For those with less time to spare, we can offer this four day tour in the West of Ireland including hiking in Connemara and the Aran Islands, taking in the Fort of Dun Aenghus, Kylemore Abbey, Killary Fjord, and Omey Island.
Itinerary Information
| Western Ireland Tour Details for 2023 and 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sat 30 Sep to Tues 3 Oct 2023 3 Places Available | Depart Galway City 9 am Return Galway City 3 pm Duration: 4 days | US$2699 Single Supplement $380 |
| Fri 7 June to Mon 19 June 2024 5 Places Available | US$2999 Single Supplement $380 | |
Tour Map: Western Ireland Break
Tour Highlights
Included In Tour
DAY 1: MEET AT GALWAY CITY, TRAVEL TO CONNEMARA. HIKE OMEY ISLAND
Terrain: quiet lanes, beaches and sandy tracks. Walking Distance 5 miles (8 km)
From Galway City we drive west to Clifden: a great little town known as the “Jewel of Connemara”. We will be accommodated at a lovely guest house for the next two nights, right on the edge of town. Our first walk will be at Omey Island. This is a beautiful little island located just off the Connemara shore and we can reach it by walking across the sand at low tide. We will take a circular walk travelling by ancient tracks beside a lake and then out across quiet sandy beaches. We will take our evening meal at one of Clifden’s many fine restaurants, and there may be some traditional music to hear in the pubs.
Overnight: Clifden, Connemara. Meals included: Lunch and Dinner
DAY 2: VISIT KYLEMORE ABBEY AND WALLED GARDENS. HIKE AT KILLARY FJORD
Terrain: waterside paths, rocky tracks. Elev Gain: 100 ft. Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)
First stop today is Kylemore Abbey: nestled at the base of Druchruach Mountain in the heart of Connemara, Kylemore is regarded as one of Ireland’s most beautiful buildings. Built in 1867 by Mitchell Henry as a romantic gift to his wife, Kylemore Abbey and the surrounding mountains and lakes are steeped in history. Today the Abbey and the estate are open to visitors and the main areas to be visited are the Abbey itself, the Gothic Church, and the Victorian Walled Gardens. There are also craft shops, pottery studio, and tea rooms with home-baked cakes.
Overnight: Clifden, Connemara. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch.
DAY 3: TAKE FERRY TO ARAN ISLANDS. HIKE ON INISHMORE
Terrain: quiet lanes, grassy tracks, rocky shore. Walking Distance 7 miles (11.3 km)
Inishmore (trans ‘the big island’) is the largest of the three Aran Islands and the most remote. The name Aran is from the Irish Arainn which translates as “the long ride”. An appropriate name for an island 9 miles long by 3 miles wide. There is no place like Aran, an island covered in a myriad of dry stone walls, colourful wild flowers, tiny fertile meadows and endless Pre-Christian and Christian sites of interest. All with a boundary of wild Atlantic waves. You will find the whole place absolutely enchanting!
Walk Options: the full walk is 7 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.
Overnight: Kilmurvey, Inishmore, Aran Islands. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 4: RETURN TO MAINLAND. TRANSFER AND DROP OFF AT GALWAY CITY
This morning, after breakfast, we will take a short walk and then take the lunchtime ferry back to Rossaveal. We will then drive to Galway City where the tour ends and you will be dropped at the Galway City Rail / Bus Station.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch Included.
Short Breaks West Coast of Ireland
Western Ireland Walks – Short Breaks West Coast of Ireland – Tours Of The West Coast of Ireland – Hiking and Walking Vacation in Connemara and Aran Islands