GUIDE TO CONNEMARA - including Clifden & Roundstone GENERAL ORIENTATION Connemara occupies the western area of County Galway from the Atlantic Coast to Oughterard and Lough Corrib. The Maamturk and Twevle Bens mountains dominate the interior of this rugged and unspoilt terrain. “A savage beauty” is how Oscar Wilde desribed Connemara and the ever changing light constantly alters the mood and tone of the landscape. Clifen – ‘the capital of Connemara – is at the head of Clifden Bay just north of Connemara Golf Club. The varied and beautiful scenery of To the west of Clifden the ‘Sky Road’ offers Connemara is perhaps its most appealing superb views of Clifden Bay and its offshore attraction. islands Inishturk and Turbot Island. In the north from Leenane towards Clifden is The R341 south of Clifden leads to Kilary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord framed to Ballyconneely, and then bears east to the the south by the Maamturk mountains and wonderful fishing village of Roundstone. Sky Road View actoss the fjord by the Mweelrea Mountains. Renvyle Strand A narrow bog road leads across the Roundstone Bog – a preserved area of bog Continuing west brings you to Connemara and lakes. National Park, Kylemore House and Abbey and Kylemore Lakes and Valley. The main N59 bears due east from Clifden towards Galway and to the north are the From nearby Cleggan ferries depart for Twelve Bens (or Pins), distinct peaks that are Inishbofin Island. Moyrus Harbour a walkers paradise. Clifden is the principal town in Connemara The R344 route from Leenane to Recess or and offer many shops, pubs and restaurants. the R336 from Leenane to Maam Cross show the true remote beauty of Connemara at its best. GUIDE TO CONNEMARA - including Clifden & Roundstone CONNEMARA HIGHLIGHTS X KILLARY HARBOUR X KYLEMORE ABBEY & GARDEN Ireland’s only fjord, where the sea reaches 14 Kylemore Abbey stands at the head of the Killary Harbour mile inland to the town of Leenane. A fjord is Inagh Valley that runs between the Connemara National a U-shaped valley created by glacier Connemara mountains. The mountaineous Park movement that remains submerged. valley around Kylemore is an area of old Kylemore Abbey oakwoods that terrace the mountains. Inishbofin Island Killary Harbour can be seen from the main Roundstone Bog Westport-Clifden route. Clifden Roundstone X CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK Near Letterfrack, Connemara National Park comprises nearly 5,000 acres of scenic Connemara countryside rich in flora and fauna. There are exhibitions, nature trails and audio-visual presentations including a complete lesson on how bogs are formed. Kylemore is a gothic castle built by Mitchell Henry, an English bisnessman in 1865. Following the tragic death of his wife in Egypt in 1874 he built the adjoining chapel as a memorial but lost interest in the estate. The Benedictine Nuns bought the Abbey in th the eraly 20 century having fled Ypres during World War I. The Abbey is still a working X ROUNDSTONE BOG boarding school though a number of rooms and the entire garden is open to the publcin. From near Ballinaboy, south of Clifden, to Connemara Beach near Toombeole, north of Roundstone, a narrow road leads across one of he finest examples of a low-lying blanket bog in X INISHBOFIN ISLAND Ireland. One of the few populated (~180) islands in Ireland, Inishbofin is renowned for its scenery, relaxation, deserted beaches and traditional entertainment. Accessible by ferry (40 minutes from Cleggan), Inishbofin is 5 miles Inishbofin Harbour long and two miles wide making it an ideal place to walk or cycle. Inishbofin has a wealth of ecological and historical attractions. There are seals and sometimes whales as well as colonies of seabirds. The island has Celtic cliff forts, a medieval harbour and a superb 17th century fort. At the western end signposted from the R341 is the landing place of Alcock & Brown on the first ever trans-Atlatic flight in June 1919. GUIDE TO CONNEMARA - including Clifden & Roundstone X CLIFDEN X DRIVE TOURS The ‘Capital of Connemara’ can become busy The Sky Road: To the west of Clifden the and crowded in summer. Nonetheless it Sky Road takes you high into the hills offers excellent souvenir shopping and overlooking Clifden Bay and its offshore several pubs and restaurants. islands Inishturk and Talbot Island. Famous for its views the road is a circular route with several vantage points. A visit to Clifden Castle is also wothwhile, built by the town’s founder, John D’Arcy, Clifden Castle is now a romatic ruin overlooking Clifden Bay. Dog’s Bay The Station House Museum charts the history of Clifden, the Connemara Pony, the Renvyle Peninsula: From Clifden follow the Connemara Railway and the first trans- N59 to Letterfrack and take the signposted Atlantic flight by Alcock & Brown and the first route from Letterfrack. The Renvyle peninsula trans-Atlantic exchange of radio signals by offers panoramic sea views and a number of Marconi. old Irish pubs in the villages of Tullycross and Tully. Boat trips on Balliakill Bay are available from the Ocean’s Alive Sea Life Centre. X ROUNDSTONE Cleggan Peninsula: From Clifden take the Roundstone is a picturesque fishing village on N59 towards Westport and turn left towards the southern shores of Connemara. The Claddaghduff. Along Streamstown Bay is harbour area is a pleasant stroll and small Doon Castle on the left. Omey Island is Standing Stone, trawlers still land their catch here. accessible by foot or car at low water across a Connemara firm sandy beach – follow the guide poles as At the top of the pier is O’Dowd’s pub with an the sand can become soft. Follow the road to attached restaurant. Both are excellent. Cleggan, a quaint fishing port and then either take the bog road back to Clifden or carry on to Moyard and return via picturesque Ballinakill Lough. Between Roundstone and Ballyconneely are two excellent beaches; Dog’s Bay and Lough Inagh Scenic Tour: One of the most Gorteen. beautiful and scenic routes is between the Maamturks and Twelve Bens past Lough To the west of Roundstone village an area Inagh. The route follows the R344 from known as Errisbeg rises to 1,000 feet and is Kylemore to Recess and can be taken from famed for its variety of botanic life – some Clifden or travelling to Clifden from Westport. species are extremely rare. .