Hillwalking on Achill Island

Covering an area of 57sq km, Achill Island offers a range of mountain, clifftop, lakeside and beach walks to suit walkers of all abilities. The two highest peaks are Slievemore (671m) and Croaghaun (668m), with other significant hilltops at Minaun (466m) and Knockmore (337m). The clifftop path from Moyteoge Head to Achill Head, at the western tip of Achill Island, is one of the most spectacular in Europe. An ascent of Croaghaun should reward the walker with superb views of two corrie lakes, respectively the highest and lowest corrie lakes in Ireland. Slievemore mountain can be scaled from either the north-eastern aspect, starting at the beautiful Blue Flag beach in Dugort, or from the south-west at points above the haunting Deserted Village. For a more gentle walk, there is the 3km Blue Flag beach at Keel, and of course the Great Western Greenway - which starts at Achill Sound - offers up to 42km of off-road track through magnificent coastal scenery all the way to Westport.

It is worth noting that unlike many regions of Ireland popular with walkers, as most of the open countryside in Achill is in common ownership this means that it is freely open and accessible for hillwalkers.