Clare Island Activities
Clare Island Activities for Sightseeing
Clare Island is famous for its nature and gorgeous scenery, from its spectacular cliffs to the north of the island to the breathtaking views of Clew Bay. It is known as one of the most amazing places to visit. Clare Island is the perfect area to visit if you are looking to get away from the noise of the modern world and explore and experience some nature. Clare Island activities include booking a Clare Island Ferry for a sightseeing trip to Clare Island to get some of the fresh sea air in your lungs and enjoy some stunning scenery.
Walking
There is plenty to do on the Island such as walkways which are great for exploring the island and getting some exercise at the same time. Cycling is also a very popular activity as people love to glide along the routes while enjoying the beautiful scenery. The topography of the island varies so there are many different routes you can take that are suitable for all levels of fitness.
Clew Bay Bike Trail
The Clew Bay Bike Trail is a mixture of cycling and ferry journeys. The route brings you around Clew Bay and offers stunning views of the coastline. This cycling route is perfect for you if you are looking for a day out in nature and to have some fun. The trail will take you to Clare Island and Achill Island. It gives you a chance to cycle along the Great Western Greenway Path, which is one of the most famous and beautiful cycling routes in Ireland.
The Clew Bay Bike Trail is also perfect for bringing your family on a day out. It makes for a great day trip when you visit Mayo and there are plenty of rest stops to have a picnic. There are also plenty of restaurants and pubs if you wish to stop and have a drink along the way.
If you don’t have a bike, that’s no problem at all. There are plenty of places where you can rent bicycles such as Westport Bike Hire where you can rent bikes for yourself and your family for the day. You can also hire electric bikes, which are great for inexperienced cyclists. This allows you to relax a bit more and simply enjoy the journey and nature.
The cycling distance of the entire route is 81km. However, if you feel that might be too much for you to handle there is an optional 10km loop on Clare Island which many people find easy enough. The route is perfect for people who want to get some exercise outdoors. However, there are no steep hills, which makes it suitable for people of all fitness levels.
Stand Up Paddling (SUP) / Sauna Hut
Clare Island native, Charlie McCabe, runs the SUP School and the Sauna Hut right at the harbor. Bookings are based on a per day basis due to weather conditions for SUP. The Sauna is available most days. The local ladies have their morning ritual or a swim and a sauna most days. This is one of the ideal Clare Island activities to meet the locals and have a good chat.
Contact Charlie McCabe
Tel: 087 9004897
Anchor Bar
The Anchor Bar is a favourite spot to visit for some Clare Island activities. It is a hot spot for traditional music, dancing and craic. The Community Centre Bar hosts Comhlatas evenings every Tuesday in the summer months. These evenings comprise of traditional singing, set dancing, sean-nós dancing, music and recitations. Of course, this is also in addition to the full line up of music at weekends.