Seven things to do with the kids in Westport

If you're looking for things to do in Mayo with kids, you're in luck! Westport offers plenty of fun places to go in Ireland for families. Westport’s got family fun in spades, buckets and spades, if you go to the beach. But we’re not just about castles, real or sand, there's no shortage of activities to keep your little ones entertained and happy. Here's just a taste of what we have to offer...

Synonymous with Westport and the famous Grace O'Malley, the Pirate Adventure Park at Westport House is a fun-filled paradise for children. For thrills, there’s everything from the Cannonball Run slide, Pirate Queen Swinging Ship, and Pirates Plunge flume ride to go-karting. The park is said to be one of the most exciting things to do in Mayo. For a gentler pace, families love the swan pedalo boats on the lake and the Westport House Express train ride along a miniature railway.

To keep little bellies fuelled up, head to the Galley and the Old Kitchen Cafe in the basement of Westport House (right beside real-life dungeons). Take a load off at Gracy’s Bar and Café, right beside another kid magnet – the Pirates Playground. If you’re looking for an indoor soft-play area, the Pirate’s Den has it all.

Bring the kids out horse or pony trekking for a special experience they’ll always remember.

The go! trekking! center, based at Westport Woods Hotel & Spa, has a great range of rides to choose from – exhilarating beach treks, winding treks through the heather-clad foothills of Croagh Patrick, or, for the Robin Hoods and Maid Marians out there, fast-paced forest canters.

A plethora of other stables offers trekking opportunities through all sorts of trail terrain too, including Carowholly Stables and Trekking Centre, three miles outside Westport, which offers beach rides for a range of experience levels and trail rides for experienced riders. Visitors have claimed it's one of the most amazing outdoor activities in Mayo.

Clew Bay Horse Riding at Drummindoo Stud offers pony camps for children from seven years during school holidays, as well as daily trail rides for kids over 12 (accompanied).

Westport House offers 20-minute twilight pony rides for children, set in the magical surrounds of Westport House Estate. They’ll truly feel like little lords and ladies of the manor.

Many of Westport's top-class hotels offer kids’ clubs that occupy little hands, legs, and minds while parents and guardians take some well-deserved time out!

The Panda Club at Hotel Westport, which has different groups for younger and older kids, offers indoor and outdoor activities. These include arts and crafts, painting, storytelling, swimming, treasure hunts, marshmallow tower building, disco competitions, and puppet shows.

Westport Woods Hoteloffers three kids’ clubs – go! toddlers! go! kids! and go! teens! – each providing age-appropriate fun, including art, storytime, swimming, kayaking, movie nights, rock climbing, and surfing.

Fancy getting up close and personal with some animals? Check out Glen Keen Farm, 14 miles south of Westport Town. There, families can experience all sorts of demonstrations, from sheep herding to sheep shearing and even wool spinning!

For those happy to take a short spin, head out to Graune Pet Farm and Play Centre, just an hour from Westport. Children can meet pigs, goats, sheep, and all manner of feathery farm fowl. There’s also a cool play area and a restaurant.

If hens don’t impress the kids, why not step it up and introduce them to a magnificent hawk at Westport House’s Birds of Prey center? Book a hawk walk along the estate’s woodland trails, and marvel as a hawk periodically flies down to land on a gloved hand.

Feeling fishy? Head up to the Achill Experience Aquarium and Visitor Centre. Sixteen tanks contain all sorts of fish and crustaceans found in waters along the Mayo coast – including wonderful rarities like a blue lobster.

You’ll also be mesmerised by tropical fish from around the world. Touch tanks for the brave allow kids to stroke starfish, scallops, and even sea urchins. A prickly business.

Westport’s state-of-the-art skatepark, playground, and games area lie just beside the Westport Greenway. It boasts purpose-built skateboarding, scooter, and rollerblading area, as well as an AstroTurf pitch used for basketball, soccer, volleyball, camogie, hurling, Gaelic football, and rugby.

Sit back and enjoy the views of Croagh Patrick as your little ones zoom up and down and all around, tiring themselves out. Joy. If they still have energy afterward, you could always hop on a bike and cycle out along the Greenway to Murrisk and Croagh Patrick – and maybe even climb the mountain… You won’t hear a peep out of them after that!

Who doesn’t like a good game of shoot-’em up? Westport Wargames offers a range of adrenaline-pumping outdoor military-style adventures.

For older teens (16+), try an action-packed day of paintballing – strategy, skill, and teamwork will all be tested – as will their aim.

Kids’ Splatball is a fun adventure for kids aged from seven to 13, though bigger kids and grown-ups will also enjoy running around Westport Wargames’ game zones, learning to aim at targets, and playing real paintball-style games.

Yes, you read that right, FootGolf. A blend of football and golf, FootGolf is played on a golf course – but instead of swinging golf clubs and hitting golf balls, children and adults alike fall about the place laughing while kicking a standard-size football from tee to green. It truly is one of the most enjoyable Westport activities there is.

Just like with golf, each hole carries a par, and the aim is to get the ball into the hole in as few shots as possible. Head to Westport Country Lodge to try out FootGolf for yourselves – competitive, skillful, addictive … and just a little bit silly.

Places To Stay With The Kids

If you're planning a family break or a family holiday in Ireland, you'll be pleased to know that Westport has plenty of options for family-friendly hotels. Whether you're looking for family rooms or amenities that cater to children of all ages, you're sure to find something to suit your needs. With a whole host of amazing accommodation options available, Westport is the perfect destination for your next family getaway.

Check out our accommodation recommendations here.