Hillside Lodge is one of the coolest, most stylish and best places I’ve stayed.
Period.
It’s definitely one of the best places to stay in Clifden.
And one of the best places to stay in County Galway, especially the Connemara area.
Why?
Location
Hillside Lodge is located out on the famous Sky Road about 2km from Clifden.
So while it’s not right in town it’s still walkable during daylight hours for those that are somewhat fit.
There’s a longer walk that takes you along the harbor that’s very picturesque — if you’re up for it.
Because it’s out on Sky Road you’ll be surrounded more by fields of cows and sheep, the sea off in the distance.
It’s peaceful — and it’s quiet.
And if you need a ride from town to Hillside Lodge at night, taxi rides are pretty inexpensive at €5-8.
To me, it’s the best of both worlds.
This is the view of Clifden as you walk along Sky Road from Hillside Lodge into town. It’s definitely walkable in daylight hours, just watch for cars. But lots of folks walk along it!!
Exterior of Hillside Lodge with chairs in the lawn. Photo courtesy of Hillside Lodge.
The house
Ruth is your hostess and has done a remarkable job decorating Hillside Lodge.
It’s hip, modern, clean, simple, colorful and eclectic.
And while that description may not sound like it works, it does.
There are fun, quirky touches that make Hillside Lodge homey and memorable like the rubber duckies in the showers and the big stuffed sheep in the entry way.
It sits back just far enough from the road and has a good-sized parking area.
There’s a wonderful eclectic and colorful sitting room.
Because Ruth’s husband is in the music business, Hillside Lodge has a music theme to it. But it’s not overdone.
Everything is tasteful including the breakfast which is served in the simply furnished dining room.
I’ll get to that shortly.
The colorful, eclectic and cozy sitting room at Hillside Lodge.
This stuffed sheep is in the entryway. I loved that it greeted me every time I walked in the front door.
The rooms at Hillside Lodge
The rooms are a delight.
Now all the rooms are upstairs and do have slanted ceilings.
So for tall folks this can be a problem — or it’s just something that you deal with and are okay dealing with because Hillside Lodge rocks.
I stayed in a twin room the first night.
Simply and tastefully decorated, there is plenty of room for 2 and would be a fabulous room for a couple of friends traveling together or a mom/daughter or father/son duo.
The twin room is a perfect size for 2 pals traveling together. I love the colors!
This is the twin room at Hillside Lodge. It’s a beautiful and light room with lovely pillows, a desk and little touches like the old suitcases in the corner. Love it!
For the next 5 nights I was treated to The Beatles room.
Love!
I’m not necessarily a huge Beatles fan, but the room is just a kick and a great homage to the Fab Four.
There are photos of John, Paul, George and Ringo and Beatles memorabilia on the walls.
If you’re a Beatles fan you must stay in this room!
All the beds are super comfy and have quality sheets and blankets.
The bathrooms are a perfect size with hot showers, fluffy towels and the toiletries you need as well as a rubber ducky.
You’ll find an electric tea kettle and all you need to make a cuppa.
The Beatles room is where I spent 5 nights. It’s a wonderful homage to the Fab 4 with lots of thoughtful touches.
Okay…this is the back of the closet in the Beatles Room. How fun is this?
I love all the Beatle memorabilia in this room. If you’re a Beatles fan, this is your room!
This image of the Beatles room really shows the little touches of Hillside Lodge that make it such a wonderful place to stay.
The breakfast
The buffet breakfast at Hillside Lodge is one of the best because — yes — there’s lots of fresh fruit.
I mean look at this bowl!
I love this huge bowl of fresh fruit that welcomed me every morning at the breakfast buffet. Delish!
This made me very happy.
And the hot breakfast is amazeballs.
From eggs and bacon to the full Irish, Ruth serves up a delicious breakfast.
Simply make your choice the night before, put it in the appointed spot at the bottom of the stairs, and you’ll get your made to order hot breakfast.
With my gluten sensitivity, Ruth found a tasty gluten-free brown bread that satisfied my carb needs.
And with all that fruit and yogurt, plus a nice pot of tea, I was happy.
This is the simple, colorful and welcoming breakfast room at Hillside Lodge. There are wonderful details courtesy of Ruth. It’s perfect!
Some of the tasty goodness on the breakfast buffet. Yum!
Your host
Ruth is your hostess and a mom of a teenage daughter.
Stuart, her husband, was not there at the time of my stay as he was out on the road working.
Ruth is a lovely person with a big smile.
She’s very helpful but in a quiet way.
Never pushy or hovering, Ruth is there when you want some assistance in deciding where to go or what to do.
Some B&B hosts can overwhelm you by constantly barraging you with things to do, places to eat, where to go to see this or that.
I appreciated that Ruth was more restrained and offered help when you asked or would make an additional suggestion if you told her you were going to a certain spot.
By the end of my 6 days I felt as though I had made a new friend.
This old gramophone — record player — is one of the details I love about Hillside Lodge.
A new-ish room at Hillside Lodge
Toward the end of my stay Ruth invited me to take a look at the new room she had recently remodeled and redecorated — the U2 room.
Hello? It was like she knew me since I was 18.
U2 is one of my favorite bands.
And here was a room decorated in homage to this incredible Irish band — that her husband has worked for.
She let me in to see it and she encouraged me to photograph it.
She laughed as I kept saying, “I love this room!”
Ruth told me I would have to stay in the U2 room on my next visit.
Ummm…yes please!
The U2 room at Hillside Lodge is very cool with thoughtful decor. I love this room!
I love the details in the U2 room. Cool mirror, bare light bulb and even little mirrored tiles placed around the room.
This is simple, clean bathroom in the U2 room. I love the subway tile!
The U2 room with it’s skylight window, lounge chair and great details such as the bare bulb lighting, the mirror and, of course, the photos above the bed.
The verdict
I highly recommend Hillside Lodge if you are going to Clifden and the Connemara area.
While it won’t be for those who want to be in the heart of town, it is for those who are looking for something a bit quieter, yet still close to Clifden.
And it’s definitely for anyone who wants a clean, stylish, yet affordable stay and a delicious breakfast.
All this hip style and comfort for between €70 and €100 per room per night.
Yup.
You read that correctly. Hillside Lodge is a fabulous deal.
And if you’re a Beatles fan or a U2 aficionado, then you must stay here.
Me?
I can’t wait to get back to Hillside Lodge, Clifden and the Connemara area.
And stay in the U2 room, of course.
Stay tuned for the sister post to this which is all about Clifden.
This is part of a series I call Charming Places — a series in which I talk about the places I stay. From B&B’s, hotels and guesthouses to apartments and farm stays, I’ll give my honest thoughts on these spaces. I’ve found that the accommodation I choose to stay often directly affects how I feel about a particular destination. And how I connect with that location and its people. So I want to share these places with you by dishing out a bit of info and some of my opinions.
Disclaimer: I was a guest of Hillside Lodge so my stay was discounted. However all opinions are my own.
