Ireland Road Trip Part 5: Luxury Ashford Castle Stay, Achill Island Beaches & Slieve League Cliffs
Day 15: Ashford Castle
Today was a day we had long anticipated, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Our journey took us to the legendary Ashford Castle in Cong, and the experience began the moment we pulled up. We were greeted by a gentleman in a top hat and tails who welcomed us warmly and escorted us to reception.
After a seamless check-in, we dove straight into our first pre-booked activity: the Hawk Walk. This was easily one of the most incredible experiences of the trip. We were introduced to our feathered companions for the afternoon, Hazelnut and Walnut. Under the guidance of an expert, we ventured through the castle grounds and into the woods, practicing sending the hawks out into the trees and signaling them to return to our gloved hands. It was absolutely exhilarating!
Back at the castle, we took a deep dive into the history of the estate with a guided tour, followed by a truly extravagant Afternoon Tea service. Every detail was perfect.
Mother Nature had other plans for our scheduled lake cruise, which was cancelled due to the weather, but we didn’t mind the change of pace. We took the opportunity to lean into the castle’s cozy side, relaxing at the Prince of Wales Bar.
For dinner, we headed to Cullen’s at the Cottage. We can say without hesitation that it was the best meal we had in all of Ireland. The rainbow trout topped with prawns was prepared to absolute perfection, a total “chef’s kiss” moment. We finished the evening with one last drink at the Prince of Wales before calling it a night, feeling like royalty.
Day 16: Cong
Our final morning at Ashford Castle started on a high note with a scrumptious breakfast. They even had a juice sommelier—talk about fancy! It was the perfect fuel for a busy morning of exploration.
Before checking out, we spent some more time wandering the castle and finally got to meet the stars of the estate: the resident Irish Wolfhounds. These “gentle giants” were so sweet; we gave them some well-deserved love and had a great chat with their caretaker about their daily life at the castle.
For our final castle activity, we tried our hand at skeet shooting. Despite being total novices, we had an absolute blast! We took one last walk through the stunning grounds, soaking in the atmosphere before it was finally time to say goodbye to our royal temporary home.
Just a stone’s throw from the castle, we spent a wonderful afternoon in the quaint town of Cong, where we explored the charming streets and visited the small but worthwhile Quiet Man Museum. It was a delight to walk through the actual filming locations of the classic movie.
From Cong, we set our sights on Westport, but we had to make a stop at Croagh Patrick along the way. This mountain is legendary as the place where St. Patrick is said to have fasted at the summit for 40 days. The clouds had rolled in by the time we arrived, so we only hiked a very small way up to get a feel for the terrain before heading back to the car.
We finished the day by checking into our Westport B&B. After a quick refresh, we walked into the heart of town for a delicious dinner, capping off the night the best way possible: with local drinks and live music.
Day 17: Achill Island
We kicked off the morning with a quick stroll around Westport, mostly to drop off a much-needed load of laundry before hitting the coastal road toward Achill Island. It was a classic Irish blustery day, but the dramatic weather only added to the rugged beauty of the shoreline. Even through the cold and rain, the views were absolutely stunning.
Our road trip around the island included some unforgettable stops:
- Dooega Beach and the historic Spanish Armada Viewpoint.
- Golden Strand Beach, where the sand looks incredible even under gray skies.
- Keem Beach lived up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
If you’re not comfortable driving narrow coastal roads, you can join an Achill Island day tour from Westport here.
To escape the chill, we ducked into Masterson’s Golden Strand Bar for a midday break. It was the definition of cozy, complete with a roaring fire and a delicious hot meal that warmed us right up. After completing our island loop, we headed back to our B&B to dry off before wandering into town. We ended the night at The Cobbler’s Bar, enjoying a great dinner paired with local drinks and live music.
Day 18: Downpatrick Head to Donegal
Today was primarily a travel day, but we packed it with incredible sights and a few rainy adventures. We started the morning in Westport with some quick shopping and a stop to pick up our fresh laundry before hitting the open road.
Our first major destination was the iconic Downpatrick Head. This much-photographed sea stack is a sight to behold. The experience began with a short hike up from the car park, passing a massive, roaring blowhole carved by the ocean. As we climbed higher toward the cliff’s edge for the best view of the sea stack, the Irish weather decided to join us, starting as a light mist and turning into a full-blown downpour by the time we reached the summit. We didn’t let the rain stop us, though; we managed to capture some gorgeous photos before retreating to the car, completely soaked but exhilarated.
The journey continued through Sligo, but with parking at a premium, we opted for a scenic drive-through before pushing on to our next home base: Donegal.
Upon arriving, we headed straight into Donegal town to grab lunch, stretch our legs, and get a lay of the land. We then checked into our accommodation, Murvagh Links Manor, which quickly became our absolute favorite B&B of the entire trip, t was truly stunning. After a quick change into dry clothes, we headed back into town to explore the local shops and enjoy a relaxing dinner. It was a long day of driving, but the coastal views and the charm of Donegal made every mile worth it.
Day 19: Slieve League
We were all over the place today, starting with a bit of morning shopping in Donegal Town. While a steady rain followed us through the morning, the clouds parted the moment we finished lunch. Seizing the dry spell, we made a break for Slieve League, a range of seaside cliffs that make the others we’ve visited look like hills. These are significantly higher and truly majestic.
Pro Tip: If you want to skip the steep 4 km round-trip walk from the lower car park, head into the small building on-site. For a €5 fee, they’ll lift the barrier and allow you to drive the first 2 km directly to the upper car park and the main viewing platform. It’s “rock star parking” at its finest!
From the upper lot, we spent our time hiking both up and down the ridges to catch every possible angle. Walking back down led us to a fascinating piece of history: one of the “Eire” signs made of stones on the ground. These markers were used during WWII to guide Allied pilots and signal that they were over neutral Ireland. Of all the cliffs we’ve seen on this journey, Slieve League was easily our favorite; the scale is just spectacular. You can book a Slieve League cliffs tour from Donegal if you’d rather leave the driving to a local.
Following a tip from our waiter back at Ashford Castle (who was a Donegal native), we explored a few more hidden spots along the coast. The highlight was Silver Strand Beach. Some of my favorite photos from the entire trip are from here—vivid green cliffs dotted with sheep against the backdrop of the deep blue Atlantic.
We rounded out this awesome day with a delicious dinner at The Rusty Mackerel, a highly recommended pub in Carrick. After dinner, we returned to town for a night of vibrant Irish dancing, traditional music, and drinks.
We drifted to sleep back in our favorite B&B yet, Murvagh Links Manor, with the sound of distant waves and trad music still echoing in our ears. But the next morning, we’d cross an invisible line into Northern Ireland to discover murals that tell raw stories, a rope bridge that made our hearts race, and a city whose history hit harder than any cliff we’d seen so far…
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