Discover Ballytoohy

Coastal views, pilgrimage history and museum experiences offer different travel ideas in the wider destination of County Mayo. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Ballytoohy, you can start planning by asking which of County Mayo’s offerings interests you most: nature and wildlife watching, walking or culture. The examples below offer some specific suggestions.

County Mayo: Coast, islands and nature

Near Ballytoohy, Clare Island is accessible only by ferry. There are several sailings from Roonagh Pier in summer; as the frequency can change, check the timetable for your intended travel date. Another coastal highlight is Ceann Iorrais, also known as Erris Head: the headland marks the northernmost point of the Mullet Peninsula in northwest County Mayo. The Erris Head Loop Walk offers views of the Atlantic and opportunities to experience local wildlife. Atlantic seals, harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins can occasionally be spotted below the steep cliffs. Sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed.

Downpatrick Head also brings landscape and history together. From there, you can see the Staggs of Broadhaven islands and Dún Briste, a sea stack. The site also includes a former church attributed to Patrick, with a holy well and stone cross. In Wild Nephin National Park, the landscape ranges from the low-lying expanses of Owenduff Bog to the peaks and valleys of the Nephin Beg mountain range.

Walking routes for different timeframes

Croagh Patrick is 764 metres, or 2,507 feet, high and has been a pilgrimage destination since pre-Christian times. The main summit route starts in Murrisk on the Louisburgh Road (R335) and covers seven kilometres there and back. For a longer hike, County Mayo also has the 59.9-kilometre Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail. Allow three days for this route; it links ancient monastic heritage with County Mayo’s mountain landscape and views of Clew Bay. These two options offer very different timeframes, and should not be treated as equivalent routes.

Museums, history and culture in County Mayo

The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park offers workshops, talks and guided tours throughout the year. Objects, rare archival photographs and films showcase Ireland’s rural past. The gardens are home to a diverse range of birdlife, flora and fauna, and are designated a Green Heritage site. A daily bus service, route 454 operated by Mayo Local Link, connects the museum with Castlebar and Ballina. Knock Shrine, in turn, tells the story of the 1879 apparition at Knock and the site’s development into an international pilgrimage destination.

On Achill, Achill Experience combines an immersive museum experience exploring the island’s rich heritage with tours featuring native and exotic aquarium animals. The Solas Visitor Centre devotes three galleries to the heritage of the Mullet Peninsula; one explores local maritime history and the legacy of four local lighthouses. If you need admission or booking details for Achill Experience in advance, check them before your visit.

Westport also offers a range of cultural and activity options: Westport Estate features tours of a historic 18th-century house built on the ancestral lands of the pirate queen Grace O’Malley, as well as an outdoor adventure park and woodland trails. Westport Cruises offers a daily trip around Clew Bay, taking in a seal colony, John Lennon’s island and the bay’s 365 islands. For anyone interested in surfing, SurfMayo is a surf school recognised by the Irish Surfing Association.

Find a holiday rental to match your interests

When looking for a holiday rental in Ballytoohy, it helps to decide what you want to focus on during your trip. The coast and possible wildlife sightings, a single day of walking, a multi-day route, or museums and historical themes each call for different plans across the wider County Mayo.

Discover more destinations: Charlestown, Toormakeady, Kiltimagh, The Quay, Ballyglass, Béal Easa, Castlebar, Neale.

View the wider travel guide: County Mayo.