At Nanny Goose’s we’re big ones for exploring – what else would you expect when one of the team is 3 years old? We’re always looking for monsters, trying to find bugs, chasing after fairies and building castles and forts in the sand.

Achill is the perfect place for young families looking for adventure. And Nanny Goose’s Glamping gives you the perfect base from which to start.

Our 5 favourite family spots on the island are:

5. Dugort Silver Strand

As one of the quieter parts of the island even in the height of the season, and with a lovely shallow water level, this beach is perfect for swimming and lolling. There are also streams at either end of the strand which are rarely too full which make for great places to build sandcastles, little moats and reservoirs, and to watch them all fall to pieces as the water comes in.

4. The Deserted Village

The Deserted Village at the foot of Slievemore, the highest peak in Achill, is a fascinating trip in to the past. There are c 100 abandoned building along the side of the hills, former Boley Houses, left behind at the time of the famine.

The path that leads you along the site makes for a gentle walk, and you can explore the houses themselves - the perfect interactive history lesson for all ages.

Drop in to the nearby Achill Experience Visitor Centre to learn about ‘boleying’ in more detail.

3. Corrymore Lake

*Throwing stones in to the ‘bottomless’ Lake Corrymore*

Made famous now for the unforgettable proposal scene from The Banshees of Inisheerin, this bottomless lake is a great spot to spend time with the family watching the birds on the high mountains as they duck and dive in the water, to explore the river system that comes from the lake (there are some great ponds with so much frog spawn in spring), or just to stand on the edge and throw stones. Makes a good starting point for a long walk up to Croaghaun too for the more active members of the family.

2. Dookinella Cliffs

The stony beach on Achill is a real treat, especially when the tide is out, as the sand that emerges is flat and makes for some gorgeous photos of the cliffs in reflection when the sun catches just right. As well as a series of high waterfalls, there is a 7-chamber labyrinth – a lovely way to calm your mind with the sound of the waves beside you.

1. Keem Bay

This always comes top of the places to see in Achill and with good reason. The waters are crystal clear (if pretty cold!), and there are treks to take you to the highest sea-cliffs in Ireland which create a stunning bowl in which the beach itself sits. Even out of season (and with the right clothes) we try to get here at least once a week to see what we can find among the rocks at both ends of the bay.

Our favourite outdoor family adventure spots on Achill

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