If you’re looking for accommodation in Ballytoohy, you can pair your stay with a specific nearby idea: Clare Island is accessible only by ferry. In summer, several ferry services run from Roonagh Pier; their frequency may change. So check the timetable before setting off. For more activities, explore the wider destination of County Mayo, where walking trails, coastal scenery and culture appeal to a range of travel interests.
County Mayo: Trails and Landscapes
The wider destination of County Mayo offers walking options for different timeframes. Croagh Patrick is 764 metres high and has been a pilgrimage destination since pre-Christian times. The main summit route starts in Murrisk on the Louisburgh Road (R335) and is seven kilometres long, including the return journey.
The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail takes more time: this 59.9-kilometre long-distance trail is designed to be completed over three days. It connects ancient monastic heritage with the mountain scenery of County Mayo and views of Clew Bay. This lets you compare two very different options: a summit route with a stated round-trip distance and a multi-day hike.
Ceann Iorrais, also known as Erris Head, is the northernmost point of the Mullet Peninsula in northwest County Mayo. The Erris Head Loop Walk offers Atlantic coastal views and opportunities to encounter local wildlife. Atlantic seals, harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins can occasionally be spotted below the steep cliffs; sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed. Trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out.
Downpatrick Head combines views of the Staggs of Broadhaven islands and the sea stack DĂşn Briste with a historic site: the remains of a church attributed to Patrick, along with a holy well and a stone cross, are located there. Wild Nephin National Park also showcases the range of landscapes in County Mayo, including the flat lowlands of Owenduff Bog and the peaks and valleys of the Nephin Beg mountain range.
Museums, Heritage and Experiences in County Mayo
At the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, outside Castlebar in County Mayo, objects, rare archival photographs and films bring Ireland’s rural past to life. The museum offers workshops, talks and tours throughout the year. Its gardens are home to a variety of birdlife, flora and fauna, and are designated as a Green Heritage site. A daily bus service connects the museum with Castlebar and Ballina: it is operated as route 454 by Mayo Local Link.
Achill Experience brings together two themes: guided tours featuring native and exotic aquarium animals, and a museum that immerses visitors in Achill’s heritage. Booking and admission details may change; check them before your visit. On the Mullet Peninsula, the Solas Visitor Centre explores the region’s heritage in three galleries. These include immersive exhibitions and a gallery on local maritime history and the legacy of four local lighthouses. Exhibitions may be updated.
Westport also offers a range of cultural and leisure activities in the wider destination of County Mayo. Westport Estate runs tours of an 18th-century historic house built on the ancestral lands of pirate queen Grace O’Malley; the estate also has an outdoor adventure park and woodland trails. Westport Cruises offers a daily trip around Clew Bay, exploring a seal colony, John Lennon’s island and the bay’s 365 islands.
Discover more destinations: Dooagh, Westport, Toormakeady, Aghamore, Glencorrib, Kilsallagh, Claggan, Ross Port.
For the wider travel overview: County Mayo.
