Connemara, Kylemore Abbey and Wild Atlantic Way tour from Galway

09:30 - Depart Galway Tour vehicle departs Merchants Road, Galway, outside the Kinlay Hostel at 09:30. Please present 15 minutes prior to departure. Leaving the city, your locally sourced and fully trained driver / guide will take you from Galway out into the wilds of Connemara. You will discover stunning landscapes and explore the wildness of this enchanted land in our luxury tour coaches. En route, you will pass beautiful coastal villages, thatched cottages, fields of dry-stone walls and vast expanses of bog land.

A quick photo stop at the picturesque Screebe Waterfall The Connemara landscape along with the Wild Atlantic coastline has inspired many writers and musicians including French singer / songwriter, Michel Sandou’s popular hit ‘Les lacs du Connemara.’

This is one of Connemara’s most popular viewpoints and the perfect spot to capture stunning photos of the iconic Pine Island framed by mountains and sky.

Derryclare Lough is a freshwater lake at the entrance to the Inagh valley. This is a popular viewpoint for visitors to Connemara and a great place for photo opportunities of Pine Island. 11:30 - Clifden A chance to wander around the town of Clifden for half an hour. The unofficial residential and commercial capital of Connemara and the axis on which everything in the region turns. Founded in 1812, Clifden is positioned between the mountains and ocean and has historic links to Marconi, Alcock and Brown.

12:15 - Sky Road Viewing Point A photo stop at the Sky Road The Sky Road is one of the Discovery Points on the Wild Atlantic Way. A 16km circular route that starts in Clifden and rises high above the Atlantic Ocean, offering spectacular panoramic views. On a clear day the view from here has to be seen to be believed!

12:45 - Connemara National Park - 3 hour stop On todays tour you have a choice of main stop. Either 3 hours in Connemara National Park or 3 hours at Kylemore Abbey. Free, accessible and richly rewarding, the Connemara National Park is a gateway to a deeper level of intimacy with this unique landscape. The Diamond Hill trails are an idyllic hiking experience, one that climbs through wild uplands before rewarding you with jaw-dropping views across the region.

13:00 - Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens - 3 hour stop For those of you who don’t wish to explore Connemara National Park, your alternative main stop option is one of Ireland’s most iconic sights, Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens Discounted admission available. Few buildings in Ireland or the world have such a dramatic setting or history as Kylemore Abbey. Built in the 1860’s by Mitchell Henry as a wedding gift to his wife Margaret, the magnificent castle at Kylemore is a must-see in Connemara. Your driver / guide will be able to source entry tickets at a discounted rate - cash only.

Another photo stop en route back to Galway City, at the inspiring Inagh Valley. Inagh valley is one of the most scenic valleys not just in Connemara but in the whole of Ireland. This romantic valley offers breathtaking views of peatlands, mountains, lakes and glorious countryside where sheep graze freely.

16:45 - The Connemara Giant Viewing Point There is a little bit of Connemara humour associated with this popular stop! The tiny village of Recess (Sraith Salach – riverside meadow of willows) is situated on the edge of the beautiful fishing lake of Glendalough and is home to the Connemara Giant or Con MacNamara, a statue overlooking the village car park.

18:30 - Arrive Galway Our driver / guide will return you to our departure point on Merchants Road, Galway, where our tour for today concludes. Time to say ' Good Bye' or 'Slan Abhaile' to our driver / guide. City