I'll soon be finding myself in this lovely set of counties for a few days...can anyone recommend sites/scenery that would be worth seeing? I've looked into it a little and Kylemore Abbey, Knock, and Achill Island seem like they are worth seeing. I'm not overly interested in spending time in Galway City, although the Aran Islands look promising. On a small side note, is there a car park for the Aran Island Ferry out of either Spiddle or Galway (I'm assuming so but trust Murphy's law to prove me wrong)
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
Yes, there are car parks at the docks in Galway and Rossaveal (and I assume at Spiddle, though I generally hear of people leaving from Doolin, Galway, or Rossaveal). Clifden and Roundstone are nice little towns in Co. Galway. If you drive to Clifden from Galway, then take the Sky Road to Kylemore Abbey you will pass the Connemara National Park. The scenery along the Sky Road is stunning - every turn is better than the last. In fact, all of Connemara is stunning, no matter where you go.
Posted by
Bloomingon, IL
18 posts
We loved hiking Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park - if you like that sort of thing it's beautiful and not too strenuous. We also loved the Carrowmore megalith cemetery near Sligo - many types of tombs in close proximity. The drive through Doolough Valley was spectacular as was Achill Island. So much more - read Rick's Ireland book on the area!
Posted by
Milwaukee, WI, USA
45 posts
In Sligo, I visited the Drumcliff Churchyard where the poet W.B. Yeats is buried. It is overlooked by Ben Bulben and there is a high cross and the remains of a high tower there. The surrounding area is very beautiful.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
712 posts
As Nancy said, Sky Road is fantastic. We stayed in a bed and breakfast on Lower Sky Road outside of Clifden. It is called Dolphin Bay Beach House. The views from there were spectacular and one of the highlights of our trip. I wish I could wake up every morning to that view from our room and the breakfast room. You can walk down there to the water's edge. We could have driven into town for dinner but took the local cab they recommended so as not to have to drive back home after the dinner and music at the pub. My husband and nephew drove from there one of the days to climb Crough Patrick. Their web site is - http://www.dolphinbeachhouse.com/dolphinbeachhouse.html
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
712 posts
In Sligo our bed and Breakfast recommended seeing the raptor show at "Eagles Flying". It really was worth it, both fun and educational. My husband and nephew got to have some of the birds fly on and off their arm. Their web site is - http://www.eaglesflying.com/
Posted by
dayton, ohio, usa
4 posts
In sligo I highly recommend going and have a spa treatment[INVALID]its a seaweed bath. I guarentee you will love it. You will feel so good Wash your hair in it even. It is the best spa treatment I have ever had and here in the states there are only 3 spas in the country that have it.
Posted by
Ocean Shores, Wa, USA
124 posts
We enjoyed our stay in the small village of Gurteen, south of Sligo. 2 pubs in town feature trad music, and the Coleman Music Center is also in Gurteen, and well worth a stop. It has a media center, and you can hear recordings of many hundreds of musicians playing all of the traditional musical instruments of Ireland. Their state-of-the-art theatre schedules live musicians from time to time, and their gift shop/music store is fantastic. Churchview B&B was our favorite of the whole 2 week trip in August of 09, spent in NW Ireland, and visiting many of the sights mentioned above. Dan