Achill Island named the 8th best island in the world

Kenneth Fox

Global travel site Big 7 Travel has named Achill Island the 8th best island in the world.

As part of 'The 50 Best Islands in the World', which is now in its 7th year, the diverse list includes breathtaking islands from around the globe, each offering unique experiences and natural beauty.

Achill ranked highly for its pristine beaches, with Keem Bay consistently voted one of the world's best stretches of sand, and for the crystal-clear waters that draw Ireland's basking sharks to its coast.

According to Big 7, the small island off Ireland’s Atlantic coast, Achill, knows how to show off.

"The island is a kaleidoscope of colour, from soft pink sunrises and turquoise seas to moss-green hills and fiery sunsets.

"Achill is loved for its breathtakingly beautiful, pristine beaches – Keem Bay, for example, is consistently voted one of the world’s best stretches of sand.

"The crystal-clear waters are also popular with basking sharks, Ireland’s gentle giants. Try spotting them from the golden sands – or, if luck is on your side, you might get a chance encounter on a paddleboard."

Top 10 Best Islands in the world:

1. Sri Lanka

2. Mo’orea, French Polynesia

3.Socotra, Yemen

4.Madeira

5. The Galapagos, Ecuador

6. Great Exuma, Bahamas

7.Seychelles

8. Achill Island, Ireland

9. Koh Lipe, Thailand

10. Milos, Greece

To compile the ranking, the Big 7 Travel editorial team combined aggregated scores from previous media results and travel awards with insights from its social audience, then applied its in-house editorial expertise to draw up the final list of 50.