Day Five

Westport, designated as one of Failte Ireland’s Heritage Towns, is growing in popularity as a tourist centre. Soak up the continental atmosphere of Westport – a heritage town full of nostalgia – while you stroll along the tree-lined river, colourful flower displays, courtyards and shops steeped in character.

We leave Westport for Louisburgh, a gateway to the romantic solitudes of Glencullin and Doo Lough, and an area with fine blue-flagged sandy beaches. From Louisburgh we travel to the beautiful village of Leenane. Snugly situated at the head of Killary Harbour, Leenane is often aptly described as the ‘Gateway to Connemara’. The roads from Maam, Clifden, and Westport meet at this point. Killary Harbour extends ten miles inland and with the mountains rising steeply on either side provides what is probably the best scenery in Ireland. 

No visit to Connemara would be complete without a visit to Killary Fjord, which lies nestled between County Mayo to the north and County Galway to the south. Recognised as Ireland’s only Fjord, this 14km (9 miles) long inlet boasts some of the finest scenery in the West of Ireland.

From Killary we travel to Connemara. Connemara National Park is situated in the heart of the West of Ireland near Letterfrack, and covers some 2,000 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths and grasslands. Some of the Park’s mountains are part of the famous Twelve Bens range. Attractions include exhibitions, nature trails, red deer, Connemara ponies, and an audio visual show.

Before travelling on to Clifden you have the option of visting Cleggan, where a  wild and wonderful stretch of atlantic shoreline influences the shape of the landscape and affects the lives of all who dwell in its presence. The focal point of the picturesque village of Cleggan is its pier which is the closest mainland link for the islands of Inishturk and Inishbofin. Cleggan Beach Riding Centre is situated on the entrance to Cleggan village and they offer beach trekking to a very high standard. The trek to Omey Island is an experience not to be missed.

We then travel on to the town of Clifden, set between the Atlantic Ocean, 12 Ben Mountains and preserved bog lands, on the Coast of Connemara. It is an area at long last recognized as a new popular destination and not just a place to ‘breeze through’. Clifden is enhanced by spectacular scenery, championship golfing, horse-riding, walking, cycling, hill walking, beaches, fishing, scuba diving, painting, national parks, abbeys, castle ruins and over 5,000 years of living history. Peruse the many shopping choices in Clifden from sweater shops, quality gift shops, boutiques to antique and souvenir shops.

Lunch in tea-shops and pubs and in the evenings, indulge in Clifden’s emerging reputation as the West’s ‘Gourmet Capital’ by dining in its fine restaurants and hotels. And finish the day by enjoying a tipple in the towns many hostelries, from the genuine ‘quaint-Irish’ to the more trendy. Music is also to be found on your rounds.