Day trips from Westport

Day trips worth taking

Any weather Best on a dry day

The easiest day trips by bus

Route 450 serves several day-trip destinations from Westport. It links Westport with Murrisk and Louisburgh in one direction, and Newport, Mulranny and Achill villages in the other. Choose one of those villages or towns for the day. Murrisk supports a Croagh Patrick outing, while Keel or Dugort supports a local Achill day. Keem, the Lost Valley and Roonagh Pier need extra journeys beyond the bus stops at Dooagh or Louisburgh.

Route 423 provides another corridor, connecting Westport and Clifden through Leenane. Use it for a Leenane visit with an outward and return bus that leaves time in the village. Route 456 serves the Westport to Castlebar corridor, but Turlough Park still needs a final transfer from the town. A return day trip needs time at the destination as well as two journeys; choose fewer connections when only a short outing is wanted.

Achill as a day trip or an island night

For a bus day, Keel or Dugort is the clearest target because both appear on route 450. Keel offers beach time and the aquarium if it is operating. Keem is a different plan beyond Dooagh. Arrange the journey from Dooagh to Keem and back before setting off from Westport. If that transfer falls through, keep the day around Keel or Dugort, with a final activity near the return bus.

By car, give Keem most of the day and add one visit such as the Deserted Village. Leave the full Atlantic Drive or a Greenway cycle for another day. If several of those activities are essential, compare an overnight on Achill with a return day from Westport. An island night leaves more time at Keem, on the Greenway or along the Atlantic Drive. Give these activities separate days if they are all priorities, instead of shortening each visit to get back to Westport.

Getting to Clare Island and back

Clare Island's mainland departure is Roonagh, beyond the Louisburgh bus destination. Plan the transfer to the pier first, then the ferry. For the return, you need a ferry back to Roonagh and transport from the pier to Westport or the Louisburgh bus. Check operators' sites before you go for sailings, pickups, bus returns and attraction dates. Ferry sailings can change with the conditions.

Once on Clare Island, the harbour beach provides a local starting point, with walking and heritage choices added according to the available island time. Finish the last walk or heritage visit with time to reach the harbour for your booked ferry. If the crossing is unsuitable, choose a mainland outing such as the Turlough Park museum or a local Westport visit. If the operator cannot run the crossing, spend that day on the mainland and leave the island for another visit.

Weather, families and trips worth cutting

For persistent rain, the galleries at Turlough Park offer the most substantial indoor visit among these trips. The grounds and playground can be optional. Céide Fields and Downpatrick Head are another possible north Mayo plan on a longer stay, but give them a separate day with time at the archaeology and coast. Coastal and archaeological outdoor visits need their own suitable conditions.

For families, choose one main attraction: the museum, a booked Lost Valley visit or an Achill beach day. Croagh Patrick is a difficult mountain climb. Choose it for a group ready for the effort and weather suitable for the ascent and descent. Skip a large Connemara circuit after Leenane if the bus return already limits the day. For another day, spend time at Cong's abbey or walk one of Wild Nephin's easier trails before returning to Westport.