The Connemara Tour!

From the rugged Twelve Bens mountain range in the north through lake-rich Roundstone Bog to the golden beaches reaching out into the Atlantic Ocean, you'll know you're in Connemara by the light that constantly changes the mood and tone of the landscape.
Connemara has long been regarded as the real emerald of Ireland. This natural terrain and unspoilt environment offers the visitor a wonderland of sights, experiences, adventure and activities. The people are warm, friendly and extend a hospitality which is the essence of Ireland.



Clifden
This castle was build in the mid-1700's by a wealthy local landowner. It overlooks Cliden Bay on the Sky Road just outside of Clifden town. Sadly this once great house was only occupied for just about 90 years before it was abandoned during the Great Famine. Local history tells how the lord and lady of Clifden spent their last penny feeding and clothing those struck during the Great Famine until they were finally penniless themselves and immigrated. Today the castle stands open for anyone who wants to visit.

Roundstone
Roundstone is one of the oldest resorts in Connemara. The village was built in the 1820s by Scottish engineer Alexander Nimmo. In Roundstone you will find a busy little harbour, where local fishermen prepare and return with the day's catches of lobster, crayfish, crab and mackerel, plus a variety of other fish.
Roundstone is situated in the heart of Connemara, and is one of the oldest fishing villages on the west coast, and is an area of much natural beauty, as well as being the birth place and inspiration for much of Ireland's artistic creations. It has also been described many times as a "botanist's delight" as many wild flowers, rare to this country, are found in the area known as Errisbeg which rises almost to 1,000 ft (west of the village).

Connemara National Park
Situated in the heart of the West of Ireland in County Galway, Connemara National Park covers some 2,957 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands. Some of the Park's mountains, namely Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght, are part of the famous Twelve Bens or Beanna Beola range.


Kylemore Abbey
Picturesque Kylemore Abbey, the home of the Benedictine nuns, stands at the edge of the lake surrounded by woodlands. The gothic castle was built by Mitchell Henry, an English businessman in 1865. After the tragic death of his wife about a decade later he lost interest in the estate and it was eventually bought by the Benedictine order after fleeing their convent in Ypres during World War One. The grounds and part of the Abbey are open to the public.