Five Ways to Keep Warm in Westport

It might be cold outside, but here in Westport, we know how to stay cozy and warm when it’s wintry. If you find yourself in town when the temperatures are low or there’s a wild Atlantic gale a blowin’, there are many ways to keep the heat in your cheeks and the pep in your step.

During the colder months, is there anything nicer than taking refuge in a cosy pub with a roaring fires? Many of Westport’s welcoming pubs have open fires, including Toby’s on Mill Street, McGing’s on High Street, Blouser’s on James’s Street, The Big Tree on Peter Street, McCarthy’s on Quay Hill, and Matt Molloy’s and MacBride’s, both on Bridge Street. Order a hot whiskey, settle onto a stool and feel the warm glow.

Many of the wonderful spas offer warm massages – try an Indian hot herbal poultice massage at the Westport Coast Hotel’s Spa Veda, a warm bamboo massage at Knockranny House Hotel’s Spa Salveo, a hot stone massage at Senses Spa at Hotel Westport or a warm oil massage at Westport Plaza’s Spa Sula Thermal Suites – where you can also sink into an outdoor hot tub afterwards… mmmm….

When it’s chilly outside, a brisk hike up our most famous mountain will definitely get the blood up, the heart pumping and the internal thermostat soaring. By the time you reach the top, your cheeks will have a rosy glow, and you wont feel the cold one bit. When you come back down the mountain, be sure to drop into Campbell’s at the foothills of the Reek for a hot port – sure haven’t you’ve earned it?!

And after a hike up Croagh Patrick, what could be better to ease those tired muscles than a deliciously warming session in a sauna or steam room. Check out any of the hotel spas, or nip into the pool area at Westport Leisure Park, which has a great steam room, a fab sauna and a wonderfully icy plunge pool for those who want the full Scandi experience.

Nothing gets the blood flowing and the cheeks glowing like hitting the dance floor. If you’re in the mood for clubbing, head to the Castle Late Night Venue, just beside the Plaza Hotel. Spread over two floors, its four rooms each have their own style – clubby house and dance, retro vibe, opulence and glamour or mellow acoustic. There’s also plenty of space to dance to DJs in Cosy Joe’s and Henehan’s, both on Bridge Street.