We are spending 3 nights in Galway and then driving to Westport for the final evening before heading back to Dublin. The Rick Steve's guide shows a loop drive thru Connemara. Since we are only traveling one way I'm trying to map out the route to see the best part. It looks like we should do the proposed loop, but in reverse and stopping with Westport, but it seems we might be missing a lot not seeing Ashford Castle. Has anyone done the trip recently and have suggestions. Many thanks.
Posted by
Utah
455 posts
We did what you are proposing. We drove from Galway to Cong and visited the Abbey then walked down to the Fishermen's Hut. We weren't interested in the movie sights. We went by Ashford Castle and took some photos. If you aren't a guest there is a fee to enter and we didn't feel inclined, and we were visiting other gardens during the trip.
From here on we did the loop in reverse. We drove on R-345 to Maam Cross then to Recess and to Clifden. I think we cut across, skipping Roundstone, but I am not sure. We drove to the Connemara National Park Visitor Center at Letterfrack and looked at the exhibits. It was an interesting little museum. The plan was to take a short hike but it was pouring rain so we drove on to Kylemore Abbey. We have gorgeous photos of it in the rain. Again no interest in touring the interior. We did a bit of shopping in the nice gift shop.
Driving through the boglands was really interesting and we made a few photo stops to see different stages of the cutting and drying. Do be sure to "Slog on the Bog". Jumping on it is really fascinating. We drove on around pretty Killary Fjord, stopped for a photo at Asleagh Falls and drove through Doo Lough Valley which was scenic and desolate. We arrived at Croagh Patrick too late for the Visitors Center. Again we opted not to walk up the hill in the rain. We took some pics of the coffin ship sculpture and headed on to Westport for dinner and our hotel.
Posted by
OP
41 posts
That sounds perfect! Thank you for your suggestion
Posted by
southern california
239 posts
Carolyn,
I am assuming you did all that in one day???? If so do you recall how long it took? We will be in the area the first of October. We were planning on driving from Galway to Cong and seeing the sights (pretty much those RS mentions) plus doing the Hawk Walk at the Ashford Castle. Afterwards we were going to drive straight to Westport. We would be in Westport for 3 nights. On one of the days we were going to drive from Westport down to Clifden sightseeing along the way and then we would basically double back the same way. The second day we were going to bike the great Western Greenway, which of course is weather dependent. Perhaps we should go from Cong to Clifden and spend one night and sightsee on our way up to Westport the next day. I was trying to avoid one night stays but want to avoid backtracking also. Only down side to that would be we would only have one day to bike which may or may not be a good one. We can be flexible in what we do but I do want to have reservations for the night (s) ahead of time.
Posted by
Utah
455 posts
Yes it was one day. We were on the road each day by 9. We got to Westport at dinner time, probably between 6 and 7. If I had your options I would do one night midway.
Posted by
southern california
239 posts
Carolyn,
That does sound like a full day. My plan is to be on the road by 9 AM and at our destination (for the night) by 5 PM. We will probably stay in Clifden for one night now. Thanks for the idea!