Visitors' Guide of Westport in Co. Mayo
Westport, designated as one of Bord Failte's (Irish Tourist Board) heritage towns is one of the main tourist destinations in the West of Ireland.
Places to see and visit in and around Westport include:
Visitors of all ages and from all over the world are annually drawn to this charming town which combines a unique blend of old and new, reminders of a bygone era mingling easily with the bustling town of today.
It is an ideal base for a holiday in the West with it's central position on the Mayo coast and location in an area of outstanding beauty. The Westport region also boasts a wide range of leisure pursuits.
Drives
A day trip from Westport by car offers a wonderful variety of destinations. There are many historical sites - the Ceide Fields, Kylemore and Ballintubber Abbeys, Knock Shrine, Rockfleet Castle, Foxford Woollen Mills, the National Famine Monument at Murrisk. This is a an area of living history: rich in Stone, Bronze and Iron Age antiquities, as well as early cgristian sites. There is also a high concentration of ancient burial monuments around the county.
The scenery becomes ever more spectacular as you explore. Drive towards Newport and Mulranny or Louisburgh and Doolough. There are mountains, lakes and sea, even islands as Achill is connected to the mainland. Wet day or dry day, you'll find plenty to do.
Shopping and Dining
A little shopping? A good idea here where the variety of craft shops and galleries belies the size of the town. Take it easy, browse a while, shopkeeperts will make you welcome. Go down to the Quay area with it's restored 19th century warehouses less than a mile from the town centre, even more vaeiety awaits you there.
For breakfast, lunch or dinner the selection is wide. Coffee shops, pubs serving food, quality hotels and restaurants abound. Irish or ethnic, a quick snack or leisurely meal created from the finest local ingredients. Seafood is a speciality, not surprising given the clear unpolluted waters just a stone's throw away.
Later in the evening a drink or two. Choose a quiet pub perhaps with the traditional grocery section in the front, or a lively one with music from set dancing or an impromptu session spilling joyfully out into the street.
Look or ask, you're sure to find what you want.
Tourist Office
Westport Tourist Office is housed in the beautifully renovated Old Police Station on James St. The office is open all year round (7 days in high season) and friendly staff are on hand to offer expert advice on all aspects of tourism.
Services include tourist information, itinerary planning assistance, an accommodation reservation service, Bureau de Change, bus and rail informaton, literature, gifts and souvenirs.
You can contact the office: westport@irelandwest.ie or Tel: + 353 (0)98 25711