The Mayo coastline provides a succession of remarkable views of golden beaches, cliffs and furrowed headlands. Within its rugged borders, pleasant towns and olde-worlde villages abound. The most distinctive feature of Mayo's striking landscape is Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, which is climbed each year by barefooted pilgrims in acts of religious devotion. From the bottom it seems cone-shaped, an impression dispelled by climbing to its flat peak. From the start of the trail at Campbell’s Pub in Murrisk, where there is a huge statue of the saint, it is a two-hour climb to the top, at 765 m.
Knock Shrine and Westport House are featured in this card
Westport is a neat town and has a bustling, prosperous air. Just west of the town is the Carrowbeg estuary and Clew Bay. At the head of the bay stands Westport House, the seat of the Earls of Altamont, descendants of the Browne family, who were Tudor settlers. The limestone mansion stands on the site of an O’Malley castle. Its imposing interior is adorned with family portraits. There is also a boating lake, miniature railway, museum and a Pirate Adventure Park for children.
