Our group (7 active seniors 60-75 yrs old) will be spending 3 nights in Westport Ireland in mid May 2026. Does anyone have recommendations regarding things to do in the area? Is a day trip to the Burren reasonable? Would love to get some ideas. Thanks!
Posted by
92 posts
Hi,
The trip sounds great. Westport is a great town. Make sure you save some time for the town, lots to see and do.
Not sure if you are driving or not but a visit to Croagh Patrick is interesting whether or not you hike it all.
The drive from Westport to Connemara is beautiful. You can go towards Kylemore Abbey and Clifden and maybe lunch in Linnane and still return to Westport for dinner.
The drive to the Burren is a bit longer but no less beautiful. Some interesting towns and cities close by. Galway is only an hour and a half or so. Check out driving parts of the Wild Atlantic Way. And a hike/walk through the Burren makes for a great day, long maybe but doable.
Sounds great enjoy.
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
1129 posts
There is the Westport Greenway if bicycling is something you enjoy. There's also a day trip to Clare Island if a boat ride and hiking is fun for you. Conemara is the big todo. I think the Burren is a bit far. Where you're coming from and headed to next might change the advice you get.
Posted by
Salt Lake City
3222 posts
A couple of off the beaten path suggestions: Doolough Valley and the Famine Memorial there is one of the most evocative (and scenic) places we've visited in Ireland. Can google search to read about what happened there to see if it might be of interest.
Also, from the village of Cleggan you can catch a short ferry ride over to the island of Inisbofin - one of the country's best kept secrets.
The Sky Road west of Clifden is one of Ireland's great scenic drives. Could be combined with a stop at Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, and the pretty little village of Cong - the film setting for the old John Wayne/Maureen O'Hara film "The Quiet Man" from back in the 50's.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2960 posts
About 20 minutes drive east of Westport near Castlebar, is the National Museum of Ireland with the Irish Folklife Collection. This is a fascinating museum covering rural life in Ireland between 1850- 1950s. It covers farming, fishing, domestic life, and traditional trades like thatchings, blacksmith, and wheelwright.. As well as loads of artefacts there are also video recordings from the 1950 which cover way of life, traditional activiies and culture.
We spent a full day there and still didn't have time to see anything. This short video gives a flavour of the museum
A trip from Westport to the Burren is going to take at least three hours to drive there PLUS any time for stops. That is going to make for a long day sitting in the car.