Claggan

Coastal views, nature and trails around Claggan

Claggan appeals to travellers who want to focus on coastal scenery, wildlife watching and exploring the water. The Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail offers a distinctive view of the surrounding area: looking east, the views extend to Wild Nephin National Park, while to the west they take in Bellacragher Bay and Achill Island. These different views can help shape your travel plans, from the national park to the bay and island.

The Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail is a 2 km boardwalk along a coastal bay and leads into Ballycroy National Park. It lies on the Wild Atlantic Way between Mulranny and Ballycroy. The trail’s length gives you a clear guide for planning your day; its location in the national park and by the coast also shapes the experience. Old pine stumps can be seen along the shore, some partly rising out of the bog. Animals regularly found along the shore include otters, ringed plovers and grey herons. The nature experience ranges from the landscape itself to the animals that live there.

The dark sky is another distinctive feature of the trail: the Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail is one of three designated dark-sky viewing points in Mayo Dark Sky Park. If you are considering activities beyond the coastal trail, Bellacragher Bay offers boating options. Bellacragher Boat Club offers day hire of a boat with a crew to explore the bay and its islands. There is also catamaran sailing on 16-foot Hobie T2 boats with an instructor. This gives you the choice between exploring the bay aboard a crewed boat and sailing a catamaran.

For cyclists and pedestrians, the Claggan Ferry is an important link between Achill and Ballycroy. The restored ferry connects the Greenway with Claggan and gives travellers coming from the Ballycroy side access to the Greenway and Achill. It is located at the narrow mouth of the fjord between Tonragee on Achill and Claggan in Ballycroy. If your travel plans focus on a connection between Ballycroy, the Greenway and Achill, this ferry link offers a different focus from a stay centred on the coastal trail or activities on the water.

Local history and holiday interests

Local history also offers points of interest. Teach Fiontaire, also known as the House of St Fintan, is the site of a small church near Claggan cemetery. A religious station was held at a spring near Teach Fiontaire on three Saturdays before 15 August. Another historical detail is associated with Rock House, a prominent building in Claggan. It is surrounded by various trees and ornamental shrubs planted by local landowners, particularly Thomas Birch, who died in 1868, and his successor, Edward H. Clive.

When choosing the focus of your holiday, you can weigh up whether you are mainly interested in the coastal trail and nature, the ferry connection and the water, or local history. These different themes can help guide your search for a holiday rental in Claggan: the key is deciding which experiences you want to shape your trip.

Nearby places

Doogort, Islandeady, Bunnacurry, Ballyglass, Aghamore, Crossmolina, Killala, The Quay.

For the broader travel overview: County Mayo.