Mullet Peninsula to Achill Island Mayo Ireland

Day 73 & 74/ Ireland 7 & 8

Travelled:187km from Kilgalligan Beach

Visited: Mullet Peninsula, Claggan board walk, Achill Island

Stay: Ashleam Bay lookout parking N53.8989 W9.9975

We decided that Kilgalligan Beach was the perfect spot to spend a ‘rest day’ ie no driving. But we busied ourselves with giving Bluey a clean up which was helped by being able to get some fresh water after we spotted locals getting water from a pipe stuck in the cliffs at one end of the beach.

 In between showers we had some walks along the estuary, the Pier and explored the ‘caves’ on the beach. 

By the end of the day we were accompanied by 3 other motorhomes and a couple of bike riders along with the campers that were there the first night. It was another peaceful night which was confirmed by an 8am sleep in(late for us). After our morning coffee we were off to explore more of the Wild Atlantic Way. Our first stop was in Belmullet to refuel, do a bit of shopping and get some information from the visitor centre. Elly beach proved to be a good spot to have our breakfast. We also emptied our cassette toilet in the portaloo as per the recommendation from the visitor centre as there is a lack of both dump points and public toilets in the area. 

We then continued on to Blacksod, the end of the Mullet Peninsula.

 There was plenty of information on the historical significance of this point- the lighthouse giving important weather forecasts for the WWII Normandy landings

 - the 3,300 Irish immigrants leaving from here to go to Boston and Quebec.

 Next we admired the standing stones at Fallmore, built in 1993 as a memorial to Saint Deirbhile. 

We then went to see the healing well and learnt a bit more. 

Managed to bag another Napoleonic Tower.

Also another Stone Circle but unsure of age and story behind it.

We stopped for lunch at Doonamo Point and admired the ‘artwork’ surrounding the huge blow hole and the ragged coast line. 

Such a pity we aren’t here to see the blow hole in its full force..

After leaving Mullet Peninsula, we continued in a southerly direction and we went for a board walk over the marshlands at Claggan. 

Further south we stopped at the lookout to Mulranny Beach covered with huge round stones. 

We then drove over the bridge onto Achill Island, the biggest Island in Irleand.

 As it was getting late in the day, we made our way to Ashleam Lookout and stopped for the night and we’re spoilt with 360° degree views.