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OUT & ABOUT

The Ice House is the perfect jumping-off point to explore North Mayo and the Wild Atlantic Way and all it has to offer with a wealth of activities, wonderful attractions, gorgeous beaches and breathtaking scenery that’s second to none.

Explore the breathtaking scenery along Wild Atlantic Way with a visit to Downpatrick Head, the Ceide Fields and Foxford Woollen Mills. Tee off at some of Ireland’s best golf courses with varying difficulty at Enniscrone, Carne (Belmullet), Ballina, Strandhill, Sligo and Rosses Point, all just a short drive away.

Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful surroundings, cruise the River Moy or cast a line and fish on one of our most prolific waters. For the perfect swell, surf some of Ireland’s best waves at Enniscrone or Easkey.

Step back in time to experience Irish life as it was in the 1800’s by visiting the award winning Foxford Woollen Mills Visitor Centre. Enjoy a multimedia tour, see a working mill and get a taste for tradition and craftsmanship that has been passed down for generations.

ASK AT RECEPTION AND WE CAN ORGANISE ACTIVITIES FOR YOU DURING YOUR STAY

CRUISING

Enjoy the fresh air and all the beauty surrounding the River Moy with a relaxing cruise. When the tide on the Moy allows and the weather shines, there is no better way to pass a few hours than cruising along Mayo’s beautiful River Moy. For all the family, it’s an experience to remember. Ask at reception for all the details of local cruise options with great local insights to show you all the hidden gems and spot all the flora and fauna that call River Moy home.

FISHING

Make the most of your stay at The Ice House on the banks of one of our most prolific waters and cast a line in North Mayo. Fishing breaks in Ireland don’t get much better than this. The River Moy is one of our most prolific waters. With top-class fly water and both great spinning and worming, River Moy fishing offers something whatever your taste and budget.

Enjoy the Ballina Salmon Festival, when the River Moy and Ballina come to life as people come from near and far for fishing, fun and frolics. Up for a challenge, take part in the Salmon Festival Casting Day.

SURFING

Whether you are a beginner or a pro, find the perfect swell and plan your surfing break in Mayo. Go wild this summer and surf some of Ireland’s best waves at Enniscrone or Easkey. Take lessons or simply rent the equipment you forgot to bring. There’s a surf school close by in Enniscrone and another further afield at Strandhill with lots of Ireland’s secret surfing spots in between. Get directions and the latest surf reports every day.

RACHEL'S IRISH ADVENTURE

Customised experiences
Do you want to discover the hidden gems of the west coast? Rachel’s Irish Adventures specialises in tailor-made & private tours for families and small groups.
Are you ready to explore the spectacular North Mayo coast from the historic port of Killala to the striking cliffs of Downpatrick Head? Your local guide Rachel can take you on a bespoke adventure anywhere along the Wild Atlantic Way and beyond.
Get off the beaten path and experience the best of the west with your trusted expert for cultural, hiking & cycling tours.

Check out Rachel's website for more information or to book your tour - HERE

Whiskey Appreciation Session
“Whiskey Tasting with Personality” Rachel’s fun & interactive Whiskey Appreciation Session will take you on an absorbing journey through the ages of Uisce beatha. Learn more about the painstakingly fine art of distilling the smooth, golden liquid and experience the aromas of specially selected samples. By the end of the Whiskey Tasting, you’ll know what type of whiskey you like best, and you’ll have gained a new appreciation for sipping and savouring its distinctive flavours. Best of all, you’ll have the opportunity to sample a premium whiskey, specially selected by Rachel for the evening.

Check out Rachel's website for more information or to book your whiskey experience - HERE

BALLINA BIKE HIRE

Explore the Monasteries of the Moy – Ballina to Killala along the Greenway
What better way to enjoy the undulating and scenic West of Ireland than taking to the roads and greenways by bike?
Ballina Bike Hire offers high quality bicycles for the whole family. Explore Belleek woods by bike, discover the Monasteries of the Moy and experience Mayo’s wild & natural beauty at your own pace.

Book your bike or find out more information - HERE

BALLINA TREASURE HUNT

Do you want to spend a refreshing day outside?

Rachel’s Ballina Treasure Hunt is an exciting outdoor activity for all ages. This scavenger hunt, designed by Rachel’s Irish Adventures, will take you on an interactive discovery trip around Ballina’s famous Belleek woods.

Are you ready for a fun outdoor game?

Let’s go and explore nature, discover Ballina’s hidden gems while solving entertaining riddles. Rachel’s Ballina Treasure Hunt is thoughtfully designed to provide an enjoyable time for the whole family. Follow the clues, find secret locations, and discover more about Ballina’s colourful history.

Book or find more information on your Treasure Hunt - HERE

THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY

Stretching for 2,500 km along Ireland’s Atlantic Coast from Donegal in the North to Cork in the South, experience the Wild Atlantic Way your way with a stay at The Ice House in Ballina. The perfect base to discover the unspoilt beauty of North Mayo's rugged Wild Atlantic Way coastline.

Lying at the mouth of the River Moy, renowned for its world class angling and salmon fishing, near Killala Bay and a stone’s throw from the stunning dunes and beach at Enniscrone, a renowned surfer’s paradise. With the Ox Mountains to the east and the Nephin Mountains to the west, The Ice House is close to many trails and hiking paths to suit even the most leisurely of strollers all the way up to the serious mountain trekkers.

Visit the historic Rosserk Friary, the beautiful woodlands of Belleek, the Neolithic clifftop settlement of the Céide Fields, or visit the world famous Foxford Woollen Mills as part of your Wild Atlantic Way route from The Ice House. Or catch the perfect swell at Enniscrone or Easkey and surf the wild Atlantic waves.

After your Wild Atlantic Way excursions, relax at the soothing Chill Spa and indulge in a signature Ice House Chill Spa treatment, soak in a bath of hot Atlantic-seawater and hand-harvested seaweed from the Atlantic Sea, a traditional marine cure therapy native to Ireland. Then chill in our steaming riverside hot tubs, bliss.

WILD NEPHIN/BALLYCROY NATIONAL PARK

One of Ireland’s six national parks, Ballycroy National Park stretches across 15,000 hectares and contains the largest expanse of active Atlantic blanket bog in Ireland and Western Europe. Situated in northwest Mayo, the Park is comprised of mountains, blanket bog, rivers, heathlands and forestry as well as being home to several protected species including Peregrine falcon, merlin, golden plover and the red grouse.

Wild Nephin National Park is also designated as the Mayo International Dark Sky Park and was awarded gold-tier status resulting from the lack of light pollution. This provides visitors with an unrivalled view of the night sky with opportunities for pristine stargazing on a clear night.

MAYO WALKS

Mayo’s largely unspoiled, clean countryside, unique scenery, rich heritage and folklore mark it as ideal walking destination. The variety of walks on offer may combine to offer an unrivaled and unforgettable experience for walking tourists.

BELLEEK WOODS

This trail comprises of a wooded area of the former Belleek estate. There are many historical features to be seen along the trail, including a hermitage, ice house and a wall built during the Irish Famine (1845).

ENNISCRONE BEACH

Enniscrone of the golden sunsets boasts a 3 mile uninterrupted sandy beach, suitable for a romantic stroll, or for the more energetic, a good power walk.

CROSSMOLINA LOOP WALKS

A series of Loop Walks were developed in the Crossmolina area. The Walking Trails consist of Local Town Walks, Woodland (Heritage) Walks and Mountain Walks.

SLIGO WAY

The Sligo Way is a marked walking trail starting at Lough Talt. Following the general line of the Ox Mountains this very scenic trail runs from Lough Talt on the Sligo/Mayo border to Dromahair at the south-east end of Lough Gill.

CROAGH PATRICK MOUNTAIN

It is the third highest mountain in County Mayo. Normally, it takes about two hours for the average person to reach the summit, and one and a half hours to descend.

KNOCKNAREA MOUNTAIN

The relatively easy walk will take approximately 45 to 60 minutes and leads to a mound of stones at the top known as Queen Meaves Grave – Connaughts legendary queen.

GOLF

For golfing in Mayo, The Ice House is placed to a tee. Within easy shooting distance of some of the country’s best links and parkland courses and with a team on hand happy to organise everything for you, it’s the perfect place to stay and play. Enniscrone, Carne (Belmullet), Ballina, Strandhill, Sligo and Rosses Point all offer different levels of difficulty yet all are just a short drive away.

THE CEIDE FIELDS

Just a short drive from The Ice House lie the Ceide Fields, one of Mayo’s most famous tourist attractions, this is the oldest known field system in the world. A unique Neolithic landscape with megalithic tombs preserved beneath a blanket of peat, it has changed our perception of our Stone Age ancestors. Visit the multi award winning visitor centre and let it change yours too.

Retrace the footsteps of Irish history at - Ceide Fields

FOXFORD WOOLLEN MILLS

Step back in time to experience Irish life as it was in the 1800’s at the award winning Foxford Woollen Mills Visitor Centre, just a short drive from The Ice House. Enjoy a multimedia tour, see a working mill as it runs today, get a taste for the tradition, design and craftsmanship that has been passed down for generations. And best of all… Ice House guests enjoy a 10% discount at Foxford Woollen Mills.

Find out more about this wonderful woven world - HERE

CONNACHT WHISKEY DISTILLERY

The Connacht Distillery sits on the banks of the beautiful River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo. It was set-up to bring pure pot still Irish whiskey back to the West of Ireland after an absence of over 100 years. They distill and barrel spirits on site and offer small interactive tours including a chance to sample their Whiskey and spirits.

Book Distillery tours - HERE

JACKIE CLARKE MUSEUM

Located in Ballina, this is the most important private collection of Irish history material in public hands, comprising over 100,000 items spanning 400 years. It includes artifacts associated with Theobald Wolfe Tone; letters from Michael Collins, Douglas Hyde, Michael Davitt and O’Donovan Rossa. It also contains rare books, proclamations, posters, political cartoons, pamphlets, handbills, works by Sir John Lavery, maps, hunger strike material and personal items from Leaders of the 1916 Rising. Thousands of items can be seen on display in the Jackie Clarke Collection.

Take a look at more information about the collection - HERE

BROADHAVEN IRISH TOURS

Broadhaven Irish Tours explores Mayo’s ancient Neolithic history and stunning scenery. From fishing to dining in beautiful restaurants, which sell locally caught seafood, it's an experience you’ll never forget and an uniquely amazing way of seeing the best of Mayo.

Find out all the details on their website to book your tour directly. - HERE

SIMPLY SUP - STAND UP PADDLING

Whether you've tried Stand Up Paddling before or fancy trying something new, Dianne and the team at Simply SUP will give you a unique view of Lough Conn and River Moy from a stand-up paddleboard. Immerse yourself in an amazing gentle, low-impact, all-over workout all whilst taking in the stunning scenery and having great fun.

Simply SUP offers everything from Beginners lessons to Improver stand-up paddling sessions. To find out more, check out their website - HERE

Check out our blog "48 Hours in Ice House Hotel" for more inspiration -HERE

Take a look at 50 things to do in North Mayo - a handy guide with lots of ideas and activities to enjoy - HERE