We are staying in Clifden for 4.5 days (coming from Galway city) and want to do several Conemarra day trips. I am looking to organize our time into 4 days, with the last half day as a "flex" day.
We are flexible and these are not rigid/set days. Weather will likely play a big factor.....just trying to organize our time and geographic areas to have a general idea and try to hit the highlights- bogs, mountains, beaches, and gorgeous scenery. We will have a car and are a family of 5, with 3 young teens. We will be staying in Clifden Thurs - Monday (departing Monday)
4 Days of "soft itineraries"
***Galway city to Roundstone. Hike (or walk a little bit of the trail) on Errisbeg Mountain, go to Dog's Bay and Gurteen beaches. Explore, shop, eat. **From Galway, is it more desirable to take the coastal route the entire way - R336 through Spiddal, staying on R336/R340/R342/R341 OR from Galway take highway N59 to R340 near Cashel to Roundstone.
***Clifden - stay local in Clifden and explore. Get lost, eat, shop, wonder. Drive Sky Drive counterclockwise at sunset.
***Cong/Ashford Castle via Maam Valley. We have reservations at Ashford on Saturday for Falconry/Archery and Afternoon Tea from 1:30-5pm. *What is the best/most scenic route to Cong from Clifden: N59 North (with R344 South diversion to Inagh Valley) to R336 South to R345 East OR from Clifden take N59 East (with R344 North diversion to Inagh Valley) to R336 North to RR345 East
*Need some help with this* Connemara National Park - start in Letterfrack and hike Diamond Hill, drive by and stop to see Kylemore Abby (won't likely go in, but view from afar) to Joyce Country Sheep Dog demo (near Leenane)- closed Sundays, demos at 11am, 1pm and 3:30pm, then Killary Harbor/Leenane and take 90-minute boat ride through the fjord. Drive up into the Delphi Valley and Doolough.
****Westport - Want to get up here and trying to figure out what days/sights "to put together." Explore Westport, consider biking some of the Great Western Greenway (prob not all the way to Achill). From Clifden take what looks like most direct route, N59 North to Westport. Return home driving R335 through the DooLough Valley (if this itinerary, then will try to add either Sheep Dog or Killary Fjord and won't drive up to Delphi Valley on Connemara Day.
If I take an activity/area away, what do I remove: Westport biking, Diamond Head hike, Joyce Country Sheepdog, Killary Harbor boat ride? Or do we TRY to add someone each day to fit it all in? We can start and each day in Clifden and not have a "Clifden day."