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Drive Galway to Clifden

If I have already received input on this, I apologize. I'm slowly loosing my mind trying to plan 4 trips occurring within less than a 4 month time period. Our trip to Ireland is one month, during the month of September.

One piece of our itinerary is a night in Galway and the next morning daytrip to Inishmore. We will return to Galway for our car and belongings and drive to Clifden. We can take N-59 which should take about 1.25 hours. Or we can take a slight detour at about Recess--> to Roundstone-->Ballyconeely-->Clifden for about 2 hours without stops. Of course, there would be stops for scenic views.

We are in Clifden two nights. The following day would be spent on the "Connemara Scenic Drive" from the Rick Steves guidebook. Steves has direction arrows on this drive started in Cong, thru the Maam Valley to Leenana. Any idea if it matters what direction we do the loop?

Appreciate any comments on whether the added time for the detour is worth getting to Clifden late.. We are fine doing a late dinner or some kind of dinner on the road for that evening as we head to our first night in Clifden.

So, I don't have to start a new thread, thoughts on whether we need to book the ferry to Inishmore from Galway ahead?

Thank you to the Ireland experts who have helped me in my trip planning.

Posted by
556 posts

I believe you meant Roundstone rather than Roundtree. Trees may well be round, but so are some stones! It's quite a nice village and worth a visit or overnight. Malachy Kearns's bodhran-making shop and retail store are there.

I highly recommend driving through the Inagh Valley along R344 between Recess and Kylemore Abbey. It's beautifully desolate, although there's a good hotel en route. Either direction on N59 is just fine, depending on other portions of your itinerary.

Although it's a good size, I would definitely book the ferry to Inishmore from Galway so you don't miss out.

Posted by
2356 posts

I agree about booking the ferry to Inishmore from Galway especially since you know this is something you want to do. I booked our tickets in advance for our trip this past May. The ferry was very, very crowded.

We did drive through Roundstone from Galway to Clifden, and we thought it was very pretty. Both my husband and I wished we had the time to stop but we didn't.