Day 1 – Shannon Airport to Dromoland Castle
Having most likely arrived in on an overnight flight, the short transfer to the stunning Dromoland Castle will be a welcome relief. After you have collected your hire car, it is a matter of 15 mins to your accommodation. An early check-in will allow you to get some rest before exploring your surroundings in the afternoon. Many of our guests don’t venture too far on their first day and the 500 acres of grounds surrounding the hotel allow you to take a stroll or a cycle as your body adjusts to Irish time. You may even hire a set of clubs and play a few holes on the well-regarded parkland layout.
Day 2 – Gregans Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan.
Dromoland makes a great base to spend your second day exploring the delights of West Clare and the flora and fauna of the Burren region; a limestone landscape which is unique in Europe. Your day spent in West Clare will probably include the world-famous Cliffs Of Moher, The Ailwee Caves, the stunning views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands from Black Head, and lunch in Liscannor, Doolin or Lisdoonvarna.The pubs in the area are renowned for their informal sessions of Irish music and dance and you will never be far away from a great time.
Your base for the second night of your trip is Gregans Castle Hotel near Ballyvaughan, which boasts intimate rooms, superb food and stunning Atlantic views. The dining room in Gregans really is one of the best in the country.
Day 3 – Ashford Castle, Cong
After breakfast, you can take the lovely coastal drive through the pretty villages of Ballyvaughan and Kinvara on your way to Galway, which has the well-deserved reputation as one of the most fun-loving destinations in the country. The city centre is intimate and easily walkable, and awash with great places to eat and drink. There are plenty of interesting attractions of historical significance and you can join a walking tour or simply wander around on your own. If you would prefer to spend the night in Galway, that can be easily arranged, but we are suggesting taking the scenic drive along the shores of Lough Corrib to Ashford Castle in Cong for your overnight stay.
Cong is famous as the location for “The Quiet Man” movie, and the stunning Castle has just undergone a multi-million Dollar makeover which has seen all the bedrooms and public areas renewed, and the addition of a new Spa. There are several dining options, both formal and informal, and a wealth of activities to enjoy on the estate. These include cruising on the lake in the hotel’s own vessel, fly-fishing , canoeing and biking.
Day 4 & 5 – Knockranny House, Westport.
Westport is one of the prettiest towns in Ireland sitting as it does between the bulk of Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay. Croagh Patrick is Ireland’s most famous mountain and is a site of pilgrimage for many Irish people. If your fitness levels are up to it, and the weather is fine it makes for a great days hiking and stupendous views from the top. Beware though; it is not for the faint-hearted and you will have earned your lunch by the time you get back down.
There are many great day trips from Westport. These include cycling the Greenway to Mulranny, visiting the remote Erris Peninsula, or taking the scenic route around the cliffs of Achill Island to the beautiful beaches of Keem and Dooagh. At night Westport is alive with music and fun and boasts great restaurants and pubs, both in the town centre, and a mile away at Westport Pier .A really interesting alternative to a second night in Westport is to spend it in a converted lighthouse on Clare Island at the mouth of Clew Bay. This newly renovated property sits on a cliff 120 metres above the sea and gives a real taste of Irish island life, being four miles from the mainland by ferry.
Day 6 – Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, Clifden
Leaving Westport, take the road along the south shore of Clew Bay as far as Louisburgh, where you will turn away from the Atlantic and into the Mweelrea mountains . This valley road is one of the most remote and spectacular routes in Ireland, and the mountains boglands and lakes create a vista you are unlikely to forget. Forty souls died along this road in 1847 during the Famine as they tried in vain to walk from Louisburgh to a meeting of the Famine Relief Board in Delphi. The lack of habitation and visible development still lend a slightly eerie feel to this beautiful drive.
The village of Leenane is the next stop and it is at the end of Killary Harbour, which is Ireland’s largest natural Fjord. For those of an adventurous disposition, there are many sea and land based activities available in this area which include scuba diving, kayaking, mountain climbing, cycling and hiking. Beyond Leenane on the Clifden Road is the beautiful Kylemore Abbey, which is well worth a stop for a coffee and a photo opportunity. If the weather is fine we often suggest to our clients that they continue on to the pier at Cleggan and take a day trip to Inisbofin, one of our offshore islands where bicycles can be rented and the island beaches and pubs enjoyed.
Tonight’s accommodation is at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, a few miles outside Clifden which has undergone a complete refurbishment over the last few years. The hotel boasts beautiful bedrooms, an atmospheric bar, and some of Ireland’s best fly fishing for those who would like to try their hand at it.
Day 7 – Dromoland Castle, Co Clare.
Today is spent enjoying the spectacular beauty of Connemara. A dozen oysters for lunch in Roundstone, or a day trip to the Aran Islands from Rossaveel Pier. Take a stroll on Gurteen beach, visit the Connemara National Park, and wander around the craft shops of Clifden before wending your way towards Galway through the Gaelic-speaking areas of Carna and Carraroe. Spiddal or Barna make ideal lunch-time stops, and if you didn’t stop in Galway on the way through, then an afternoon visit to the City Of The Tribes is essential on the way back.
Continue to Dromoland Castle for an evening at leisure before the short transfer to Shannon for your return flight the next morning.