Hello, I booked a B&B for 2 nights in Galway and then 2 nights in Westport but now considering finding 1 place in, on the coast, somewhere between both for 4 nights. Any suggestions? For town and place to self cater or B&B?
Posted by
Alexandria, VA
771 posts
What about Clifden? You could visit the coastal town of Roundstone on the way there, and Connemara National Park on the way to Westport.
Posted by
Chattanooga, TN USA
589 posts
We stayed in Clifden for four nights, which is well located for exploring Connemara and up into County Mayo. I found a two-story townhouse on Airbnb, very spacious with an outdoor area and most importantly for me, a washer and dryer! If you’re interested I’ll look up the details. It was the owner’s previous residence.
Posted by
OP
Boston
209 posts
That would be great thank you
Posted by
Missoula, Montana
512 posts
Not on the coast, but on lovely Killary Harbor (with Ireland's only fjord) is the village of Leenane. Situated at the base of the surrounding mountains in one of the country's lovliest spots, it has a few B&Bs plus one of Ireland's best lunch and dinner eateries, the Blackberry Restaurant: https://www.blackberryrestaurant.ie/
Co. Mayo is just across the harbor, with the road taking you through the ruggedly beautiful Doolough Valley en route to Westport. Eleven miles west of Westport visit the National Famine Memorial and climb Croagh Patrick, which are across the road from each other just outside the village of Murrisk.
And as two others have suggested, both Roundstone and Clifden are likewise well worth a night or two.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2980 posts
Our preference is Clifden as well.
Aside from having all the charms of a very pretty market town, it's right on the N59 - the "Connemarra Loop" drive that will take you to the National Park, Kylemore Abbey and the village of Cong. The Sky Road scenic drive is just west of the town and is one of Ireland's best on a sunny day - that's where we stay ourselves when we're in the area. It's also a relatively short drive to the ferry landing at Rossaveel for the crossing over to Inishmore, and only about 15 minutes by car to the village of Cleggan and the short ferry ride over to the island on Inishbofin - one of Ireland's better kept secrets.
Leenane is indeed very nice and is about 35 minutes from Clifden, while the Doolough Valley and famine memorial are another 20 minutes up the road.
We stayed there for a week on our last trip and never ran out of things to do.
Posted by
2 posts
A few years ago we did a bike tour of Connemara with the touring company arranging B&B's along our itinerary. All recommendations are solid - none of the towns are urban centers but Roundstone and Leenane are less congested than Clifden if that helps. Cleegan is another option - there's a ferry that goes to a nearby island, Inishboffin - very walkable for a day trip - ruins of an old monastery and some nice beaches - the ferry trip can be wild if the seas are up.