Exploring Clew Bay: one island at a time
Collanmore Island, one of 365 islands in the Clew Bay, is where I spent two days during my Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way trip. People say it takes one full year to visit every island in the Clew Bay. One down, and 364 to go! It’s safe to say, this is the core of adventure in County Mayo. With our good friends The Adventure Islands, we experienced this area from the sea to the mountain top, literally.
The adventure starts by the short boat ride from Rossmoney pier near Westport. Passing through small islands and the magnificent view of Croagh Patrick, Collanmore Island’s luxury private lodge can be seen on the top of the small hill. Here you can enjoy any kind of seasports you want: stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking, and, wait for it, water trampoline. A short walk to the top of the round hilltop provides the 360° view of the Clew Bay, and Croagh Patrick, where we conquered the following day.
The private lodge is owned by The Adventure Islands, and you can rent it for your functions. This house equips sauna, hot tub, full kitchen, outdoor dining, and the miniature version of Matt Malloy’s, the legendary pub in the town of Westport. Matt Malloy’s pub means so much to Ciaran, the owner of The Adventure Islands, he displays his wedding snapshot at his mini-bar took in front of the original pub. I’m proud to say that we hooked a keg of Guinness, and drank quite a lot of them overnight. When in Ireland, right?
You can check out the details of Collanmore Island on their website: Collanmore Island, Westport, Our Private Island Base
