Full Day Trip to Connemara — Beside The Tide

Head for Clifden N59
Go thru Moycullen and Oughterard (Possible tea and scones stop in Oughterard)
Pass by the Quiet Man Bridge (John Wayne Movie) on your left.
Maam Cross- Stay on N59 to Clifden
Stop at Joyce’s Craftshop & Pub next to it, both on the right side of the road- Car park on the left. Beautiful scenic view & sheep in the road. “Pit Stop” in the Pub- Get tea and a scone! The craft shop and art gallery are good quality
Next stop Ballynahinch Castle (in Recess, Connemara)- Lunch in the Pub! This is a 700-acre estate to wander around on. Important to put into your GPS, there are no signs on the road and it’s behind some mountains so you can’t see it. Try some soup and brown bread and a pint of Guinness.
As you drive to Clifden, you will see bogs of turf, and many sheep laying in the road.
Head to Clifden and make a “Loop” one-way around the town & park to walk around. You also might enjoy a nice lunch in Clifden.
Must drive to Sky Road- only go up it halfway then come back, don’t go all the way around it’s too long.
Take the same route home or if you have more time…
Come back thru Letterfrack and into Kylemore Abbey. A great photo spot.

To avoid going back though Galway City. Look at Google Maps and choose an alternative route (going though Tuam and back to Beside The Tide) such as: after leaving Leenaun head for Cong, where the Quiet Man was filmed. Cong is a beautiful town where Ashford Castle sits. When leaving Cong put our Eircode, H91 N2CW, into your GPS and make sure you take a route though Tuam which will bring you on a motorway to avoid the Galway City traffic. Drive time for this trip is approximately 4 hours round trip.

You will be tired, so pre-book a local restaurant or pick up Thai (at Sherry’s Pub) in Clarenbridge on your way home. (Thai cooking by On is open Thursday- Sunday.) See here for more restaurant suggestions.