County Mayo, in the west of Ireland, stretches from Lough Corrib and the long fjord of Killary Harbour in the south to Killala Bay and Erris in the North, and from Achill Island, Clew Bay and the Mullet peninsula in the west to the counties of Sligo and Roscommon on the east.   It has astonishing scenery, with an unspoilt natural environment, where people have lived in harmony with their surroundings for over 6,000 years. The natural beauty of the green countryside and varied landscape, with mountains, lakes and rivers, is a dream for lovers of nature. Each vista has its own special delight.

       Its coastline, the longest of any Irish county, has three major bays: Clew Bay, Blacksod and Killala. The landscape varies from the relatively flat carboniferous limestone terrain in East Mayo, through a chain of beautiful lakes down the middle of the county from north to south:  Lough Conn, Lough Cullin, Lough Carra, Lough Mask, and the northern section of Lough Corrib, all renowned for their game fishing, to the quartzite peaks along the indented Atlantic coast, where there are cliffs interspersed with pristine sandy beaches.  The cliffs have some of the oldest rocks in the country to delight geological enthusiasts. Large tracts of blanket bog in North Mayo contrast with the mountains of South Mayo, and illustrate the diversity of topographical features that characterise the county, varying from valley to valley.   Mweelrea (817m), the highest mountain in Connacht, situated just north of Killary Harbour, is the start of a charming mountain range: Ben Gorm, Ben Creggan, the Sheeffry Hills, Maumtrasna and the Partry Mountains. This area has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.

      Further north, the landscape is dominated by Croagh Patrick, where for a thousand years and more, thousands of pilgrims annually have worn a path to the summit. The view from the top is enchanting on a clear day; the islands of Inishturk and Inishbofin rise out of the pounding Atlantic waves on the southwest, with Clare Island on the northwest, the drumlin-studded Clew Bay to the north, and Achill Island in the background.  There are spectacular sea cliffs on Achill Island.  The Nephin Beg range of mountains lies north of Clew Bay, with peaks of Nephin Beg (627m), Slieve Carr (722m), Glennamong (628m) and Nephin (806m), giving way further north to a large area of blanket bog.  South of Ballina, the River Moy (100km from its source in the Ox mountain range in County Sligo to Killala Bay) forms a fertile valley around the western end of the Ox Mountains in County Mayo.  There is a drumlin area between Lough Conn and Lough Mask and westwards to Clew Bay. Spectacular sea-cliffs can be enjoyed along the North Mayo coastline, especially between Benwee Head and Downpatrick Head, and several sandy beaches all the way along the indented shoreline to Enishcrone (alias Inniscrone) in County Sligo.