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Tip: A lovely day's drive circuit out of Galway, IRE

Here is a suggested driving tour route that we did with a private guide. It takes about 8 hours. We loved it! PM me if you want info on the private guide (who was excellent!)

  • 09:00-Departed Galway

-Cong (Cong Abbey, Quite Man statue)

-Lough Nafooey valley and the Nafooey Waterfall

-Killary Harbour scenic overlook at Killary Fjord

-Lunch at Kylemore Abbey (we thought we might tour the abbey, too, but ended up just making it a lunch and shopping stop which was fine for our crew. We were able to get a great photo of us with the abbey in the background across the lake from the parking lot at the shop and cafe).

-Instead of going into Connemara National Park next for a look 'round and a short hike as we had planned, we decided to skip it and push on to Clifden to hike out to the Clifden Castle ruins. Our guide stayed with the car, but as a family we trudged down the dirt road and to the ruins which are in an absolutely spectacular setting. We met a man at the ruins who owns adjacent property just to make sure all was well as we explored the ruins. They tolerate visitors there but are leery because of the liability of climbing around the ruins. It is worth a try to get there though.

-Drove the Sky Road in Clifden and stopped at the scenic overlook

-Returned to Galway.

You can easily see this route on on Google maps https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1qz3An7VavXvFGPY8tqa425hmBCVAMMM&usp=sharing

Posted by
3809 posts

Thanks so much for the info. Bookmarked your post! I went to Galway briefly on a bus tour a few years ago during a quick visit to Ireland -- found a dirt-cheap airfare back in the days of dirt-cheap airfares and made a few-day trip to Dublin.

Galway plays significantly into my family history, which I realized after the fact. I would like to get back there some day!

Posted by
7 posts

You're welcome. Galway is a great town. We would love to go back someday. The Latin Quarter and the Claddaugh are especially fun to explore.