Paddy & Nelly Bike

This self-guided ride heads out from Westport along the shores of Clew Bay to a working oyster farm with a visitor centre, café and bar. It combines a scenic coastal cycle with tastings straight from the water and the story of a local producer.

The route follows quiet roads past Westport Quay and through Murrisk towards Croagh Patrick, with views over the bay's drumlin islands and plenty of spots to stop for a photo. At the farm, riders can join a guided tour of the oyster beds, held Wednesday to Sunday at midday, or simply call in for a look around and a bite to eat.

With the bike yours for the day, there is time to extend the outing to Bertra Beach, or lock up and tackle the pilgrim path up Croagh Patrick before riding back to town.

Highlights

• Guided tour of a working oyster farm, with tastings
• The Clew Bay coastline and its drumlin islands
• Views of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain
• Murrisk village and Westport Quay
• Visitor centre, café and bar at the farm
• Optional extension to Bertra Beach

Surface and terrain
Sealed coastal roads and cycle lanes along Clew Bay, using their marked quietest roads, though traffic can be busy in places. Gently undulating with no major climbs.

Weather
Expect mild but changeable Atlantic conditions, with wind and showers possible, so bring a rain jacket or pullover.

Suitable for
Food lovers and recreational riders comfortable on quiet roads with some traffic. Family friendly, with independent child riders recommended from 8 to 10 years.

See Westport the way it was meant to be seen: slowly, on two wheels, with someone who knows its stories. This relaxed two-hour guided ride follows the town Greenway to the harbour, with visits to the Heritage Centre and the Westport House estate, exploring one of Ireland's finest planned towns.

The tour suits two kinds of traveller: those tracing their Irish roots and those who simply want to feel the place. A local historian brings the past to life, from the town laid out along the Carrowbeg to the families who lived and left here, and the wider history of Clew Bay. Others will enjoy getting their bearings around the Octagon, the tree-lined Mall and everyday life in a working Mayo town.

The ride finishes at McCarthy's Traditional Music Bar, a Westport landmark, for some craic and a lesson in pulling a pint. The bike is then yours for the rest of the day.

Highlights

• The town Greenway to Westport Quay and harbour
• Westport Heritage Centre, with admission included
• The Westport House estate
• The Octagon, the tree-lined Mall and the Carrowbeg River
• Stories of Clew Bay, emigration and family history for those tracing their roots
• Pulling a pint at McCarthy's Traditional Music Bar

Surface and terrain
Flat to gently undulating town streets, the sealed traffic-free town Greenway to the harbour and estate paths at Westport House. Easy, sociable pace with minimal climbing.

Weather
Expect mild but changeable Atlantic conditions, with showers possible at any time of year, so bring a rain jacket.

Suitable for
All fitness levels, with no cycling experience needed. Ideal for those tracing Irish ancestry, history and culture lovers, and visitors wanting a relaxed introduction to Westport with a pub experience to finish.

Westport isn't an accident: someone drew it. While most Irish towns grew where a river met a road, Westport was designed in the 1780s around the Carrowbeg River, with tree-lined malls, a stone Octagon and streets that still work exactly as intended. It is one of the few planned towns in Ireland, and the best way to read it is from the saddle.

Riding with a local guide, the story takes in the Celts, Grace O'Malley the Pirate Queen of Clew Bay, the pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick, the old working Quay with its grain, linen and emigrant trade, and the Famine years that hit Mayo as hard as anywhere.

The pace is easy and groups are small, so no cycling experience is needed. With bike hire, the bike is yours until closing: ride the Greenway to Newport and Rockfleet Castle, stop at the Quay for chowder, or head to the base of Croagh Patrick for views over Clew Bay's drumlin islands.

Highlights

• Westport's planned Georgian streetscape, including the tree-lined Mall, the Octagon and the Carrowbeg River
• Tales of Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Queen who faced down Elizabeth I
• Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, overlooking the ride
• Westport Quay and its old warehouses, now restaurants
• The Famine story, including Westport's workhouse and relief works
• Free time afterwards on the Great Western Greenway to Newport and Rockfleet Castle

Surface and terrain
Quiet town streets and quay roads at an easy pace, with the traffic-free Great Western Greenway available for the self-led afternoon. Minimal climbing.

Weather
Expect mild but changeable Atlantic conditions, with showers possible at any time of year, so bring a rain jacket.

Suitable for
All fitness levels, with no cycling experience needed. Ideal for history lovers, families and visitors wanting an easy introduction to Westport before exploring the Greenway independently.