Ireland – Cycle County Mayo’s Wild Atlantic Coast in 11 days

On arrival you’ll transfer to your accommodation for your first night, in the lovely town of Ballina, northern Mayo.

You’ll be taken through your itinerary for your week and your bikes will be fitted to you. Later if you like, you can take part in a Whiskey Appreciation Session, to learn about the craft of Irish whiskey and taste the unique styles – pop into Ballina to explore the town.

For dinner there are two award winning restaurants minutes away.

To Ballycastle (40Km). This week, your bikes each have 25l panniers so you can carry your spare clothing, food and drink for the day. We’ll provide the equipment you need like a helmet, pump, spare tube, a basic repair kit and a lock. The bikes are new models with hydraulic disc brakes and there’s a handlebar mount for your smartphone so that you can easily follow the GPS directions.

Each day you’ll send your overnight luggage on with our transport so it’s waiting for you on your arrival at your next accommodation.

Today your guide will accompany you from your accommodation until lunchtime, setting you up for a great holiday.

Your route today takes you from Ballina to Ballycastle. Setting off through Beleek woods, you’ll quickly leave town behind, following the Moy estuary and Atlantic coastline. After stopping by the monasteries of the Moy, Rosserk Friary and Moyne Abbey, you will arrive in the historic fishing town of Kilalla.

From here, your guide will bid you farewell and send you on your way, passing the golden sandy beaches of Lacken Strand and Dun Briste, reaching the iconic sea stack and cliffs of Downpatrick Head.

This evening you’ll receive a warm Irish welcome at a family run guest house in Ballycastle. For dinner you could savour a typical Irish meal in their home or take a stroll into Ballycastle to experience the Irish country pub life.

To Kilcommon (50Km). Your self guided route today continues west along the open coastline, ascending to the cliff tops site of Ceide Fields. There’s time to explore this site if you wish – the visitor’s centre is very informative and well worth a visit. The Ceide Fields are the world’s oldest known field system dating back to c.3,500BC.

Mayo’s roads are quiet and great for cycling. Often you’ll share them with the local sheep! Tonight you’ll stay in Kilcommon Lodge in the wilds of North Mayo, with its cosy living room and open turf fire. Dinner is available in-house or you could walk to the local pub.

To Blacksod (52Km). On this part of your journey you’ll explore the remote western peninsular of Mullet. Mullet is technically an island, connected as it is to the mainland by a short bridge over a narrow channel excavated so that fishing boats could easily access the long inlets of Broadhaven Bay to the east and Blacksod Bay to the south of Belmullet.

Road access to Mullet is via this bridge in Belmullet. Your accommodation is 15km from the town and you’ll need to stock up with food on crossing the bridge, maybe even eating your main meal of the day.

You’ll stay at the end of the wild Mullet peninsular, set between the open Atlantic and Blacksod Bay.

To Bangor Erris (40Km). It’s back inland today as you continue to explore the region of the Barony of Erris. Passing back through Belmullet you can stock up on fuel and it’s then back on the saddle for a short but spectacularly wild spin into the country village of Bangor Erris.

To Achill Island (45Km). Your route today takes you through the Ballycroy National Park and along the coastline before joining the Greenway to Achill Island.

At the well-designed visitors centre of Ballycroy, there’s a chance to learn about the nature and wildlife of the National Park, and the Park’s importance in containing one of the last intact active bog systems of Western Europe.

Continuing South you’ll reach the gateway to Achill, the town of Mulranny. The Great Western Greenway stretches from Westport to Achill Island via Mulranny and it’s here that you’ll join this surfaced off-road route for the 13Km stretch to Achill Sound and the bridge to the island.

You have two nights on the island so that you can properly explore.

A day on Achill Island, with the route choice up to you! There’s lots to do on the island but as you’ve one day to explore, we’d recommend the following to experience the best of the west end.

From your accommodation, it’s a short 3.5Km ride to the village of Keel with its wide, sweeping sandy beach. You might tarry a while here on the beach or in a cafe. You can buy food here for a packed lunch.

Next take the road west up above the clifftops, dropping to stunning Keem Bay. If you’re a swimmer you might like a dip here in the crystal-clear waters. We’d suggest securing your bikes down by the bay and taking a walk up the hillside to the south, for amazing views over the Cliffs of Croaghaun and Achill Head.

Return the same way via Keel to your accommodation.

To Westport (50Km). The Great Western Greenway is a former railway line which closed in 1937 and is now a safe paradise for cyclists and walkers. The route is the longest off-road walking and cycling trail in Ireland and hugs along Clew bay with views of some of Ireland’s most dramatic mountains.

You’ll follow this Greenway today, passing back past Mulranny before going on to Newport and finally Westport. The friendly towns of the west coast are a highlight of any visit to the area, with their diverse local businesses with colourful shop fronts.

You’ll have time to to explore the town – we’d recommend that you stop off in Matt Molloy’s pub for a pint of Guinness and to listen to the traditional music.

To Ballina (54Km). Today’s route passes the town of Castlebar and then follows the lakes road, meandering through the valleys.

Mayo’s three famous fishing lakes are decorated with the backdrop of the dramatic Nephin mountain range.

On arriving back into Ballina, your Mayo adventure finishes where it started, on the banks of the Moy. Take off your shoes, put your feet up and your host will be there to welcome you with an Irish coffee and homemade scones.

After a final delicious Irish breakfast – remember, you’ve earned it! – you’ll transfer to the airport for your journey home.

Burkes of Ballycastle Hostel is a clean, modern hostel with a family ensuite room, a 6-bed dormitory and an 8-bed dormitory. Breakfast is provided, and as this is a hostel you of course have access to the kitchen should you wish. On site there are also two new self catering apartments each with two bedrooms.

A stay here is as much about the location as the hostel craic – you’re within easy walking distance of the beach, right in town for cafes and bike hire, and four miles from the impressive cliffs, stacks and blow holes of Downpatrick Head.

Westport Heights Bed and Breakfast is a couple and family-friendly guesthouse in the beautiful town of Westport in County Mayo. As the name suggests, the guest house is elevated above the centre of town, giving fantastic views across the town to Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay. Particularly well sited for cycling tours as it’s only minutes from the Greenway – a safe cycling route from town to Achill Island, 42km away.

Pure Magic Lodge is situated on Achill Island overlooking Keel Lake. The accommodation is simple, with all the essentials you need – but you don’t travel to Achill to stay in your room! Here at the Lodge you are minutes from the idyllic beaches of Dugort to the north and Keel to the south, and are on the lower slopes of the 671m peak of Slievemore.

Include bike hire in your holiday to make the most of Achill Island, as the quiet lanes and trails provide great routes to explore the diverse beauty.

Hillcrest House Bed and Breakfast is a family run guesthouse in the heart of rural County Mayo, run by your host Evelyn. The bedrooms and breakfast rooms are lovely and the garden provides a peaceful and comfortable place to relax.

The lively and friendly local pubs are the shortest of walks away, and there’s a small restaurant in town too.

Stunningly located on the tip of the Belmullet peninsular, the modern Léim Siar bed and breakfast is a perfect place to get away from it all. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the breakfast will certainly set you up for a day of exploring!

It’s the location that’s key here, with views from the rooms to the Atlantic and to neighbouring Achill Island, and the beautiful coastline of Belmullet is on the doorstep.

Kilcommon Lodge provides simple accommodation in private and dormitory rooms in the wild north west coast of County Mayo. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all available as options, or you can cook for yourself in the well equipped self catering kitchen. As with all the accommodation choices in the rural west coast, a stay here is all about the world outside the Lodge – the beautiful countryside and scenery.

A warm welcome is assured at Brigown Bed & Breakfast. Your host Marjorie is a household name in Ireland when it comes to cooking and will ensure you feel at home here in her charming guesthouse on the banks of the river Moy in Ballina. Breakfast is particularly good here – a great chance to sample Marjorie’s culinary skills!

The Quay is a short walk away for food and drink, and you’re not far from the centre of town. The garden is a great place to sit and relax to watch the river and the world go by.