Westport Wonders: 8 Exciting Things
to Do with the Family

Westport is a tidy town in County Mayo, Ireland. Although it’s not as famous as some places, it’s great! It is about two hours from where Dublin and Galway meet. In Westport, there’s plenty for kids to explore, like learning about the Pirate Queen and checking out the Westport House. You can also climb Croagh Patrick, cycle the Great Western Greenway, can go for horse riding and more. In this guide, we’ll talk about eight of the best things you can do with your family in Westport!

Westport House and Pirate Adventure Park

Do you love pirates like Pirates of the Caribbean or does it all excite you? Then you’ll love Westport House! Here you will feel like you have actually gone on a pirate adventure. The establishment was built in 1650 by Colonel John Brown and his wife Maud Burke, who was actually related to a famous pirate queen! Today, you can visit and explore about 30 rooms in the house.

But the real fun is waiting outside of the house. Westport House has a Pirate Adventure Park where you can ride cool rides like the Plunge Log Flume and the Pirate Queen Swinging Ship. It’s so much fun, it’s been voted Ireland’s best family visitor attraction! And that’s not all, you can go on a swan-shaped boat around the grounds or paddle around the lake.

Westport House always has some exciting events going on, like their Halloween Festival and Winter Wonderland. So, if you’re up for a pirate adventure, Westport House might be it!

Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick is a truly special mountain in Ireland. Peoples are going there for over 5,000 years. Here is the detail, why it’s called Croagh Patrick: In 441 AD, a man named St. Patrick went there and didn’t eat for forty days. Climbing to the top is hard work and not everyone can do it.

If you want to climb Croagh Patrick, be sure to rent walking sticks from the visitor center and plan to spend at least 3 hours climbing. But if you prefer to stay down, there are other great things to see nearby, such as the National Famine Monument, Clew Bay Archaeological Trail and Moorish Abbey.

Great Western Greenway

Do your kids love to ride bikes? If they do, they will love the Great Western Greenway! It’s like a major thoroughfare that connects Westport to other towns and beautiful places near Clu Bay. The Greenway is 43 kilometers long, running from Achill Island to Westport. You can ride your bike along the old train tracks, and even visit Achill Island or Clare Island.

For kids, the Greenway is great because it’s easy to ride and you get to see amazing nature. Anyone can do it, no matter how much experience or strength they have. It’s perfect for families! If you need to rent a bike, Clue Bay Bike Rentals is a good place. They can also help you arrange a fun kayak trip.

Wild Atlantic Ocean

When you’re in Westport, you’ll see the great Atlantic Ocean. It’s really nice! You can see the waves crashing on the rocky shore. And guess what? Westport has two amazing beaches, near Achill and Louisbourg, which have won awards for being extremely clean and beautiful. You can relax with your kids or build sand castles at Bartra Beach. If the sea is calm, you can try paddle boarding at Old Head. Or you can rent a board and ride the waves at Karoniski Strand or Cross Beach. Being by the sea will make you feel great!

Horse Riding

One of the best things to do in Westport is horseback riding. And when kids are involved, it’s even more fun! Westport’s wide open spaces are best explored on horseback. You can wander around Clew Bay and see for yourself everything from the windy beaches to the small country roads! Also, some hotels and stables in Westport offer guided horseback riding for children and are extremely safe.

You can book your horse ride here!

Wild West Indoor Play Village

Do you want to entertain your kids for hours? Then you should visit the Wild West Indoor Play Village! You don’t need to book in advance, just show up and have fun They have many great games like splatball and footgolf. Also, there is a special room called “Sensory Room” which helps children learn and develop. If you want to stay overnight, they have different places to stay like campsites, caravan parks or glamping villages. Join their adventure club to help your child feel more confident. Here you will find everything you need to know about this place!

Graune Pet Farm

Your kids can enjoy seeing many animals like sheep, pigs, rabbits and even llamas and alpacas at Grown Pet Farm. It’s a bit far from Westport, about 50 minutes, but it’s worth it. They also have school tours and you can stay there overnight. Don’t worry about food, there is a restaurant and even play facilities for your kids. Here’s all the information you need!

Letterkin Woods

If you like a challenge you should check out Letterkin Woods. It is a tough but beautiful trail with very interesting views. The trail is 10.1 km long and takes about 3 hours to complete. It’s good for hiking and running, and it’s not too crowded. August is the best time to travel. The trail is marked with purple arrows, but it’s a good idea to download a map before you go. It can be wet and muddy, so wear good shoes!

That’s it! Best things to do in Westport with your family. I’ve tried most of them myself, and I promise you’ll have a great time no matter what you choose.