Have you ever wanted too have an apertif while admiring 360° views as the sun sets? To go to bed under a sky full of stars as the sea gently laps at the beach below? Or wake up to the sound of the surf and seagulls? This is the unique experience staying in a lighthouse, many of which around the world have been turned in to boutique guest accommodations, offers.
I’ve long been obsessed with lighthouses. Lighthouses are a captivating part of history, and their remote locations are often some of the most beautiful coastal landscapes. Staying in one was a dream, and I couldn’t resist including a lighthouse stay in my Ireland itinerary when I came across a striking lighthouse turned luxury bed and breakfast on a charming island off of Ireland’s west coast.
Clare Island, located just 6 kilometers (3.5 miles) off the west coast of County Mayo, guards the entrance to Clew Bay and its more than 100 islands. It is a distinctly treeless island. The sparsely beautiful land, towering craggy cliffs and white sand beaches make Clare Island an alluring island to explore along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Clare Island has a population of just 160 people, and the island is mostly unspoiled and practically car free. But it is crowned with another of Ireland’s most beautiful and must-see lighthouses: Clare Island Lighthouse.
Clare Island Lighthouse
Clare Island Lighthouse was built in 1806 and was in service for 159 continuous years before being decommissioned in 1965. The lighthouse then privately purchased in 2008, restored and turned in to a luxury bed and breakfast.
Perched on a 103 meter high cliff overlooking Clew Bay and with views to Achill, Westport and beyond, the lighthouse is one of Ireland’s most unique and magical stays.
Not open to day visitors, guests at Clare Island Lighthouse have full run of the lighthouse complex. More than just a tower, Clare Island Lighthouse is actually a collection of small buildings, two towers and a converted out building all securely enclosed within the original stone walls dating back to 1806. Not just pet-friendly, but truly pet welcoming, Coco had free run of the entire complex to explore, play ball, relax and even climb the lighthouse tower.
The Main House is the heart of Clare Island Lighthouse and was the original lighthouse keeper’s home. There’s a massive and well-equipped kitchen complete with a refectory-style table you can dine at right in the kitchen if you choose. As the lighthouse does not have an onsite restaurant for lunches and dinners, guests are welcome to utilize the kitchen to prepare meals during your stay.
There’s also a formal dining room with a gorgeous period mahogany dining table. And the dining room also has a library with a collection of books about lighthouses, novels, and non-fiction. The books are available for guests to borrow during your stay. And an old piano has main character energy, which guests are welcome to tinkle the ivories.
Leading from the dining room is a cozy drawing room where guests can relax. There’s a variety of board games to enjoy, and is a perfect spot to cozy up with a book, enjoy a cup of tea, or have a pre-dinner drink.
A sunlit kissed conservatory, where breakfast is served, rounds out the common areas located in the Main House. With panoramic views to across to Achill Island, we chose to have dinner in the conservatory to enjoy the palette of pinks and oranges as the sun began its descent from the sky.
Three of the guest rooms are located upstairs in the Main House: Achill View, Jackie O’Grady and William Landers.
The Lantern Tower is accessible from the Main House and rises 118 meters (387 feet) tall. This tower was built in 1818 after there was a fire in the original lighthouse tower. All guests have access to the Lantern Tower throughout your stay. With breathtaking 360° views, it the perfect place to take a glass of wine and watch the sunset. And it is worth the early morning wake-up alarm for a stunning scene as the sky is painted in a palette of soft pinks and blues at sunrise.
Note that the exterior balcony of the Lantern Tower is accessed by a small little iron door you sort of have to climb out of.
The Rooms
Clare Island Lighthouse has seven guest rooms, each uniquely designed and decorated. All of the guest rooms are designed and furnished with period fittings and fixtures, original artworks, old-style cast iron bed frames with one of the most comfortable mattresses you will ever sleep on, wood burning stoves or fireplaces, and under floor heating.
The rooms are truly the perfect blend of old and new, offering all the modern comforts mixed with the charm of history.
We stayed in the Sauna Suite, which is set in its own detached outbuilding on the grounds. The largest of the guest rooms, the Sauna Suite has a spacious bedroom and sitting area with French doors that open on to your own private flagstone patio and garden with views across the sea to Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s most famous mountain.
There’s a wood burning stove to light for cozy, cooler nights. The wood floors also have under floor heating to keep you comfortable.
And perhaps the highlight is the private sauna in the bathroom with its’ stunning view sea views with Croagh Patrick rising in the distance. The sauna was even voted one of the “Top 10 Saunas of the World with a Spectacular View”.
While Coco and I stayed in the Sauna Suite, I did peak in to some of the other rooms. Clare Island Lighthouse has two towers and if you’re ever wanted to sleep in lighthouse tower, the Tower House is the ideal room. There’s a sitting room and bathroom at ground level, while the bedroom is uniquely set in the original light tower and has incredible sea views. Some of the furniture was even specially commissioned for the curved bedroom.
Dining at Clare Island Lighthouse
Clare Island Lighthouse does not have an onsite restaurant. However, guests are welcome to utilize the well-eqipped kitchen and all spices and condiments on hand during your stay.
Before catching the ferry over to Clare Island, I stopped off to purchase some groceries for a gourmet dinner. I picked up some Irish beef steaks, potatoes, mushrooms, wine, and also stopped at a local bakery for a delicious loaf of sourdough bread. I made steaks with steakhouse mushrooms and smash potatoes served with the sourdough and an herbed Irish butter. A bottle of Malbec was the perfect accompaniment.
There was only one other couple staying at Clare Island Lighthouse during our stay, and I just coordinated with them for kitchen time earlier in the afternoon. But the 5 ring SMEG gas cooker and large oven provides plenty of space for several guests to cook at once.
If you don’t want to spend your evening cooking a feast from scratch, Clare Island Lighthouse does offer the option to purchase some locally produced precooked meals that you can heat up in the kitchen. The other couple were local guests from mainland Ireland, and they opted to bring their own precooked meal to just heat up. Additionally, a local private chef is available to book on request for your stay.
Clare Island does also have some restaurants, which you either walk to or take the island taxi to. The Stone Barn Cafe is open in summer and booking is required for dinner. The restaurant offers a set 5-course tasting menu for dinner, showcasing seasonal ingredients from their garden. The Clare Island Community Center also has a bistro serving a menu of seafood chowder, fish and chips, pasta and a burger.
The lighthouse offers a healthy continental lighthouse breakfast for an additional fee per guest. We enjoyed a locally made granola with yogurt, toast with jam, and an egg of choice with coffee, tea, and juice.
Of course, guests are also welcome to bring what you like for breakfast and utilize the kitchen if preferred over ordering the continental breakfast.
Things to Do on Clare Island
Walking or biking is the primary activity on Clare Island, and there’s a lot to see. You can visit the blue flag Clare Island Beach or make the trek to the sheltered cove for a swim, see Granuaile’s Castle where Grace O’Malley lived, visit the Clare Island Abbey and see the megalithic tomb dating back 4000 years.
Granuaile’s Castle
Clare Island is also an ancient settlement and famous as the 16th century home of the pirate queen Gráinne (Grace) O’Malley. Gráinne O’Malley is one of Ireland’s feminist icons and revered for ruling over land and sea as the family clan leader after her father’s death in the 16th Century. Considered the fiercest female in Ireland’s history, she commanded ships that plundered the oceans near Ireland for decades and rebelled against the English army who attempted to steal her family’s territory. She even famously refused to bow to Queen Elizabeth I because she considered them equals as a queen in her own right.
Granuaile’s Castle, the home of Gráinne O’Malley, stands watch over the harbor of Clare Island. The castle was built in the 16th century by the O’Malley family, a powerful Gaelic clan within Connaught. It’s strategic position helped control access to Clew Bay.
Local legend has it that Grace O’Malley’s head is buried near the castle.
The castle is now considered ruined, though it is actually in excellent condition. Access to the interior is strictly forbidden, but you can admire the tower house from the harbor.
Clare Island Abbey
Clare Island Abbey is a 12th century Cistercian Abbey and said to be the site of the baptism, marriages and tomb of Grace O’Malley. The abbey contains tombs of the O’Malley family and a plaque beside the tomb has the family motto ‘Terra Mariq Potens’, meaning Powerful by Land and Sea. It is believed that Grace O’Malley is buried in the family tomb.
The abbey is also known for its significant collection of surviving Medieval wall paintings. Only four other such paintwork examples exist in Ireland, and Clare Island Abbey offers one of the best opportunities to experience what a medieval painted interior would have looked like.
If the abbey is not unlocked, visitors can get the key from the caretaker at the neighboring shop.
Clare Island Blue Flag Beach
Ireland has a prestigious system of awarding a Blue Flag to beaches that meet high international standards for water quality, safety, environmental management, and education. The Blue Flag is awarded each year during Ireland’s official bathing season from June 1 to September 15. Clare Island has consistently maintained its’ Blue Flag for the Clare Island Beach year after year, which is located right next to harbor.
Clare Island Beach is stunning with its white sand beach and crystal clear waters that look more like the Caribbean. The beach boasts plenty of wildlife and even the sheep love to visit the beach. There’s also a volleyball net, a picnic area, public toilets, dogs are welcome on a leash, and the beach is a short distance from the Clare Island Community Center. The sheltered beach has no strong currents or riptides, making it a perfect spot for a swim in Clew Bay.
During the summer season, you can also rent stand up paddle boards from Clare Island local Charlie McCabe right at the harbor. To reserve a SUP, call Charlie at +353 087 9004897.
Hiking Trails
Clare Island is 8 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide. There are several marked hiking trails to explore the island.
The Fawnglass Loop is a 3 kilometer loop that begins and ends at the harbor, circling the town of Fawnglass and Knockaveen Hill with views of Clew Bay along the way.
For a longer hike, the 7 kilometer long Knocknaveen Loop also starts and ends at the harbor. Follow the marked trail through hills and bogs, past the small loughs of Creggan and Leinnapollbruty to the old schoolhouse.
The Lighthouse Loop starts at the harbor and continues on a gradual uphill to the Clare Island Lighthouse for 4.4 kilometers. It’s a lovely walk I recommend at least one way, though the lighthouse itself is only accessible to Clare Island Lighthouse guests. I recommend making the walk at least one way, and the lighthouse keeper will transport your luggage from and to the harbor if you prefer to walk upon arrival or departure.
The longest and most challenging marked trail is the 10.1 kilometer long Knockmore Hill and Signal Tower Loop, which continues on from the Knocknaveen Loop. The trail extends out to the seabird cliffs and Signal Tower. This trail takes you to the high point of Clare Island at 462 meters.
Getting to Clare Island
Clare Island is located off the west coast of Ireland in County Mayo. O’Malley Ferries is a family-run business and are descendants of the Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley. O’Malley Ferries operates a year round fast ferry service from Roonagh Pier, 30 minutes from Westport. It takes just 20 minutes to reach Clare Island on the 97 passenger ferry. Their boats offers a heated salon, or take in views of Clew Bay from the deck. The ferries are also dog-friendly and dogs travel free of charge.
Only Clare Island residents can bring cars over to Clare Island. There is a free car park that is CCTV monitored at Roonagh Pier.
We were guests of Clare Island Lighthouse in order to bring you this story. However, Luxe Adventure Traveler maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site. As always, all thoughts, opinions, and enthusiasm for travel are entirely our own. This article contains affiliate links. When you book through our Expedia affiliate sites, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
