8-Day Guided Wild Atlantic Way Walking Tour: North-West (Ireland North-West)

8 Day Guided Walking Tour Wild Atlantic Way North West

A Guided Walking Holiday on the Wild Atlantic Way

This walking tour of the Wild Atlantic Way North-West takes in two of the most magnificent counties that Ireland has to offer: County Galway and County Mayo. As we travel along the highways and byways of the North-West coast of Ireland, you will encounter quaint villages and lively towns where you can enjoy lots of traditional music and craic. You’ll also take in spectacular views of the wild Atlantic Ocean and the green and beautiful rolling countryside. 

The first town we visit on our Wild Atlantic route is Clifden, where we will spend two nights. A vibrant town on the very edge of Europe, Clifden is known as the “Capital of Connemara”, with a population of just under 3000.

From here, we carry on walking the Wild Atlantic Way through Connemara National Park and on to Killary Fjord and into the county of Mayo. We will venture through the town of Westport and onto the magical island of Achill.

Achill Island is the largest island off the coast of Ireland (24km x 19km) with a population of just under 2700. The island is made up of rugged mountains, sea cliffs, peat bogs, and — of course — warm hospitality. We will be spending two nights on this magical island. While we are on the island, we will Visit one of the sites of the filming of ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’.

The Northern Wild Atlantic Way Walk

Our final adventure takes us further north following the Wild Atlantic Coastline to the Erris Head Peninsula. A designated Special Area of Conservation, situated on the North-West corner of County Mayo, Erris Head Peninsula was voted the Best Place to Go Wild in Ireland 2014.

The peninsula offers breath-taking beauty, a rugged and dramatic coastlin of wind-swept towering sea cliffs, white sandy beaches, and one of the largest areas of blanket bog in Ireland.

For an alternative route, check out our Southwestern Wild Atlantic Way Guided Tour. If you’re not set on walking the Wild Atlantic Way with us, you can explore our other guided walking tours of Ireland for more inspiration. You may also want to browse our self-guided walking tours of Ireland if you’d prefer to go on your own schedule.

Do feel free to get in touch with any questions at all. We love to chat about the many routes and marvellous destinations with walking tours!

Our Guided Wild Atlantic Walk (NW)

Prices / Dates

Price:  €1,669 per person sharing
Saturday to Saturday

Single Supplement: +€425                              

Tour Dates 2024:

Saturday, 11th May to Saturday, 18th May 2024 – Sorry, we have no more single places left on this tour; we do have double & twin rooms available.
Saturday, 28th September to Saturday, 5th October 2024

Tour Grade: Easy

Accommodation: Family Operated Guesthouses & Country  Hotels

Included / Excluded

North-West Wild Atlantic Way Walking Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 - Transfer from Dublin to Clifden

We will pick you up at Dublin Airport (Zone 16-Coach Park) at 1:30 pm and transfer you to Clifden. The travel time to our destination is approximately 4-hours, including several stops along the way.

After checking in to your accommodation, we will do a short walk to explore the town and its many shops and pubs. Clifden is a lively town, packed with places to see and things to do. We guarantee you won't be bored here!

Overnight: Clifden

Day 2 - Omey Island

Our Wild Atlantic walking tour officially starts off with a visit to the uninhabited Omey Island. An enchanted island that lies 600 metres off-shore, on the western edge of Connemara in County Galway, is accessed at low tide across a causeway.

The island is made up of mostly granite and covered with sand blown in from the wild Atlantic Ocean. Because of its good drainage, you will find many varieties of wildflowers growing in the short grass.

In the early 7th century, St Feichin founded a monastic settlement on Omey; the ruins of his church can be seen to this day.

Our walk starts on the mainland, just outside the village of Claddaghduff and takes us across the causeway to the island. We will walk the island in a clockwise direction, taking in the ruins of St Feichin's Church and holy well and the beautiful landscape the island offers.
Overnight: Clifden

Distance: 7.5 km/4.6 miles, Ascent: 120 m/393 ft

Day 3 - Connemara National Park and Achill Island

Today, our adventure walking the Wild Atlantic Way sees us leaving Clifden and driving North to Connemara National Park. Here, we will take a short tour of the national park's visitor centre and exhibition on the Connemara Landscape, followed by a short low-level walk on one of the park's magnificent nature trails.

A short drive from the park takes us to the village of Leenane, where we will do a 90-minute boat tour on Killary Fjord. You will get an in-depth history of the fjord, it's legends, and folklore as you travel along, taking in the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, rising from the glittering waters, with frequent shifts in light and shadow that create different colours on the peaks and valleys.

Today's final part of our journey takes us through the Connemara Mountain and into County Mayo, finishing our day on Achill Island.

Overnight: Achill Island

Distance 6 km/3.7 miles, Ascent: 210 m/688 ft

Day 4 - The Deserted Village of Slievemore

The first settlers arrived on Achill Island approximately 5,000 years ago. Since then, the island has witnessed a checkered past, some of which we will see evidence of on our walk today.

Our Wild Atlantic walk starts a short distance from our accommodation and sees us visiting one of the island's many Megalithic Tombs, positioned on the lower slopes of Slievemore Mountain. From here, you will have stunning views across to Keel Lough, Trawmore, and out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Our adventure continues along the base of Slievemore to a deserted village that has between 90 and 100 derelict stone dwellings scattered for 1.6 km along the side of the mountain. Here, we will spend some time exploring the ruins and listening to some of the histories that this village has to offer.

Our homeward journey takes us down into the village of Keel, across Trawmore Beach, and back to our accommodation.
Overnight: Achill Island

Distance: 9 km/5.6 miles, Ascent: 120 m/393 ft

Day 5 - Ballycroy National Park, County Mayo

Before we depart Achill, we will visit Colm Farrel's house on Keem Bay, on the western end of Achill Island. It was here that some of the filming was done for the making of the movie, 'The Banshees Of Inisherin.

From Achill, our journey north takes us to Ballycroy National Park. The park has approximately 11,000 hectares of wild Atlantic blanket bog. Covering a vast uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. Home to the last intact active blanket bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe.

We will visit the Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre and Exhibition in the afternoon before proceeding to our final accommodation in County Mayo.
Overnight: Geesala, Ballina

Distance: 6.5 km/4 miles, Ascent: 180 m/590 ft

Day 6 - Benwee Head & The Children of Lir Loop

This is probably one of the most spectacular sea cliff walks that you are going to find anywhere in Ireland: Benwee, An Bhinn Bhuí (Irish for 'the yellow cliff').

Our walk starts in the small village of Carrowteige and takes us South-West to reach Dún Ceann Tire (Beach). Here the trail turns North-West to take us along the dramatic cliffs that overlook Broad Haven Bay and the wild Atlantic Ocean.

We will also take in the Children of Lir sculpture along the way. The well-known legend tells the story of children who were turned into swans and condemned to wander the countryside for 900 years.

Our trail turns inland and takes us through some wide open countryside and back to the village of Carrowteige.
Overnight: Geesala, Ballina

Distance: 10.5 km/6.5 miles, Ascent: 180 m/590 ft

Day 7 - Cross Loop Walk, where scenery and legends meet

Our final day on this Wild Atlantic Way walking holiday takes us on a wonderfully refreshing walk along Cross Beach. From the moment we set foot on Cross Beach you will know you are in a magical place of great beauty, a place that has inspired poets and artists through the centuries. 

The afternoon is free for you to explore the town of Belmullet, do that last-minute shopping or relax in your hotel room with a good book.
Overnight: Geesala, Ballina

Distance: 9 Km/5.6 miles, Ascent: 50 m/164 ft

Day 8 - Depart

After a hearty breakfast, we will depart for Dublin Airport, arriving between 14.00 & 15.00 hours

A few words from our customers...

This trip was better than I ever expected, and my expectations were high (delivered!). My friend and I were looking for an adventure around the southwestern part of Ireland and found the Wild Atlantic Way tour with Christopher. The walking / hiking tour took us to several amazingly beautiful site - I was breathless. I would highly recommend booking a tour with Christopher and Theresa.
Colleen & Cathy
USA
If you are looking for an amazing vacation in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, you have found it. We just got back from the Wild Atlantic Way guided tour with Christopher and Teresa from Footfalls. What an amazing week! Our trip was just one beautiful vista after another. We visited so many locations unseen by tourists.
Kathleen & Jim
Great Britain