Croagh Patrick is one of Irelands’ most beautiful mountains to climb as it offers beautiful scenic views of the west coast as it reaches high above the Atlantic Ocean. As you reach the top you can enjoy the views of the 365 islands of Clew Bay including Clare Island and Achill Island.
You can also see the Wild Atlantic Way coastline and the beautiful town of Westport. The hike itself takes a total of about 3 hours and 30 minutes on average. It takes roughly 2 hours to reach the top and an hour and a half to come back down. Tourists have often claimed that it’s one of the best places to visit in Mayo and it makes for a fantastic day trip.
There is quite a lot of history around the mountain as it is believed St Patrick spent 40 days and 40 nights on top of this mountain. In fact, Croagh Patrick is Irish for Patrick’s stack. Before the mountain was named after St Patrick it was called Cruchain Aigle which translates in English to Eagle Mountain.
The Murrisk Community Café lies at the bottom of the mountain if you’re looking to grab a quick cup of coffee or a light snack after your hike. If you’re very hungry you can stop at Cambells restaurant which is right beside the Croagh Patrick car park.
Cambells serves delicious food for you to enjoy after your long day of climbing. If you’re looking to enjoy a few pints after the hike to replace a few calories there is also the Tavern Bar and Restaurant where you can visit and relax for the rest of the day.