Achill Sound: Atlantic Drive and Greenway

Drive, cliffs and Greenway from Achill Sound

Achill Sound offers several ways to plan a trip: the Atlantic Drive starts here, the Achill Greenway parkrun starts at the new Greenway extension, and a 14-kilometre section of the Great Western Greenway runs from Achill Sound to Mulranny. There are also tidal waters along the Atlantic Drive and an Easter parade that brought the Island Life Festival 2026 to a close in Achill Sound. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Achill Sound, these different experiences can help you choose the focus of your stay: explore the drive and cliffs on foot, run or walk a 5 km route, or take on a longer section of the Greenway.

The Atlantic Drive runs from Achill Sound via the R319 and the Michael Davitt Bridge. Visitors can park along the route and explore the cliffs on foot. So the drive described here is not limited to stretches of road: you can also leave the car and experience the cliffs on foot. For families weighing up a drive or some time on foot when planning their day, this change of pace is a practical way to shape the route. Achill Sound is the starting point of the drive; the R319 and the Michael Davitt Bridge are part of its route.

Tidal waters are also visible along the Atlantic Drive. They are fed by Blacksod Bay and Achill Sound and flow into Bellacragher Bay. The three names refer to different parts of this waterway: Blacksod Bay and Achill Sound are named as sources, and Bellacragher Bay as the point where the waters flow out. This adds another landscape perspective to the cliffs and the route. If you’re interested in waterscapes, you can combine these views of the water with a drive along the Atlantic Drive.

The Achill Greenway parkrun offers another way to be active in Achill Sound. It takes place every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and is a 5 km running, jogging or walking route. The start is at the new Greenway extension in Achill Sound. The route runs from Achill Sound towards Saula and back, along paved paths. This gives you both the distance and the path surface, so you can choose whether to run, jog or walk. When planning with children, the difference between this 5 km route and a longer outing on a Greenway section is clear, without confusing the two options.

The 14 km section of the Great Western Greenway runs from Achill Sound to Mulranny and is relatively flat. Calm sea lies to the left, with mountains on both sides. These features describe a different route from the Achill Greenway parkrun: this is a section between two places, whereas the parkrun is a 5 km route from Achill Sound towards Saula and back. If you’re considering a longer Greenway stage, the 14 km distance and relatively flat profile are useful points of reference. The described landscape combines sea and mountains along this section.

The Island Life Festival also offers a cultural connection to Achill Sound. The 2026 edition was held on Achill Island and the Curraun Peninsula and ended with an Easter parade in Achill Sound. The town is therefore connected with the close of this edition of the festival, while the event area also included Achill Island and the Curraun Peninsula. The timing is important when planning your trip: the Easter parade was the finale of the 2026 festival.

Discover more places

More places: Toormakeady, Louisburgh, Claremorris, Neale, Coogue, Doohooma, Claggan, Cong.

For the broader travel overview: County Mayo.