The town is known for being very clean and was recently voted the best place to live in the country. It is surrounded by mountains and islands, and has some great pubs
The UK boasts countless charming villages and towns. Indeed, if you’re seeking cobbled streets tucked into rolling countryside, clifftop whitewashed settlements, or picture-perfect cottages dotting a hillside, then you’re in one of the finest locations.
However, if you’re prepared to venture just a touch further, you can uncover towns of arguably Britain-surpassing calibre. Westport in County Mayo, Ireland, ranks amongst the absolute finest. Reaching there is straightforward enough, with Ryanair, British Airways, and Aer Lingus all operating flights to Knock, the nearest airport to Westport.
From there, it’s an hour’s journey west to the stretch of coastline where the designated Heritage Town is situated. En route, you’ll meander through increasingly striking landscapes as the Atlantic approaches and the peaks grow loftier.
Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s “Holy Mountain,” stands five miles from the town; its cone-shaped summit towering above Clew Bay. The mountain serves as a popular pilgrimage destination and tourist draw. On the final Sunday of July, faithful worshippers undertake a demanding ascent to the peak, where pilgrims visit a chapel, celebrate Mass, and frequently perform acts of penance, such as walking barefoot or on their knees.
Do you have a story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
READ MORE: Four airlines now ban passengers from packing AirPods
If that strikes you as rather too demanding for holiday pursuits, then worry not. There’s abundant entertainment within the town itself to occupy you. Westport features a Georgian town centre, and stone bridges connect the tree-lined walkway along the banks of the Carrowbeg River.
The standout feature about the place is that it’s spotless, and the quality of life is excellent. Westport claimed the Irish Tidy Towns Competition three times in 2001, 2006, and 2008, and in 2012 it secured the Best Place to Live in Ireland competition organised by The Irish Times.
As you’d anticipate, Westport isn’t lacking in pubs. Establishments like Matt Molloy’s, MacBride’s, Porter House, and JJ O’Malley’s are all excellent options and likely to host traditional bands during the evening.
When the weather’s pleasant, you can stroll along the Quay and then continue to The Point. “This is a fabulous place to meet locals on a nice day as they swim in the shallow waters of Clew Bay. I sat at a table and laughed as they chatted with each other, calling to friends who were not in the water. It was a kick to be a fly on the wall and witness friends and neighbours giving each other a hard time and laughing and gossiping,” writes the blogger Wander Your Way.
Numerous visitors to Westport for a holiday choose to discover areas beyond the town, venturing into the breathtaking magnificence of the surrounding landscape. There’s a well-known phrase in Clew Bay that there’s “an island for every day of the year.”
Actually, there are nearer to 120 named islands, with countless more smaller, submerged limestone drumlins emerging when the tide recedes. The largest of the genuine islands is Clare, whose magnificent outline emerges on the horizon like an enormous humpback whale.
You can catch the brief ferry journey from Roonagh Pier and spend the day enjoying beautiful walks and views. Clare is a big spot for birders, who come to spot kittiwakes, fulmars, peregrines, guillemots, and, cutest of all the birds, puffins.
If you’re willing to travel a little further out to sea, you’ll reach Inishturk, a “little piece of paradise,” according to the area’s tourist board. Highlights include the sandy beaches of Trá na nÚan and Curraun, Ireland’s only offshore-island natural lagoon, sea cliffs, and rare wild flora.
It is difficult to find a bad word said or written about Westport, which is widely considered to combine the best natural Ireland has to offer with a welcoming culture and streets that rarely get too busy.
“I am a huge fan of Westport and County Mayo, maybe because my wife’s cousin owns the Clew Bay Hotel and Madden’s Restaurant. I highly recommend both. Renting bikes in Westport and riding the Great Western Greenway is awesome, love it. It is a great little town with good restaurants and pubs,” one enthusiast recently wrote on Reddit.
Another added: “I second Westport! My wife and I had our honeymoon there (years ago, and in Clew Bay Hotel too! ) and frequently return. The people in the restaurants, bars, and shops are all so welcoming. If you don’t like the pubs (and the music), there are many interesting and easily accessible walks and cycle paths nearby. Can’t wait to return!”
A third wrote: “It really does seem magical out there, lots of outdoor activities and seems less busy with tourists.”