We take you on a guided tour through Connemara on a unique blend of beautiful coastal and inland scenery. Galway... Moycullen... Oughterard... Maam Cross... Recess... Clifden... Sky Road... Alcock And Brown Memorial... Ballyconneely... Roundstone... Ballynahinch... Recess... Return To Galway.
Your chauffeur guides you from Galway as you leave and head on the leafy road to the village of Moycullen and continue with views of Lough Corrib on to Oughterard the largest town on the western side of Lough Corrib. You can visit Aughnanure Castle, built circa 1500, and the home of "The Ferocious O'Flahertys". One of the O'Flahertys, Donal of the Battles, married the famous Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley, also known as Grainuaile.
Your chauffeur then brings you towards Maam Cross as the rugged landscape of Connemara unfolds. The effects of the Ice Age are clearly visible. Majestic mountains rise from land that contrasts sharply between boglands and rock. Maam Cross has, at times, been described as "The Piccadilly Circus of Connemara". Cattle fairs are still held here and there is a 60-foot Viewing Tower that gives breathtaking panoramic views.
There is also a replica of the Thatched Cottage that was used in the filming of the movie classic, "The Quiet Man". We continue to Recess passing through more beautiful and rugged landscapes until we reach Clifden, the largest town in the region and considered to be the Capital of Connemara.
Clifden was founded early in the 19th. Century by local landlord and sheriff, John D'Arcy. The town nestles on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and has a superb backdrop of mountains. Clifden has many fine Restaurants and Irish Pubs that cater to most tastes. From here we go to the Sky Road, a seven-mile exhilarating drive with views including D'arcy Castle, and the Islands of Turbot and Inishturk.
We leave The Sky Road and go to the area where Alcock and Brown landed their Vickers Vimy in the Derrygimlagh Bog after flying 1900 miles from Newfoundland on June 15th, 1919. Roundstone is a lovely village at Errisbeg Mountain's foot and was founded by the celebrated Scottish Engineer, Alexander Nimmo.
Your guide brings you along the coast road to Ballyconneeely by Connemara Golf Club passing the beautiful sandy beaches at Gurteen and Dog’s Bay. Ballyconneely is another small attractive village set at the foot of Errisbeg and boasts a challenging and picturesque 27 hole Championship Golf Course set on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
We head back inland towards Ballynahinch Castle which stands overlooking the Ballynahinch River and has been intertwined with the history of the people of Connemara for centuries from the times of The O'Flaherty Chieftains to Humanity Dick Martin and H.R.H. The Mahaharaja Ranjitsinji. From here we head towards Recess, an area of bogland, forest, and lakes that is dominated by the quartzite peaks of the mountain range known as The Twelve Bens. Connemara Marble is quarried on the lower slopes of the mountains and there is an excellent display of a variety of products crafted from this lovely stone at Joyces of Recess. We now start our return to Galway City via Maam Cross, Oughterard, and Moycullen. While this last thirty miles or so was traveled on the way out, you will find that it looks completely different in the setting sun's contrast.
The above itinerary covers the main route and does not include the hidden gems that we have discovered over the years.
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