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Achill Island, Ireland

Stay in Keel: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Keel

Watch this spot We email you when Achill Island is worth the trip.

About Achill Island

Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces SW, so wind from the NE blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.

Water about 14°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing SW. Wind from the SW blows onshore, wind from the NE blows out to sea, and wind from the NW or SE runs along the shore. It is exposed to the open sea. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 200 m out (1 in 22). The sea is about 9°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 16°C in August, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For kitesurfing at intermediate level the best months are usually February and December, with about 4 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Keel. Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.

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Book the trip

From Chicago: about 18 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to NOC, changing at LHR.

    See flights ORD → NOC · Skyscanner from about £365 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 1 h 45 from the airport to Achill Island.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in KeelAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Kitesurfing lessons in Keel · GetYourGuideAdKite and board hire in Keel · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Achill Island on Google Maps · Directions

The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.

One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

Best on Tue 20: 19 kn gusting 29, side-shore. Water: waves 2.4 m.

The score for kite, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreWindGustsShoreWater
Mon 19Oct016knside2.1 mwaves
Tue 20Oct7629knside2.4 mwaves
Wed 21Oct6829knside-on3.4 mwaves
Thu 22Oct020knon2.8 mwaves
Fri 23Oct4041knside-on4.2 mwaves
Sat 24Oct7034knside3.1 mwaves
Sun 25Oct4042knside-on4.9 mwaves
Mon 26Oct3842knon3.9 mwaves
Tue 27Oct6636knside-on3.2 mwaves
Wed 28Oct7132knon–

Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.

The season

Good kite days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan3of 7
  2. Feb4of 7
  3. Mar3of 7
  4. Apr2of 7
  5. May2of 7
  6. Jun2of 7
  7. Jul2of 7
  8. Aug3of 7
  9. Sep3of 7
  10. Oct3of 7
  11. Nov3of 7
  12. Dec4of 7

Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.

Your trip, day by day

6 nights from Tue 20 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for kite. Change dates

  1. Tue 20 Oct
    Travel out

    Fly ORD to NOC, changing at LHR, then 1h 45 by road. About 18h 15 door to door

  2. Wed 21 Oct
    Kite Pure Magic

    24 kn gusting 36, side-onshore. Water: waves 1 m.

  3. Thu 22 Oct
    Rest day

    Not enough of the right wind: 10 kn gusting 20, onshore. Offshore: not safe to ride. Water: waves 2.8 m.

  4. Fri 23 Oct
    Kite Achill Island

    28 kn gusting 41, side-onshore. Water: waves 4.2 m.

  5. Sat 24 Oct
    Kite Achill Island

    22 kn gusting 34, side-shore. Water: waves 3.1 m.

  6. Sun 25 Oct
    Kite Achill Island

    24 kn gusting 42, side-onshore. Water: waves 4.9 m.

  7. Mon 26 Oct
    Travel home

    Fly ORD to NOC, changing at LHR, then 1h 45 by road. About 18h 15 door to door

Rough cost

About £1,015–£1,885 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.

  • Flights £365–£755
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Hire car £110–£180
  • Stay £260–£430
  • Food £245–£455

Places to eat near Keel

Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Kitesurfing lessons · GetYourGuide Kite and board hire · GetYourGuide

Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.