Wild Atlantic Way, Clare and Connemara

Take your time on the drive across the island of Ireland, stopping along the way to experience the endless hospitality and wealth of attractions all across the country. As you approach the west coast and the Wild Atlantic Way, prepare to draw breath as the sublime beauty of Connemara comes in to view, with the Atlantic Ocean endless and shimmering in the distance. It’s hard to disagree with the maxim that posits when you visit Connemara you ‘experience the real beauty of Ireland’.

Your Accommodation in Connemara

A vivacious, art-lovers’ property, this family-owned guest house is a rare jewel where guests’ comfort is the top priority. Set at the Clifden harbourside, the centre of Connemara’s colourful ‘Capital’, with its flurry of restaurants, shops and music-filled bars is just an eight-minute walk away. Inviting rooms exude an air of calm, while the extensive traditional Irish breakfast on offer will set you up for a day in the bracing air, exploring the Wild Atlantic Way.

Take just a short drive to the ferry port at Cleggan for the eight mile crossing to the island of Inishbofin. This tiny island, seemingly drifting on the sparkling Atlantic, boasts some of the best beaches in Europe, littered with shells and lapped by crystal clear waters. Three superb walking loops are defined around the island, while there is a number of excellent dining options for lunch. The views of the Connemara coast on the return trip are not to be missed, and you might be lucky to see an unforgettable west of Ireland sunset.

Enjoy a day exploring the wild peninsula of Connemara on an electric bike. You’ll discover the rising drama of Sky Road, leading to open sandy beaches, single track roads across the bog, and delicious seafood chowder washed down with a pint of the black stuff. If social history is your thing, spend a couple of hours at Derrygimlagh, the evocative spot where Alcock and Brown safely crash landed their plane in July 1919 on completion of the first non-stop Transatlantic flight. News spread fast about their pioneering feat, since this same place happened to host Marconi’s experimental communication station. Nowadays, boardwalks and interpretation boards help your imagination to recreate the scenes of a century ago.

We’ll provide plenty of recommendations to help you make the most of your Connemara holiday time.

You’re in for a terrific day on the road today, along some of Ireland’s most spectacular coastline, as the Wild Atlantic Way winds its way south-east through County Galway and south-west in to Co. Clare. With endless bays, coves, cliffs and beaches to tempt you, you’ll want to make the most of this route, taking your time to discover its people and places and delve into this superb landscape.

Your Hotel in County Clare

Hidden on three sides by the rising limestone outcrops of the Burren, your hotel by Ballvaughan is a privately-owned country house of the finest quality. Everything from the carefully chosen fresh flowers in the hallway to the Egyptian cotton bedding in the tranquil rooms, and superb local produce on offer in the restaurant, has been meticulously pored over, yet the pervading feel is one of relaxed conviviality. And the setting? Pure drama, the landscape sloping away from the front door all the way to the shores of Galway Bay.

After a superb Irish breakfast, take a 20 minute drive to the picturesque village of Doolin, stepping off point for the ferry to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran islands. World famous for its importance to Christian and Celtic culture, mythology and tradition, Inis Mór is home to around 50 monuments of historical interest, with many more sites of archaeological significance. With cliffs rising 100 metres from the ocean, hosting ruined forts and churches, some of Europe’s most picturesque ruins exist here on this island. Beautiful beaches, more towering cliffs and charming villages dot the island, ideally experienced on foot or on a rented bicycle, available close to the ferry port. Another breathtaking journey awaits upon your return to the mainland, as the setting sun illuminates Co. Clare’s Cliffs of Mohr – yet another unforgettable sight in this most beautiful country.

This morning, meet your guide at Ballyvaughan for a fascinating day on the Burren. This vast limestone pavement is one of the most mysterious landscapes in Europe, home to a host of unique wildflowers and rare fauna. Your guide is a man of the land here, born and brought up in the midst of this fascinating location – there is simply no-one better to guide you through the science, myths and legends that exist and thrive here. Full of stories and the craic, you’ll come away enriched and entertained having had a fabulous day on the Burren.

Enjoy one last sumptuous Irish breakfast, before taking to the road for your return journey across the island of Ireland to catch your ferry home.