The Deserted Village tour
Duration: 2 hours Moderate walk
Take this leisurely tour through Achill’s famous Deserted Village Village which featured so highly in the resent RTE documentary, The Hunger: The Story of the Irish Famine, narrated by Liam Neeson.
Travel back in time almost 1 billion years and see the evidence of the first people that lived on Achill.
Learn the tragic and haunting history attached to the village and what caused its demise.
- Our guides are all Fáilte Ireland-approved, fully qualified, insured, and proud Achill natives.
- Enjoy a private guide with in-depth knowledge of Achill and beyond.
- Make the most of your time with our expertly planned walks.
- Book with confidence, backed by reviews from fellow travellers.
- Create unforgettable memories on Achill Island.
- Good hiking boots and waterproof clothing are essential.
- Walking trousers are advised or comfortable athletic clothing.
- Spare warm layer, hat and gloves.
- Lunch and/or snacks; water or juice drink, (1.5 litres); small rucksack to carry it all in.
- Walking poles are optional
1. Experienced & Qualified Guide
- Fully trained and insured local guides, often Fáilte Ireland-approved.
- Deep knowledge of the area’s history, geology, flora, and fauna.
- Our Mountain Guide is REC First Aid Certified..
2. Scenic and Tailored Walks
- We have well-planned routes suited to different fitness levels.
- Options for half-day, full-day, or multi-day hikes.
- Iconic trails, coastal paths, mountain ascents, and off-the-beaten-track experiences.
3. Safety & Support
- Pre-walk safety briefing.
- Navigation expertise to avoid getting lost.
- Emergency procedures in place.
4. Small Group Experience
- Achill Isle Walks keep group sizes small for a more personal experience.
- Private tours are available for a customised experience.
5. Local Insights & Cultural Highlights
- Hear the stories about Irish myths, legends, and local history.
- We make stops at historical sites and ancient monuments.
- Recommendations for nearby attractions, pubs, and restaurants.
6. Equipment Advice & Gear Checks
- Achill Isle Walks recommend hiking poles.
- We also give guidance on proper clothing, boots, and weather preparation.
- Travel to and from tour start and end points of walks
- Lunches, dinners, snacks & drinks
- Travel insurance
- Hiking equipment
From Westport take the N59 and then the R319 all the way to Achill across the Michael Davitt Bridge.
From Castlebar take the R311 to the N59 and then the R319 all the way to Achill across the Michael Davitt Bridge.
Easy!
The majority of the land on Achill, is Comanage which means that it is privately owned by a number of people but by and large there are very few restrictions by owners of theComonage.Always good manners to ask before hand.
Croaghaun at 688m is the most westerly peak on Achill Island, and the highest mountain. Its cliffs, which are the highest in Ireland and third highest in Europe are situated on the northern side of the mountain. The cliffs at Croaghaun can only be seen by hiking around or to the summit of the mountain. We recommend taking a tour with Achill Isle Walks!
To hike and enjoy the magical experience,the history and culture, the breathtaking scenery and awesomeness of the island you would need at least 2 or 3 days
All events can be booked through our booking facility. You will find all our tours/walks on our website www.achillislewalks.ie. You can check availability and book any scheduled upcoming tour/walk via the booking platform. Should you require a specific date and time, please contact us. Some private tours run on a minimum number basis, details of which can be found on each event description.
Scheduled Tours are our prearranged tours that can be viewed on our website www.achillislewalks.ie. Scheduled Tours are regularly available.
No experience is necessary for our hiking tours but for some of the routes a basic level of personal fitness will be required. But all our walks are at a leisurely pace suitable to the group/individual.
At Achill Isle Walks we take great joy in getting people out into the open countryside and involved in new experiences. Because of this our tours are aimed to be enjoyed by all levels of experience.
For our hiking tours you do not need any specialist equipment apart from basic hiking clothing i.e., hiking boots, rain jacket/leggings, warm layers, packed lunch and water. Some people like to use hiking poles. Hiking tour descriptions carry additional advice if needed.
Please check the description of the tour you are inquiring into as our tours can vary from adult only to family. As a general rule, unless otherwise stated our age limits on Scheduled Tours are as follows.
Our Scheduled Tours are from any age but depends on the tour but children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian unless otherwise stated on tour booking
In the unlikely event of any emergency arising during your tour the guides are fully trained in first aid and first response techniques specific to their area of expertise.
Unfortunately, as much as we love our four legged friends, we do not for various reasons allow any animals on our tours with the exception of guide dogs. But customer must call beforehand or at time of booking to inform an Achill Isle Walks representative of such circumstances.
All tours are fully insured and lead by qualified and insured guides.
Most conditions we see do not stop people attending our tours but you must informAchill Isle Walks of your condition on booking to ensure our guides are aware in the event of an emergency.
Achill is our home and therefore welead in the counties of Mayo, Sligo, Galway, and Clare mainlybut we can lead tours throughout Ireland on request.
We are a based on magical Achill Island on the Wild Atlantic Way, but we are an outdoor business, and you can find us anywhere there are mountains.
Certainly, we pride ourselves on our Bespoke Private Tours, please contact us with your request.
Yes indeed. We can accommodate group bookings. We cater for school programmes, club outings and business/corporate events, charity challenges and much more. Single or multi day events with overnight accommodation if required, meals and transportation can also be arranged.
We operate on the West Coast of Ireland on the Wild Atlantic Way so we always keep a watch on the weather and aim to adjust trips to suit. Sometimes we get rain and wind here on the west coast believe it or not!But if we feel changing a route or a time of a booked trip is needed for safety or to help ensure the best experience we will consult with clients on options. Safety comes first with Achill Isle Walksand if we feel a trip has to be cancelled due to a safety concern you will be offered a trip on another date suitable to both the client and Achill Isle Walks or a refund less any administration charges by any third party.
In the case of cancellation by Achill Isle Walks
In the case of a cancellation by Achill Isle Walks due to dangerous environmental conditions,the client will have an option of rescheduling the activity on a date suitable to both parties or else a full refund will be offered less any administration charges by any third party.
The client must accept and understand that the activities of Achill Isle Walks tours are weatherdependent and that under no circumstances can Achill Isle Walks be held responsible for weather conditions.
In the case of a cancellation by the customer
- More than 48 hours notice – 100% Refund less any administration charges by any third party
- 48 hours to 24 hours – 50% Refund less any administration charges by any third party
- Less than 24 hours – No Refund
In this case the customer must contact Achill Isle Walks directly by email to:[email protected]
Cancellations can not be accepted by text or phone call.
In the case of a group cancellation
- More than 48 hours notice – 100% Refund less any administration charges by any third party
- 48 hours to 24 hours – 50% Refund less any administration charges by any third party
- Less than 24 hours – No Refund
In the case of a group member cancelling and this drops the group number below the agreed number of people then the group discount will be lost and deducted from the refund.
Ticket Price
For Adults (Ages 18+)
For Children (Under 18)
- Tour subject to availability and min numbers.
- Duration: 2 hours
- Level: Moderate
- Max People: 20
Got a Question?
Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.
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Achill Isle, County Mayo, Ireland
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Local: 086 843 9683
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Int: +353 86 843 9683
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Email: [email protected]
Image Gallery
The Deserted Village Tour
Client Reviews
What Visitors Say About Us
We climbed Craughan with Gerard and will definitely return to do Slievemore another time. Highly recommend. Gerard set a good pace, made sure we followed a safe path and saw all the best viewing points and told us all about the history of Achill and other islands.
The most beautiful views. Nowhere like Ireland anywhere in the world. This is a recently opened walk over Sli Grainne Mhaol. Bit of a climb but easy enough for a family walk. Abandoned houses, old paths, bog add to the interest but the real attraction are the stunning views. Well marked. Wear sturdy boots and warm gear. And enjoy a well deserved pint in Pattens pub where you park your car. Great craic and local knowledge.
I climbed Croaghaun and Slievemore with Gerard. I couldn't recommend him highly enough. An absolute pleasure to hike with, a gentleman. His relaxed manner, steady and relaxed pace and huge knowledge of the environment made these hikes most enjoyable. These mountains can be very difficult to navigate when the fog descends (and it did!), but Gerard seemed to know every rock along our trail! A most competent and confident hike leader. I'll definitely be back for more hikes around Achill soon!
My wife and l thoroughly enjoyed a tour of the Deserted Village. We had our 1 year with us in a buggy. Gerrard was a fountain of knowledge and brought to the life the long and rich history of the Village and Achill Island, with reference to wider historical events providing context for the history of the island. Gerrard had a lovely relaxed and welcoming demeanour. Would highly recommend!
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