Keel Holiday Cottages in Achill Island, Mayo

Keel Holiday Cottages Self-Catering

Your home from home in the west of Ireland: www.mayoholiday.com

Our Achill holiday cottages are situated south of Keel Lough, in the shadow of Slievemore Mountain, and within easy walking distance of the fabulous Blue-Flag beach at Keel. Eight of the holiday cottages are graded 3-Star and the rest are of a 4-Star standard. There is a small laundry on site and ample car-parking space in the grounds. The holiday cottages are available all year round and are suitable for one family.

The Accommodation:

All of our holiday cottages (3-Star and 4-Star) have Gold Shield electric central-heating, colour television and modern kitchens fitted with electric ovens/hobs, microwave, grill and fridge.Cooking utensils, tableware, duvets and bedlinen are all provided. Cots and baby-chairs are available on request.

OUR *** 3-STAR COTTAGES:

Each 3-Star holiday cottage accommodates 4/5 people and has two bedrooms (1 double bedroom, 1 single bedroom). There is an additional drop-down double bed in the living area and an extra visitor bed in the single room. Two of the 3-Star cottages have open fires, and one is designed to suit a disabled guest.

OUR **** 4-STAR COTTAGES:

Each 4-Star holiday cottage accommodates six people and has three bedrooms (1 double bedroom en-suite downstairs, & two bedrooms upstairs -each with two single beds) There is a bathroom with bath/shower on the ground floor and another toilet upstairs. For further particulars please visit our website.

ACHILL ISLAND IN MAYO - A NATURAL TREASURE:

Achill, Ireland's largest island is situated off the west coast of County Mayo, Ireland. The island (140sq.kms) is home to 3000 people, many of whom are engaged in sheep-farming, or fishing.

Access is by means of the Micheal Davitt Swivel Bridge at Achill Sound, offering the motorised visitor all the attractions of an island holiday, without having to arrange a sea-crossing.

Achill's wild mountains, undulating open moorland and dramatic cliff scenery is unequalled anywhere. The entire island is a hill walking paradise! All of Achill's beaches are 'Blue Flag' beaches confirming their quality and status. Along the south coast of the island runs the famous Atlantic Drive with its unparalleled views of dramatic coastline.

VARIED GEOGRAPHY.........
The varied geography of Achill makes it distinct in many ways.

The western end of the island is dominated by the majestic 668m. high Croaghaun Mountain, to the north of which are the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The highest mountain on the island is Slievemore at 672m., while Minaun Mountain measures 466m. The terrain is ideal for hill walking and outdoor pursuits.

ACHILL..... STEEPED IN HISTORY!
The Megalithic Tombs testify to human settlement as far back as the New Stone Age around 4,000 BC. Grainne Uaile's Castle at Kildownet was built by the O'Malley Clan and is an excellent example of a 15th century Irish tower-house. In the 1830's the proselytising Rev. Edward Nangle founded the 'Achill Mission' at Dugort. The 'Mission' built a settlement at Slievemore and established a hospital, and school and published a newspaper.

One of the great attractions of the island is the Deserted Village situated on the slopes of Slievemore Mountain. With over 70 abandoned homesteads, it is a haunting reminder of hard times.

ACHILL..... A PAINTER'S PARADISE!
The island has always been a favourite retreat of artists and photographers. Its old-world character has attracted many famous writers down the years including the German Nobel Prize winner Heinrich Böll.

For more about this extraordinary place view our website www.visitachill.com

Activities - From your Achill Holiday Home:

For the outdoor person Achill has much to offer:

Whether you prefer hill-walking, golfing, sight-seeing, wind-surfing, sea-angling, sub-aqua diving or just exploring at leisure, you'll find plenty to do in Achill. The megalithic tombs on Slievemore, the 'Deserted Village', the towering cliffs at Croghaun, the beautiful beaches at Keel, Keem Bay and Dugort, the Atlantic Drive, the food, the good company - will all combine to make your holiday a memorable one!

Achill specialises in outdoor pursuits and a number of Outdoor Pursuits Centres operate at Keel, providing equipment and professional tuition. Bicycles are also available for hire.

The 9-Hole Golf Links at Keel and the 4-Star Caravan & Camping Park are just a leisurely walk away.

Most of the hotels and pubs in the village have lively music sessions nightly, during the holiday season. The restaurants nearby serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and the cuisine is excellent.

Beach, golf-links, open mountain and hill-walking areas are all nearby.
And of course, at any time you can drive off the island to explore the rest of County Mayo - visit Wesport House, perhaps, or Knock Shrine or Corraun Peninsula or the Céide Fields or tour Connemara!

All of the time relaxing among friends, far away from alarm clocks, timetables, bus queues, traffic jams and the hard grind of daily work.

After your relaxing Achill holiday, we believe that you will return to your home, renewed and refreshed and with a new zest for living. Such is the magic of Achill.

Whether you prefer hill-walking, golfing, sight-seeing, wind-surfing, sea-angling, sub-aqua diving or just exploring at leisure, you'll find plenty to do in Achill. The megalithic tombs on Slievemore, the 'Deserted Village', the towering cliffs at Croghaun, the beautiful beaches at Keel, Keem Bay and Dugort, the Atlantic Drive, the food, the good company - will all combine to make your holiday a memorable one!

GETTING HERE !

Distance from Terminals to your Achill holiday cottage:

Ferry Ports:
Belfast (350km)
Cork (325km)
Dublin (300km)
Larne (360km)
Rosslare (360km)

Airports:
Dublin (300km)
Knock (100km)
Shannon (200km)

Distance from Major Towns in Mayo to Keel Holiday Cottages:

Castlebar (50km)
Westport (42km)

Public Transport:

Trains (www.irishrail.ie) travel daily to Castlebar and Westport from most major Towns and Cities. From Castlebar or Westport it is only a short bus journey to Achill. Buses depart daily (www.buseireann.ie)

ARRIVING BY AIR - We're Nearer Than You Think!

From the UK why not fly lowfare direct to Ireland West Airport Knock (www.knockairport.com) and take your own self-drive car to Achill. There are convenient flights to Knock Airport from London Gatwick, Luton, East Midlands, Liverpool, Bristol, London Stansted (www.ryanair.com), Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester (www.bmibaby.com). See also www.aerlingus.com. For other links visit : www.knockairport.com

For Self-crive cars from circa euro99 (low season) contact www.carhire.ie or www.budget.ie

ARRIVING BY ROAD

Travel to Castlebar in County Mayo from Dublin by road on the N4. Leave Castlebar on the R311 to Newport and Mulrany. From Mulranny take the R319 to Achill Sound and Keel. If travelling from Westport take the N59 to Mulranny