Scenic Drives

While most of County Mayo offers amazing scenery, a number of great drives definitely stand out as "must-dos" for visitors.  Some of these are provided below, however, be aware that most of these are not signposted as official drives on the roads.

• Achill's Atlantic Drive - around an hour
  • From Achill Sound, follow the signs for Keel and Dooagh.  Turn left at the sign indicating the Atlantic Drive and then follow the signs until you return back to the main road.  This drive takes you along the very rugged coast of Achill Island taking in the rough seas and cliffs.  You'll be surrounded only by sheep and rough terrain as you make your way along the windy road.
  • For even more drama, start in Mulranny and follow the signs there for the Atlantic Drive.  You'll take in even more rugged coastline arriving in Achill Sound via Polranny and taking in the Spanish Armada memorial en route.  Allow an hour for this part of the drive alone.
• Achill's Back Road to Doogort - around an hour
  • From Keel village, follow the signs for the Deserted Village (be sure to stop and take in the ruins of this famine village whose residents moved en masse to other parts of the island during the Famine).  Continue on over the mountains until you arrive at Doogort.  This is a great place to stop and enjoy the view and beach before continuing on the road ending up back on the main R319 road at Bunacurry.
• Blacksod Lighthouse - around an hour
  • From Belmullet town, follow the R313 road south along the Mullet Peninsula, pas Aghleam and on to the Blacksod Lighthouse.  This area has some of the best sea views in Mayo as the Mullet Peninsula gives you sea views on both sides at its narrowest points.
• Golden Strand - one to two hours
• From Louisburgh, follow the coastal road and signs to where the road ends at the Golden Strand.  This gigantic beach offers hours of hiking and sea enjoyment--great place for a picnic!  Detour following signs for Killadoon and its rocky beach for an interesting side trip.
• North Coast Drive - around an hour (drive only--see below)
• From Ballina, drive west to the Ceide Fields via Killala (follow R314 and signs for the Ceide Fields).  This drive takes you along North Mayo's amazing coastline and past picturesque Killala with its massive beach.  En route you'll see Dun Briste--a chunk of cliff that broke away from the mainland ages ago, but sits like a grass topped pillar sticking out of the sea.  The whole drive is amazing and you'll end up at one of Mayo's premier attractions, the Ceide Fields (well worth a visit).
• Westport to Clifden, Galway - drive takes most of a day, but can be shortened
  • From Westport Town, take the quay road and turn left for Leanane just after the crest of the hill (the N59).  Follow the signs for Leanane, then Clifden (staying on the N59).  This drive will take you through the rugged terrain of Connemara and let you take in Mayo's Ashleigh Falls just before you arrive in the Galway town of Leanane.  Stop in Leanane or continue on to Kylemore Abbey and Clifden.  On your way back to Westport, start your return via the same route, but take the R335 just after Leanane (stop the Ashleigh Falls) following the signs for Louisburgh, following the signs for Westport after that.  Changing routes on the way back lets you see even more of Mayo's amazing countryside.