Mayo is heavily promoted as a must-visit destination by Discover Ireland this Christmas with both Achill Island and the Westport New Year Walking festival highlighted as top events. Anyone wanting to catch the very last sunset of 2010 is recommended to go along to Achill Island, located on a longitude of approximately 10 degrees west, making it one of the most westerly points in Europe.
This means that Achill enjoys one of the last sunsets in Europe and that on New Year's Eve Achill is one of the best places in Europe to see the final sundown of the year. Watch it go down from the panoramic Minaun Heights and afterwards, at the stroke of midnight, enjoy the short parade of the various Achill pipe bands, which provides a rousing and unforgettable New Year's celebration for all the family.
Ensuring maximum impact, visitors are also challenged to strip off and sample the freezing cold Atlantic waters surrounding the island, as follows:
“After a hard night's celebrating you can take a dip in the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic and join in on the traditional New Year's Day swim which takes place on Silver Strand at 1pm. For a more relaxing start to the New Year, Achill offers a wide range of hill walks for all abilities, while the 3km beach at Keel is a popular place for a brisk walk to kick start the New Year's exercise regime.”
The Westport New Year Walking Festival on January 1 and 2 is also promoted as a weekend of fun combined with healthy outdoor pursuits.
“There will be a choice of walks to suit the hardened hiker and the casual stroller from a five hour hill walk to a three hour low level ramble. The walks take in highlights like Croagh Patrick, the Great Western Greenway, Killary Fjord, and the Connemara Western Way.” See www.discoverireland.ie for more.
