Day 1 Arrival You arrive to the capital of Mayo - Castlebar town. Here, your Guide will meet you at 16.00 hours, introduce you to your other group members and whisk you away to the western reaches of this glorious region to reach Achill Island. This is your base for your next 2 nights and your Guide will brief you on the coming days of your holiday and ensure you are properly prepared for each day. You will then walk to a nearby restaurant to enjoy your first dinner together and experience island nightlife!
Day 2 Achill Island After a scrumptious breakfast and armed with your picnic lunch, you will depart from your accommodation to start your walk, discovering the delights of this wonderful region - the ''deserted village'', an old signal tower and some idyllic hidden lakes. Leaving your accommodation, you reach a magnificent lake hidden in the mountains in an idyllic setting which supplies most of the island with its water. From there, you continue across open mountain, moorland and bogland with no defined tracks as you continue to the northern coast of this island. Here, you discover the delights of more hidden lakes, known only by the birds and keen walkers, as you follow across the hillsides to reach an old signal tower. Continuing, you reach an old deserted village before re-joining your minivan and returning to your accommodation. Walk Details - Distance: Up to 14kms / 8.6mi. Highest point: 300mts / 984ft. Paved roads, gravel tracks and grassy, muddy trails. Open hillsides with no trails and rough underfoot conditions. After your walk, you will have a free evening to enjoy this beautiful island where you overnight for your 2nd night.
Day 3 Mulranny to Wesport Leaving this beautiful island, you continue southeast to reach the town of Mulranny. Just east of here, you will follow a wonderful track into the hills to experience the beauty and untouched nature that is all around you. From here, you then continue south to reach your accommodation just outside the town of Westport. This is where you will be staying for your next 3 nights. Before leaving Achill, your Guide will take you to see the beautiful Keem Beach - voted Ireland's best beach!! With glorious views across the island, the Wild Atlantic and south to Clare Island, you will be fascinated by the beauty of this region. From here, you start your walk just east of Mulranny and follow a track along the foothills of the Nephin mountains overlooking Clew Bay. With as many islands as there are a number of days in the year, Clew Bay is a fascinating place to watch and enjoy from a height. Complete your circuit and return to your minivan before traveling on to Westport where you stay for your next 3 nights. Dinner and overnight in Westport. Walk Details - Distance: Up to 16kms / 10mi. Highest point: 200mts / 656ft. Paved roads, gravel tracks and grassy, muddy trails. Some off-trail walking over open hillsides with muddy and boggy conditions underfoot.
Day 4 Clare Island Your day starts today with a glorious drive around the shores of Clew Bay to then reach a small harbor on the western tip of these shores. From here, you take a small ferry across to the magnificent Clare Island. This is a legendary place and once home to our famous Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley. Discovering some of the delights of this island, you then return to Westport for an evening at your own leisure. If for any reason weather prevents this trip and then your Guide will take you on a lovely walk into the wilderness that few discover east of Croagh Patrick. Walking west from the pier, you will climb to the highest point of the island with wonderful 360-degree views all around. This is the largest island on Clew Bay and the western side of the island protects so much of the land from the ravages of the Wild Atlantic storms. With views south to Croagh Patrick and north to Slievemore on Achill, you will be spoilt with beauty. Walk Details - Distance: Up to 16kms / 10mi. Highest point: 470mts / 1541ft. Paved roads, gravel tracks and some grassy, uneven and muddy trails. Off-trail walking with some steep climbs. Return to your accommodation in Westport for your overnight and a free evening at your leisure.
Day 5 Croagh Patrick Today is your day for experiencing a pilgrimage as you hike the iconic mass of Croagh Patrick. No trip to Mayo is complete without a journey to this famous ''Reek'' as it dominates the landscape, and features in so much conversation around the locality. It is a glorious hike, and those that manage to complete it will have a huge sense of achievement. Traveling south from Westport you reach the ancient woodlands of Brackloon. From here, you follow ''Tochar Phadraig'' part of the old pilgrim route from the monastic settlement at Aghagower. From here, you follow through woodlands and backcountry roads to reach the foothills of Croagh Patrick. With a tough, short hike across moorland, you then reach your highest point as you follow around the southern flanks of the mountain to reach the ''shoulder''. From there, you may ascend to the top if your Guide feels the conditions are right. Descending from the ''shoulder'' you will finish at the Visitor Centre at the base of Croagh Patrick. There, you can enjoy some well-earned refreshments and read some of the history of the mountain if you wish. Walk Details - Distance: Up to 14kms / 8.6mi. Highest point: 765mts / 2509ft. Gravel tracks, loose scree, rocky and uneven conditions underfoot, muddy trails. Driving back to your accommodation, you can enjoy the bustling town of Westport at your own leisure this evening.
Day 6 Killary Harbour Walk Today, you travel south through a wild and untouched region of mountain and bogland to reach the village of Leenane at the eastern end of Ireland's only fjord - Killary Harbour. Discovering the delights of this wilderness region you hike under the shadows of the Sheffry Hills. This a land that is untouched, untamed and unblemished by the test of time. Here, your Guide will take you on a beautiful walk, through forestry and beside a stream to emerge into open countryside with views that will literally take your breath away. Should weather conditions allow, a higher hike over the hills may be undertaken instead. Returning to your minivan, you then continue west to the coast to reach the lovely town of Clifden. Walk Details - Distance: Up to 10kms / 6.2mi. Highest point: 400mts / 1312ft. Paved roads, gravel tracks and open hillsides with uneven, rocky and boggy sections underfoot. At the end of your walk, you will have time for some light refreshments near Leenane, before continuing through Connemara to reach Clifden. Enjoy a free evening in this lovely town as you check into your accommodation for your last 2 nights
Day 7 Inishbofin Island Driving out of Clifden, you travel northwest to reach Cleggan Pier. From here, you take a small ferry to the beautiful island of Inishbofin - awash with history, tradition and wonderful people. Your final day takes you around Inishbofin Island on a day of discovery as you enjoy a circular walk around this historical island. With fortresses dating back to the time of Cromwell and rich mythological history, you will be enthralled by the beauty of this island. Today is a day to wander and enjoy nature at its best as you soak up all that is wonderful around you in the most idyllic setting possible. Walk Details - Distance: Up to 16kms / 10mi with some ''cut off points'' for those wanting shorter distances. Highest point: 150mts / 492ft. Paved roads, gravel tracks and rocky, uneven off-trail sections. At the end of your walk, you return to Clifden and your accommodation. Your final farewell dinner together is a great way to compare stories, reminisce and enjoy some great music before your onward journeys tomorrow.
Day 8 Departure After your final and substantial Irish Breakfast, you will transfer by minivan to reach the bus and train station in Galway. From Galway, you can then avail of the excellent bus/train service to all major airports, cities and ferry ports in Ireland. Your estimated arrival time to Galway is approx. 10.00 am. (Please ensure any flights are booked for 17.00 hrs earliest).
