Best of The West

About

Best of the West

Enjoy the very best the west of Ireland has to offer with our combined “Bike and Hike” tour. Breathe in the salty sea air as you cycle through some of the most spectacular scenery on the “Wild Atlantic Way”. Fill your lungs with the delicate floral perfumes of the Irish wildflowers as you cycle along a network of quiet bóithríns (country lanes). Then receive a foot massage from Mother Nature as you walk along one of the many secluded soft sandy beaches. Enjoy a total sense of freedom as you walk through a landscape steeped in 6,000 years of history.

​Hiking to special places over the horizon, to experience amazing beauty that is the very soul of Ireland.

You will be based on the Wild Atlantic Way in the vibrant towns and villages of Ballina, Mulranny, and Achill Island.

Detailed Information

All on hold pending COVID19 update
Price per person €1,395
Single Supplement +€175
A 20% deposit will be taken to secure booking
Minimum numbers apply
We’ll stay in 3 locations in County Mayo
Hiking in Wild Nephin Wilderness
Cycle Great Western Greenway & Achill Island
Visiting Ballycroy National Park
Downpatrick Head & Dún Briste
Hiking Knocknarea (Hill of Kings) Sligo
6 nights accommodation in 3 traditional Mayo hotels
2 x Dinners (night 1 and 6)
5 x Lunches
Professional Mountain leader guides
Bike & Equipment hire
All tour transport (including pick up and drop off at train station)
Not included
Airport Transfers
Travel & personal insurance
Collection day 1 – Westport Train Station
(Drop off day 7 – Ballina Train Station (12noon
A medium level of fitness required
Ability for 5-6 hours continued activity per day
Walks may be on broken and uneven terrain with some signficiant ascents

Book this activity now!

Itinerary

Day 1 - Westport & Mulranny, Clew Bay
Your guide will meet you at Westport train station and whisk you away to the 4 star Mulranny Park Hotel where we will have a briefing on our trip. You are steps away from the sand and sea of the Mulranny beach where you may wish to take a stroll before our first evening together, enjoying a delicious meal in the hotel’s award winning restaurant – the perfect opportunity to get to know each other.
Day 2 - Wild Heather on Nephin Beg Mountains
This morning after a breakfast of local produce, we’ll step outside the hotel and onto the heather clad slopes of the “Nephin Beg” mountain range. We will follow a route less travelled overlooking the shoreline where Clew Bay meets the Wild Atlantic Ocean. This evening you can relax in the hotel’s outdoor hot tub, drinking in more of the ocean views.
Day 3 - Cycle the Great Western Greenway
This morning we will cycle along the Great Western Greenway. Starting at Platform 1 outside the old railway station, we will cycle along a tree clad trail that follows the old railway line towards Achill, Ireland’s largest offshore island.

The route enters open countryside with spectacular views over Bellacragher Bay, Blacksod Bay and islands, heading west towards the mountains of Achill.

Our base for the next 2 nights is a cosy guesthouse on the sandy shores of Keel Bay, the perfect spot to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 4 - Deserted Village of Achill Island
Today we will explore more of the island on 2 wheels, cycling along quiet country lanes, we will visit a deserted village and other archaeological gems that are spread across this rich heritage landscape, where human history dates back over 6,000 years. We will stop at one of the many white sandy beaches, where you may want to enjoy a swim in the crystal clear waters.
This evening you can check out the local pub for some “craic agus ceol” (music and fun!).
Day 5 - Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park
Leaving the island behind, we will drive north on the Wild Atlantic Way. Our journey hugs the coast of Bellacragher Bay (Bay of the Plunderer) alongside mountains that have shielded Erris from the rest of the world for thousands of years. We will take a walk on the shoreline where pirates once roamed and stop at Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park cafe to enjoy a home cooked lunch with magnificent views. We then continue north to the vibrant town of Ballina situated on the banks of the River Moy, our base for the final leg of our adventure.
Day 6 - Queen Maeve's Knocknarea
Today we venture to the ancient landscape of county Sligo as we drive along the coastline, you will notice a hill dominating the skyline – this is the “hill of the kings” aka Knocknarea. We will hike to the summit where the giant rocky cairn of Queen Meabh’s tomb stands proudly. This ancient burial site is thought to conceal a neolithic passage tomb. The panoramic views here will take your breath away and prepare us for our farewell meal “fit for a king” back in Ballina.
Day 7 - Ballina Salmon Capital of Ireland
On our final morning we will enjoy a leisurely walk through the magical woodlands of Belleek beside the fairytale castle on the banks of the River Moy.

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