Walking:
Covering an area of 57sq km, Achill Island offers a range of mountain, cliff top, lakeside and beach walks to suit walkers of all abilities. The two highest peaks are Slievemore (671m) and Croaghaun (668m), with other significant hilltops at Minaun (466m) and Knockmore (337m). The clifftop path from Moyteoge Head to Achill Head, at the western tip of Achill Island, is one of the most spectacular in Europe. An ascent of Croaghaun should reward the walker with superb views of two corrie lakes, respectively the highest and lowest corrie lakes in Ireland. Slievemore mountain can be scaled from either the north-eastern aspect, starting at the beautiful Blue Flag beach in Dugort, or from the south-west at points above the haunting Deserted Village.
Surfing & Watersports:
Achill Island boasts five Blue Flag beaches, of which the 3km long strand at Keel is very popular with surfers. This south-facing beach has Atlantic waves crashing ashore, and a number of suppliers in Keel offer surf board and wetsuit hire. Other watersports equipment and activities available at Keel include windsurfing and sea kayaking. Keel also has a large, shallow, freshwater lake which is perfect for windsurfing, sailboarding, kayaking and canoeing. Achill's other beaches are popular for snorkelling, with a wide range of sea life visible. The Achill Dive Centre, located at Purteen Harbour, runs scuba diving trips and tours in the waters around Achill.
Achill's Atlantic waters offer a huge variety of fishing opportunities, from shore- or beach fishing to deep sea angling on charter boats. No fewer than 34 species of fish have been caught in Achill waters, including cod, ling, conger, pollock, wrasse, mackerel, skate, dogfish, ray, blue shark, thresher, and porbeagle sharks. Rods, tackle, other equipment and bait are available in shops locally and Achill has several boats available for fishing charter.
Achill holds several Irish fishing records, including the Irish Record porbeagle which was caught off Achill in 1932 and the Record blue shark caught in 1959. According to the North Western Fisheries Board, specimen Fish caught off Achill between 2000 to 2005 were 8 tub gurnard, a red gurnard, a ballan wrasse and an electric ray. The Board has the following to say about shore angling in Achill:
Moyteoge Point and Keem Bay, near the western tip of the island, offer rock fishing for mackerel and pollack and beach fishing for coalfish
