important meeting, which was addressed by the League's two leaders, Charles Stewar...

This drive brings you to the lake-studded and wooded district of South Mayo, where at various points on your journey, you will pass by three beautiful lakes, Lough corrib, Lough Carra and Lough Mask. Leave Castlebar on the N84 for Ballinrobe. After about 11 km there is a signpost for Ballintubber Abbey to your left. Take this road to one of Ireland's most enduring places of worship, Ballintubber Abbey, which was built in 1216 by Cathal Crobhdhearg O'Connor, King of Connacht, for the Order of...

Westport To Connemara - (174km/109mls)
Westport - Louisburgh - Delphi - Leenane - Maam Cross - Cliftden - Letterfrack - Leenane - Erriff Valley - Westport
Leave Westport, taking the R335 road to Louisburgh. This route gives you superb views of Clew Bay with its numerous small islands - submerged drumlins, reminders of the Ice Age. To your left is Croagh Patrick, or the Reek, a holy place and a place of pilgrimage.
Eight kilometers from Westport there is a road to the righ...

The Lakes Tour - (102 km/64 mls) Castlebar - Straide - Foxford - Ballina - Crossmolina - Laharadaun - Pontoon - Foxford - Straide - Castlebar Leave Castlebar on the N5 road and turn left at Bellavary taking the N26 for Straide. This was the birthplace of Michael Davitt, who established the Land League in the 1800s to fight for the rights of Irish Tenants. His family were evicted when Davitt was a child because they couldn't pay their rent. He saw the suffering inflicted on people through t...

The North Mayo Drive - (173 km/108mls) Ballina - Killala - Ballycastle - Belderg - Barnatra - Belmullet - Mullet Peninsula - Belmullet - Bangor - Crossmolina - Ballina) Leave Ballina, going north towards Killala. Along the way, you will pass near Kilmoremoy where a church was founded by St. Patrick's disciple, Olcan. St. Patrick is also said to have founded a church in Killala, which is assigned to one of his disciples, St Muredach. This area is rich in archaeological remains and ecclesia...

The Mayo Experience (178km/112mls) Galway - Claregalway - Tuam - Milltown - Claremorris - Knock - Kiltimagh - Bohola - Foxford - Pontoon - Castlebar - Ballintubber - Ballinrobe - Headford - Galway Take the N17 (Tuam Road) to Claregalway, a village with a ruined Franciscian Friary, standing near the Clare River. The flat farmland along here is relieved by Knockma Hill where, it seems, fairies once lived. Tuam, an ancient town has fine monuments, including a 12th century High Cross. In ea...

There are three scenic routes into the Barony of Erris - from Westport, from Ballina via Ballycastle and the famous Ceide Fields along the R314 or from Ballina via the main route the N59. Travelling along the N59 the immense beauty of the largest, living, breathing, unspoilt bogland in Europe will greet your arrival. Stop off at the impressive Bellacorick Bog Train and treat yourself to a unique guided tour of Ireland's first wind farm. The Musical Bridge at Belacorick is another original...