6 Places You Must Visit In Connemara
I absolutely love the west of Ireland. It is so peaceful and picturesque and for me it really sums up the beauty of our little island. Since I met Andrew, we have visited Connemara a number of times. His family have a beautiful house in Roundstone that is right on the harbour and the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Dublin life. There are so many places to see and things to do as well which makes the 3+ hour journey so worthwhile.
Our favourite spots
Ballynahinch Castle
Every time we go to Connemara, we always do a walk in the Ballynahinch castle grounds. This location is home to a beautiful hotel, that serves really good food. The grounds are stunning, and there are a number of different walking routes you can take. There is a large lake on the grounds that some of the paths encompass. Depending on the weather, you can see some of the best reflections of the sky here.
O'Dowd's, Roundstone
Roundstone is a quaint little fishing village. I have only visited when it was really quiet, in the winter months but have been told in the summer time it is full of life and at times very busy. The most famous place in Roundstone, and rightly so, is O’Dowds Seafood Bar & Restaurant. They have THE best crab claws and muscles that I have ever eaten in my life. Hands down. If you find yourself in Roundstone, you have to eat here!
Clifden Town
Clifden is the largest town in the region. With a whole host of little shops, cafes, and bars, it is definitely worth a trip. This is where all the larger supermarkets are, we always end up making a pitstop or two during our time in Connemara. Some of our favourite places to eat and drink are:
- Guys Bar
- Steam
- Twelve Pins Coffee
Dogs Bay Beach
This beach has to be one of my favourites of all time. So peaceful. So picturesque and the bay is nice and protected too.
Kylemore Abbey
Kylemore Abbey is one of the most famous attractions in Connemara. The estate is so beautiful and is home to Ireland’s largest Victorian Walled Garden. You can take some time exploring the woodland and lakeside views and during the summer they provide tours of the walled garden.
Connemara National Park
Connemara National Park features 2,957 hectares of mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands and forests. It is the perfect backdrop to any photo, and with so many treks to explore you are bound to experience a different adventure with each and every visit. Admission is free into the park, visitor centre, audio visual theatre and all events too so it is a great, inexpensive day out for the whole family.
Related Posts
Lombok & The Gili Islands, Indonesia
We spent ten days travelling Lombok and three of the Gili Islands – Gili Air, Gili Meno & Gili Trawangan. Lombok First stop on our Indonesian adventure was Lombok. Lombok is a huge island of
Malta: The Ultimate Travel Guide
Malta is a small European archipelago in the central Mediterranean located just between the South of Italy (near Sicily) and the North African coast. English and Italian are the two most common influe
48 Hours in Bruges
With its charming streets, beautiful stone bridges and peaceful canals it is easy to see why Bruges has become a top tourist destination. I absolutely fell in love with it’s charm and I will happily
Bangkok, Thailand
We have officially arrived! At last, after almost two years of planning we have made it to our first stop – Bangkok, Thailand. Getting there We flew from Dublin Airport to Istanbul and from ther
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and also the largest city. It is well known for its impressive skyline and with most of Malaysia, it’s mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural
Vietnam: Where To Go & What To See
Vietnam is one of those countries that I have always wanted to visit. The last time I was over this side of the world I didn’t have enough time to go, and so I made it my mission to get here this ti