Out and about
You will be surprised at just how many things there are to do when you are out and about in Connemara. Here are some examples together with an indication of how long it takes to get to them by car
The Wild Atlantic Way
The cottage is on the Atlantic side of the Wild Atlantic Way and is only five minutes away by car. In fact the only way that you can get to the cottage is by driving along it. A day trip along the Wild Atlantic Way could take you as far south as the Cliffs Of Moher and as far north as Westport, but you are likely to get distracted by some of the visitor attractions that you will pass on the way, details of some of which are given below.
Visit:
http://www.thewildatlanticway.com/
or
http://www.wildatlanticway.com/
The Aran Isles
You can get there on the Rossaveal Ferry which is 30 minutes away. Visit:
http://www.aranislandferries.com
or you can fly there in a light aircraft from Connemara Airport which is 35 minutes away. Visit:
The Beaches
The nearest sandy beach is about half an hour's drive away at Finish Island, 3 miles west of the village of Kilkieran (at night you can see the lights from Kilkieran on the opposite side of the Bay from the cottage). It is well worth a visit but, if you go, make sure you go when the tide is out. It is flat and great for ball games or simply for going for a stroll between the rocks.
There are several other sandy beaches around Connemara, like Gurteen Bay and Dogs Bay which are just the other side of Roundstone and great for walking around the dramatic headland (see photograph below).
Some of the other sandy beaches can be found by visiting:
http://www.connemara.net/beaches/
Brigit's Garden
The garden is about 50 minutes away on the road to Galway. Visit:
Clifden
is about 45 minutes away. It is great for shopping, restaurants and pubs with live music.
A trip up the Sky Road to see the view out over the Atlantic is a must. Just follow the Road out of Clifden.
For more information about Clifden visit:
Cong
..for Cong Abbey and cruises on Lough Corrib. Cong is the village where "the Quiet Man" with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara was filmed. There is a DVD of the film at the cottage. It is about 55 minutes away. Visit:
https://discoverireland.ie/cong
Connemara National Park
is about 55 minutes away. Walking trails of varying degrees of difficulty up Diamond Hill are accessible from the Visitor Centre. Visit:
http://www.connemaranationalpark.ie/
Connemara Heritage & History Centre
Is about 40 minutes away. Visit:
http://www.connemaraheritage.com/
Galway
is about an hour away and is a must for shopping, pubs, street performers, restaurants and festivals. Visit:
A very unusual and must-visit pub is in the Skeffington Arms in Eyre Square.
http://www.skeffington.ie/the-skeff-bar/
Glengowla Silver and Lead Mine
is also a working farm where you can see Connemara ponies, meet "Bob" the sheep dog, pet the lambs and go for farm walks. It is about 40 minutes away. Visit:
Golf Courses
- Connemara Isles Golf Club:
This pretty and unique 9 hole course, which you can see from the cottage across Kilkieran Bay, is 45 minutes away. Visit:
https://www.connemaraireland.com/tourism-directory/connemara-isles-golf-club
- Connemara Championship Golf Links:
This Championship course in Ballyconneely has 27 holes and is about one hour away. Visit:
http://www.connemaragolflinks.com/
- Oughterard Golf Club:
is a parkland course lined by mature native Irish trees. It is 35 minutes away. Visit:
https://oughterardgolfclub.com
Killary Fjord
Killary is the only fjord in Ireland. There are up to four 90 minute sightseeing cruises a day between April and October . At the end of the fjord is the village of Leenane where the film "The Field" was filmed, which starred John Hurt, Richard Harris and Sean Bean. There is a DVD of the film at the cottage. The fjord and Leenane are 50 minutes away. Visit:
Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden
The Abbey and Garden are the top visitor attraction in the west of Ireland. It is in a beautiful spot and well worth a visit. It is about 50 minutes away. Visit:
Ireland Tourist Attractions | Kylemore Abbey in Connemara
Oughterard
is about 35 minutes away from the cottage. Try the Boat Inn for very good bar food. Just outside of Oughterard is the pretty Augnanure Castle.
Visit:
http://www.oughterardtourism.com/mysitecaddy/site3/attractionsaughnanurecastle.htm
There are daily cruises on Lough Corrib on most days during the holiday season visiting the Inchigoill Island and Ashford Castle, which is just outside of Cong. Cruises leave Oughterard at 12.00noon. There is time to visit Cong (see above) before the return trip, arriving back at Oughterard at 6.00pm.
Visit:
http://corribcruises.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&Itemid=125
Roundstone
Is a pretty and vibrant fishing village about 45 minutes away from the cottage. The bars and restaurants are worth a try. If you enjoy fresh seafood try O'Dowds just opposite the Quay.
Visit:
