Life’s a beach. But what a beach | Westport to Rossnowlagh

Where does it start? Westport

Where does it end? Rossnowlagh

How long is it? 166 miles

Why is it great?

This takes you through a world of mountains and mist through Ballycroy National Park, one of the largest expanses of peat bog in Europe and a wild and lonely place where if you’re lucky you might see whooper swans in the icy lakes or peregrine falcons soaring among the peaks, or hear the strange whirr whirr call of the corncrake, a bird which was common when I was growing up but is now almost extinct.

What do I need to know?

Get to Rossnowlagh early enough to go for a bracing walk on the apparently endless beach, one of the best on the west coast and a popular spot with surfers. Amazingly, I knew an Australian who came all the way to Ireland to surf here.

If you leave Westport late and are running short of time to do that, take a short cut on the fast N15 for the first part of the journey.

Anything Else?

For something a bit weird and wonderful, stop in Strandhill for a seaweed bath at Voya, started as a tiny family business by Neil Walton 15 years ago and now exporting its products to 42 countries where customers are rejuvenated by the iodine and alginate gel derived from bladder wrack. If you don’t like it, just phone the 24-hour kelpline.

The Shells Café next door is a great spot for a light lunch.

In Rossnowlagh, stay in the Sandhouse and have dinner in Smugglers Creek overlooking the beach.