So… due to Ireland’s charmingly unpredictable weather we have to think on our feet regarding activities, but never fear – we have a plan for every type of weather.

The goal is to fit in at least two activities per day (as well as yoga) but these will be subject to the whims of the weather.

For everything we do we provide all equipment, including wetsuits, booties and life jackets, so all you have to remember is to bring a towel and a swimsuit!

Here’s a run through of the activities provided.

This is the stuff we want to fit in on every trip, and we will for sure if the weather permits

Kitesurfing

If the wind’s blowing we’ll be kiting – here’s what we’ll provide

Beginners

One three hour kitesurfing lesson. Which will cover basic land kite flying, kite set up and safety, water based LEI kite flying and bodydragging if you’re up to it.

Intermediates

One three hour kitesurfing lesson. Which will be decided on according to your level – body dragging, board starts etc.

Independent Riders Without Equipment

We’ll provide three hours of supervised equipment rental including help launching and landing and pointers in the water. Equipment will be usually shared between two riders.

Independent Riders with their own Equipment

We’ll provide supervision, pointers and a clinic on a subject of your choice.

SUP

We’ll be taking you guys on a SUP adventure through some of Ireland’s most beautiful scenery, either on the sea or in one of the many lakes.

We’ll be sure to run through the basics of SUPing and run the trip in flat, safe conditions – meaning it will be suitable for beginners as well as experienced SUPers.

Surfing

We’ll be running surf lessons and providing rentals depending on your level. Cross beach is a perfect spot for learning and we’ll do everything we can to get you standing on your first wave.

Yoga

Whatever the weather we’ll be running our yoga classes every day before breakfast in our brand new yoga room.

Bonfire

We love a good bonfire and we’ll be sure to get one burning on one of the nights if the rain stays at bay… and where there’s a bonfire there’s a music session.

Other Activities

This is the stuff that we’ll do if the weather doesn’t allow for the main activities… but they’re still class.

Coasteering

This is where we put on helmets, wetsuits and buoyancy aids – then we jump off cliffs, swim through caves and have loads of Craic.

Hiking

If the weather isn’t playing ball for watersports (which is rare out wesht) we’ll dust off our hiking boots and take on Croagh Patrick – Ireland’s famous Holy Mountain.

The Pub

If the rain’s bucketing down on both nights and we detect a case of cabin fever we’ll make haste to downtown Louisburgh for a few restorative pints.

Friday

For those without cars who are coming from Dublin we’ll meet on Google on Barrow Street at 5.30 on Friday evening, we’ll be in touch with plans for carpooling via email. If you’re without a car and coming from elsewhere be sure to get in touch and we’ll figure out how to get you down there.

The drive should take around 3 and a half hours meaning we probably won’t be there until 9.30 earliest.
When we get down BigStyle’s Atlantic Lodge the team will have food waiting for us weary travelers – be sure to let us know if anyone is a vegetarian so we can make a plan.
We’ll have a few beers at the Lodge and see where the night takes us.

We’ll have a few beers at the BBQ spot and we might even go down to the pub for anyone who’s keen.

Saturday

We’re up nice and early on Saturday morning, around 8am, then we’ll be running a yoga class first thing in the morning – in the garden of the retreat in good whether or inside if it’s raining.

Then we’ll meet for breakfast and after that we’ll head out to start the day’s adventures, in between activities the Lodge team will serve up some hearty lunch.

After the day’s adventures it’ll be back to BigStyle HQ for beers, food, bonfire, craic, tunes and a fair bit of bejaysus.

Sunday

We might leave the wake up a little later on Sunday but the minute we get up (after a bit of Yoga and breakfast) we’ll be back into the great outdoors for our next adventure.

The aim is to get our activities done by 2 or 3pm and then after a bit of lunch try and hit the road.

We’ll be exhausted… the good kind of exhausted though

• Two nights accommodation in shared rooms
• Two breakfasts and two dinners
• All activities and equipment:
• Kitesurfing lessons
• SUPing
• Yoga
• Surfing
• Coasteering
• BigStyle games
• Loads of craic
• No hidden costs – we’re sound

• Transport down… buuutttttt – we’ve always car-pooled people down and we’ve never left a man behind. If there’s no space in cars we’ll figure something else out, but it’s never happened.
• Alcoholic beverages – but there’ll be plenty of opportunities to stock up in an off-licence or enjoy a creamy pint of black stuff in a local boozer.

So there are two ways of getting down to us.

1. SELF DRIVE 

If you have your own car it’s a straightforward 3.5 – 4 hour drive down the M6. If you’re driving solo or have space in your car we’ll try to find you some other guests to carpool with.
Once we know who’s going we can start putting plans together regarding this.

2. TRAIN & LIFT

You can take the train from Dublin to Westport and we can collect you from Westport train station and bring you straight to the lodge.

The transfer from Westport train station to the lodge costs €10 each way  

From Dublin the plan would be:
Outgoing: Take the 18.15 train from Dublin Heuston to Westport on Friday evening

Return: Take the 5.45 train from Westport to Dublin Heuston on the Sunday evening

The train usually costs €40 return and takes 3.5 hours

We have three types of accommodation, which one you choose slightly affects the pricing of the trips.

Dorms

We have a three bed and a six bed dorm

Glamping

We have two wonderful bell tents. One double and one twin

Private Rooms

We have four private rooms. Two twins inside the house and two double bed cabins outside the house.