Achill Island & Westport Private Tour
Mayo's Atlantic masterpiece: the Georgian streets of Westport, the bridge to Ireland's largest island, and the road over the cliffs to Keem Beach — a horseshoe of white sand beneath 400-metre slopes.
Achill hangs off the Mayo coast like a held breath — Ireland's largest island, joined to the mainland by a swing bridge and ringed by some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The road to Keem Beach, cut into the flank of Croaghaun above the open Atlantic, is routinely named among the world's great coastal drives, and it ends at a beach that looks borrowed from somewhere far warmer.
The day begins in Westport, the planned Georgian town beneath Croagh Patrick that wins Ireland's tidy-town polls with monotonous regularity. From there the route runs the shore of Clew Bay — 365 islands, one for every day — before crossing to Achill. The €600 guide price covers the vehicle for up to eight passengers for the day; confirm your base through the custom tour form.
Tour highlights
- Keem Beach and the cliff road over Croaghaun
- Westport town and Clew Bay's island-studded shore
- The Deserted Village at Slievemore
- Atlantic Drive and Achill's white strands at Keel
- Croagh Patrick views across the bay all day
Suggested itinerary
Every tour is private, so this outline flexes around your group, the weather, and the day's best light.
- 1
Westport
A walking loop of the octagon, the tree-lined Mall along the Carrowbeg river, and coffee before the coast. Groups interested in Grace O'Malley, the pirate queen, can add Westport House.
- 2
Clew Bay & the road to Achill
The shore road west with Croagh Patrick's cone across the water, through Newport and Mulranny — whose causeway viewpoint over the bay is a mandatory stop — to the swing bridge at Achill Sound.
- 3
Atlantic Drive & Keel
Around the island's southern cliffs on the Atlantic Drive, then lunch in Keel village behind its three-kilometre strand, with the cliffs of Minaun standing at the far end.
- 4
Keem Beach
The finale: the corniche road climbs over the shoulder of Croaghaun and drops into the Keem amphitheatre — turquoise water, white sand, and basking sharks cruising past in early summer.
- 5
The Deserted Village
On the return, the ruined famine-era village of Slievemore stretches along the mountain's base — eighty roofless cottages in a line, one of Ireland's most affecting sites.
Good to know
- The €600 guide price is per vehicle for the full day, shared among up to 8 passengers.
- Keem's road is single-track over a cliff shoulder — this is precisely a day for a professional driver.
- Swimming at Keem is genuinely good in summer; bring gear and towels, the vehicle carries them.
- Basking shark season (May–June) adds wildlife-watching to the Keem stop at no extra charge from nature.
- The Great Western Greenway makes a cycling add-on possible for active groups.
Frequently asked questions
How much driving does the Achill day involve?
From Westport, around three relaxed hours spread across the day; from Athlone or Galway, add roughly ninety minutes each way. The coastal sections are the point — this is a drive you watch, not endure.
When can you see basking sharks at Keem?
Typically May and June, when the second-largest fish in the sea feeds close inshore off Keem. Sightings are luck, but in season the odds are honestly decent.
Is Achill worth it in bad weather?
Achill in a squall is dramatic rather than disappointing — the island made its name with painters for exactly that light. Lunch stops and the Deserted Village work in any weather, and forecasts are watched when scheduling.
Can we climb Croagh Patrick on this tour?
Not both in one day — the pilgrim mountain is a half-day climb in itself. Groups wanting to summit should look at our trekking tour, which supports Croagh Patrick properly.
Private tour enquiry
Request this tour
Share your dates, starting point, and group size and Sebastian will come back with a tailored itinerary and a clear fixed quote — no payment needed to enquire.