11 Reasons Why Connemara Is the Best Destination in Ireland

I love Connemara.

It’s probably my favorite part of Ireland.

I know.

I say that about a lot of places.

But this time it’s true.

Connemara is my favorite place in Ireland.

And I think it’s the best destination in Ireland.

While I was able to spend more time here on this trip, it still wasn’t enough.

What makes this piece of the Emerald Isle so wonderful?

And where exactly is it?

 

Location and geography

First let’s get this straight: Connemara is not a county.

It’s actually part of County Galway — it starts around Oughterard and Lough Corrib and stretches west.

When you look at the map you can see that it has a jagged coastline filled with lots of little inlets and that the interior is more mountainous.

What it doesn’t have is fertile land or any big cities.

So what makes it the best destination in Ireland?

Let’s make a list.

 

Mountains

Although the highest peaks in Ireland are in County Kerry near Killarney National Park, there are some beautiful mountains and hills in Connemara.

The Twelve Bens are the most famous of the mountains of Connemara. These are 12 peaks located in the western section and are made up of quartzite.

The tallest of the Bens in Benbaun at 729 meters so it’s not all that big. But these peaks rise up from about sea level and are quite imposing — and beautiful.

And while you can climb all of these there are no actual trails on them so orienteering skills are a must.

The Maumturks are to the East of the Bens — to the East of the Inagh Valley — and top out at about 702m. There are four major peaks in this group.

Again these are not big mountains but they are stunning as they lord over Lough Inagh.

There are a few more mountains and hills scattered about such as Diamond Hill which is located in Connemara National Park. This “hill” does have a good trail to the top and is a fabulous hike especially in good weather.

So for those who want to play in the mountains or simply want to gaze upon mountain vistas, Connemara is a great destination.

 

The Sea

If you like to be near the water and smell the salty air Connemara has this as well.

If you look at a map of this area there is a lot of coastline and there are tons of inlets.

This means lots of opportunity to see the sea in all kinds of ways — from sea views from the tops of the mountains and hills to visiting quaint villages with harbors.

The smell of the sea is ever present in the air in Connemara.

And there are plenty of opportunities to play on the sea or simply sit and watch it from the shore.

Naturally this also means some pretty damn good fish and seafood for your dinner.

 

Peaty Bogland

Connemara is NOT a fertile land.

So there aren’t crops growing here nor will you see much cattle.

What you do have is peaty bogland. And this peat is cut to turn into fuel for putting in your fireplace.

There’s a certain beauty to this wet land.

The eco system here is pretty special so only certain types of plants grow here and as such only certain types of animals live here.

I personally love the peaty bogland and have hopes of seeing the heather in bloom on my next trip.

I dream of seeing the bogland covered with these purple-y pink flowers. For that you need to visit in summer and early autumn.

But in spring you will see gorse bushes with their vibrant yellow flowers.

There’s a hauntingly stark and desolate feel to the peaty bogland that represents a lot of the Irish history to me.

 

Towns and Villages

There are no big cities in Connemara — thankfully.

But there are some wonderful towns and some charming villages.

Clifden is the so-called “capital” of Connemara due to it’s size and location. It does make a great base for exploring the mountains, the sea and the loughs and peaty bogland.

I personally fell in love with Clifden on this trip — even though I had visited it twice before.

It’s a fabulous town with an authenticity to it, despite the fact that you will see a fair number of of travelers here.

But then there are villages like Roundstone, Tully, Letterfrack, Cleggan, and Leenaun.

Connemara is not a place for loads of culture — except for the good music you’ll get at the pub or the beautiful paintings you’ll see at a local shop.

It is a destination for connecting with the local folks.

 

Beaches

There are some gorgeous beaches in this little piece of Ireland.

Dog’s Bay and Gurteen Bay are 2 back to back beaches just a few kilometers outside of Roundstone. They’re lovely.

Mannin Bay has a couple of beaches for those seeking something a bit different with the rocks and mix of sand, rock and shells. The color of the water here blows me away.

Then there are the beaches on the Renvyle Peninsula — Renvyle, Lettergesh and Glassilaun. These are simply stunning!

In fact the day I drove around Renvyle I stopped and walked on the above 3 beaches and each one was equally beautiful.

The beaches of Connemara have impressed me which says a lot because if you follow my blog you know I’m a fan of the Donegal beaches. But these are just as special.

 

Sheep

Like sheep?

Connemara is definitely your destination.

There are sheep everywhere!

Then again since not much can grow here it is ideal for raising sheep.

And in the spring the fields are filled with sheep and the cute baby lambs.

A word of caution: they will be on the road so please be careful.

 

Drives

Connemara has some incredibly scenic drives and many of them aren’t all that long so won’t take all day — unless you want them to.

The Renvyle Peninsula is one of my favorites and not busy — at all!

Just to the south lies the drive that takes you to Claddaughduff and Cleggan. While not as pretty as Renvyle it’s still beautiful.

The drives along the southern coast and all the inlets to harbor villages like Roundstone and Carna are just lovely.

Then there are the drives through the Bens and Maumturks — the R336 that goes from Maam Cross to Leenaun and takes in the eastern side of the Maumturk Mountains and the R344 that goes through the Lough Inagh Valley which is the valley with the lake of the same name and runs between the 2 mountain ranges. These are both gorgeous drives.

There’s the Old Bog Road that’s just one car width that rambles through the peaty bogland and is dotted with sheep and views of the Bens. It’s a fun drive for sure.

And you will definitely not want to miss Sky road that loops out from Clifden. It’s a stunner.

Even the main N59 from Oughterard to Clifden is picturesque. Although it gets even better from Clifden up to the Killary Harbor area.

You can’t go wrong with any route in Connemara!

 

Active Connemara

If you’d rather be out of the car exploring that’s not a problem.

Connemara is loaded with cyclists, hikers, anglers and sailors.

There are some wonderful trails for walkers/hikers including short easy walks such as the Derryclare Forest Walk and the Killary Harbor Famine walk to more challenging hikes up the Bens.

There are a few walks in Connemara National Park from the easy Bog Road trail to the hike up Diamond Hill.

There are loads of cyclists visiting this piece of Ireland. Just take some of those fabulous drives mentioned above and make them cycling routes.

With all the lakes and streams and the miles of coastline there is ample opportunity for fishing and of course other water pursuits such as sailing.

For me, I’m a walker/hiker/runner so I was able to hike up Diamond Hill and run a bit on Sky Road.

There is a long distance trail called the Western Way that runs from Oughterard to Ballycastle in County Mayo. While I seem to see conflicting information on the distance, it looks to be about 115km. What is clear is that the scenery is stunning.

 

History

Connemara — like Ireland in general — has loads of interesting history.

Here you’ll find lots of famine history.

But there are also castles/ruins of castles such as Ballynahinch, Clifden, Aughnanure, and Renvyle and there’s the famous Kylemore Abbey which was originally a stately home.

While you won’t see the ancient ruins to the extent that you see in Cork, Kerry and Meath, there are a few standing stones here and there. They’re much harder to find, but they are there.

Connemara is quite famous for its ponies — the Connemara Pony — and its beautiful marble which is pale green in color.

 

People

I always say that Ireland’s greatest treasure is its people.

And this remains true in Connemara.

The people here are wonderful — kind-hearted, helpful and with a love of the outdoors.

I also noticed that it is quite an international bunch of folks.

Many folks from elsewhere in Europe have made Connemara home.

It gives it a nice eclectic mix.

But it’s their adventurous spirit — independent and hearty — that make them so appealing.

This is a harsh land with wild weather and these people can handle it.

And as always, I’m amazed by the creative talents of the people — musicians, photographers, silver/goldsmiths, glass makers, painter, potters.

 

Wild Rugged Remote Unspoiled Beauty

For me the what makes Connemara the best destination in Ireland is its unspoiled beauty.

So much of it feels untouched by human hands.

Even places where you see a farmhouse it still feels somehow pristine.

There is a sense of remoteness and wildness to the land.

And, for me, it is destination that has touched my heart and a place that tugs at my soul.

I’ll be back…