Self-drive - Westport, Cong, Connemara National Park & Cliffs of Moher

PRICES FROM

€1,149.00

DURATION

7 days

DIFFICULTY

PRICES FROM

€1,149.00

DURATION

7 days

Self-drive - Westport, Cong, Connemara National Park & Cliffs of Moher

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
 

  • The Delphi and Doolough valleys where the road is narrow and winding and the mountains rear up on either side of you. Stop at the monument at the top of the hill as you leave Doolough and look back. This will be a memorable moment of your driving holiday in Connemara.
  • The contrast between small, remote villages and bustling cities and towns of which each offers a different and very enjoyable experience.
  • Ashford Castle in Cong, former home of the Guinness family and worth a wander on the grounds just to see the impressive size and style of the estate.
  • The scenery. As with all our tours, we try to choose the most scenic routes and not necessarily the busiest. Travel low-traffic back roads and take the time to marvel at the natural, unspoiled beauty.
     
  • Walk along the iconic Cliffs of Moher.

What makes a road trip in Connemara unique?

Irmi says: The unspoiled, untamed, wild landscape where you will find yourself most of the time on your own. This is something you do not find in other parts of Ireland.

“Connemara is a savage beauty” – Oscar Wilde  

YOUR TOUR IN BRIEF

Tour Essentials:

This is a 7-day (6-night) tour starting any day from April to October.

Your driving vacation starts in the village of Leenane in Connemara, Co Galway but you will collect your hire car at Dublin or Cork airports. The tour finishes in Galway city. 

Equipment and information:

Manual compact car including CDW insurance (with excess), theft protection, unlimited mileage, VAT, airport & location fees.

Drivers must be at least 25 years of age and have a full and clean licence for at least 2 years.

All extras including extra insurance cover GPS, additional driver, and automatic option. Baby/child seat etc must be paid directly by the driver on arrival.

Before your arrival, you need to download our app on which you will find all the details of your tour (routes, accommodation, vouchers, things to see...). 

Hospitality:

Each night, your accommodation is provided in 3* hotels or approved B&Bs and guesthouses where you will enjoy a full Irish breakfast each morning.

Extras:

Printed route notes + meet & greet - €125 per booking. 

Tour Essentials

This is a 7-day (6-night) tour starting any day from April to October.

Your driving vacation starts in the village of Leenane in Connemara, Co Galway but you will collect your hire car at Dublin or Cork airports. The tour finishes in Galway city. 

Equipment and information

Manual compact car including CDW insurance (with excess), theft protection, unlimited mileage, VAT, airport & location fees.

Drivers must be at least 25 years of age and have a full and clean licence for at least 2 years.

All extras including extra insurance cover GPS, additional driver, and automatic option. Baby/child seat etc must be paid directly by the driver on arrival.

Before your arrival, you need to download our app on which you will find all the details of your tour (routes, accommodation, vouchers, things to see...). 

Hospitality

Each night, your accommodation is provided in 3* hotels or approved B&Bs and guesthouses where you will enjoy a full Irish breakfast each morning.

Extras

Printed route notes + meet & greet - €125 per booking. 

Further information on getting to/from Ireland can be found here

ITINERARY

map

Welcome to Ireland! Arrive at Dublin or Cork Airport and collect your rental car. Your first journey of your driving tour in Ireland leads to the picturesque village of Leenane in Connemara, Co. Galway. Your first night's accommodation will be here in Leenane village, which sits nestled at the head of Killary Fjord and is set in the shadow of the Maamturk mountains. Enjoy your first night in this lovely place.

Today, you will start driving from Leenane along the water’s edge of Killary Fjord. An arresting sight, the fjord is steep-sided and deep-basined and its majestic beauty unfolds as you follow its shoreline. From there on, you will pass the dramatic, glaciated valleys of Delphi and Doolough along with deep lakes to emerge at the coastal town of Louisburgh. There, you might choose to stop to absorb the rhythms of a small, west of Ireland's market town. The road continues along the shores of Clew Bay past the fourteenth century Murrisk Abbey and the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick to the heritage town of Westport. Built in the eighteenth century and recently voted the best town to live in in Ireland, it is friendly, traditional and cosmopolitan all at the same time! Discover Ireland's past on the Clew Bay Archilogical Trail and see some iconic marks of its 6000 years of history.

Passing through the villages of Cornamona and Clonbur, the road brings you along the shores of Lough Corrib, Ireland’s largest lake, where the ruins of a castle are still visible on one of the islands in the lake. You will soon arrive in the village of Cong in Co. Mayo, where John Ford's film The Quiet Man was shot in 1952. Cong boasts several notable historical sites including an inscribed stone cross (fourteenth century) and the ruins of Ashford Abbey, founded in 1128. It is a lively village which attracts visitors from all around the world, drawn by its film history and the presence of the 5-star Ashford Castle Hotel and former home of the Guinness family nearby. Craft shops, cafes, cosy pubs and winding streets make it a lovely place to wander and absorb its lively atmosphere. Our special pick for this tour: take the small roads and visit an authentic Irish Distillery on your way to Cong.

Travelling on a winding road alongside the rugged, rocky peaks of the Twelve Bens mountain range, you will leave Leenane and Killary Fjord behind as you make your way towards Clifden. Your journey will take you past two world-class visitor attractions, ideal for gaining a sense of the history and geography of the area – the gothic lakeside castle of Kylemore Abbey and the preserved landscape of Connemara National Park. From Letterfrack, where the National Park is located, you can take a detour onto the Renvyle peninsula. This is an area which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean and is peppered with archaeological sites, historical ruins and hidden beaches. Returning to Letterfrack, you will follow the coast and drive along one of the most awe-inspiring routes in the country, the Sky Road, before arriving in Clifden to your accommodation. Clifden is a lively town filled with character, culture and craic.

Your drive today brings you to Roundstone, a scenic fishing village in South Connemara, made famous through the work of many well-known painters. They have been attracted here by its picturesque harbour and wonderful outlook across the Atlantic to the jagged peaks of the Twelve Bens mountain range. If you have time and you would like to extend your drive, it is worth taking a detour along the lake-strewn bog road to another coastal village, Ballyconneely, on your way to Roundstone. Here, you can visit the acclaimed Connemara Smokehouse, which specialises in wild and organic salmon, smoked and marinated with traditional methods. From Roundstone you will continue via Ballynahinch where you will see Ballynahinch Castle, a delightfully unpretentious hotel set in a private 450-acre estate of woodland, rivers and walks in the heart of Connemara. Continue further to the small but vibrant village of Oughterard at the banks of Lough Corrib. Enjoy this authentic village and do not forget to go to one of the pubs tonight.

We suggest you to head off earlier today to visit the famous Cliffs of Moher. Walk along the Atlantics edge and discover the beauty of the iconic Cliffs. If you are not tired of walking, we suggest you to visit the Burren National Park on your way back to Galway. You will spend the final night of your driving tour in the coastal ‘City of the Tribes’, Galway. Located on the Wild Atlantic Way, overlooking Galway Bay, it is a bustling, colourful and friendly city and we know you will be eager to absorb all it has to offer. It has managed to maintain its traditional lifestyle and values while offering the exciting, cosmopolitan atmosphere of a modern 21st century city. Music, great seafood, cobbled streets, interesting architecture and wonderful art galleries all await you.

Today we have to say goodbye to you. You will drive to the airport and drop off your hire car as you continue with your onward journey.

map

Welcome to Ireland! Arrive at Dublin or Cork Airport and collect your rental car. Your first journey of your driving tour in Ireland leads to the picturesque village of Leenane in Connemara, Co. Galway. Your first night's accommodation will be here in Leenane village, which sits nestled at the head of Killary Fjord and is set in the shadow of the Maamturk mountains. Enjoy your first night in this lovely place.

Today, you will start driving from Leenane along the water’s edge of Killary Fjord. An arresting sight, the fjord is steep-sided and deep-basined and its majestic beauty unfolds as you follow its shoreline. From there on, you will pass the dramatic, glaciated valleys of Delphi and Doolough along with deep lakes to emerge at the coastal town of Louisburgh. There, you might choose to stop to absorb the rhythms of a small, west of Ireland's market town. The road continues along the shores of Clew Bay past the fourteenth century Murrisk Abbey and the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick to the heritage town of Westport. Built in the eighteenth century and recently voted the best town to live in in Ireland, it is friendly, traditional and cosmopolitan all at the same time! Discover Ireland's past on the Clew Bay Archilogical Trail and see some iconic marks of its 6000 years of history.

Passing through the villages of Cornamona and Clonbur, the road brings you along the shores of Lough Corrib, Ireland’s largest lake, where the ruins of a castle are still visible on one of the islands in the lake. You will soon arrive in the village of Cong in Co. Mayo, where John Ford's film The Quiet Man was shot in 1952. Cong boasts several notable historical sites including an inscribed stone cross (fourteenth century) and the ruins of Ashford Abbey, founded in 1128. It is a lively village which attracts visitors from all around the world, drawn by its film history and the presence of the 5-star Ashford Castle Hotel and former home of the Guinness family nearby. Craft shops, cafes, cosy pubs and winding streets make it a lovely place to wander and absorb its lively atmosphere. Our special pick for this tour: take the small roads and visit an authentic Irish Distillery on your way to Cong.

Travelling on a winding road alongside the rugged, rocky peaks of the Twelve Bens mountain range, you will leave Leenane and Killary Fjord behind as you make your way towards Clifden. Your journey will take you past two world-class visitor attractions, ideal for gaining a sense of the history and geography of the area – the gothic lakeside castle of Kylemore Abbey and the preserved landscape of Connemara National Park. From Letterfrack, where the National Park is located, you can take a detour onto the Renvyle peninsula. This is an area which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean and is peppered with archaeological sites, historical ruins and hidden beaches. Returning to Letterfrack, you will follow the coast and drive along one of the most awe-inspiring routes in the country, the Sky Road, before arriving in Clifden to your accommodation. Clifden is a lively town filled with character, culture and craic.

Your drive today brings you to Roundstone, a scenic fishing village in South Connemara, made famous through the work of many well-known painters. They have been attracted here by its picturesque harbour and wonderful outlook across the Atlantic to the jagged peaks of the Twelve Bens mountain range. If you have time and you would like to extend your drive, it is worth taking a detour along the lake-strewn bog road to another coastal village, Ballyconneely, on your way to Roundstone. Here, you can visit the acclaimed Connemara Smokehouse, which specialises in wild and organic salmon, smoked and marinated with traditional methods. From Roundstone you will continue via Ballynahinch where you will see Ballynahinch Castle, a delightfully unpretentious hotel set in a private 450-acre estate of woodland, rivers and walks in the heart of Connemara. Continue further to the small but vibrant village of Oughterard at the banks of Lough Corrib. Enjoy this authentic village and do not forget to go to one of the pubs tonight.

We suggest you to head off earlier today to visit the famous Cliffs of Moher. Walk along the Atlantics edge and discover the beauty of the iconic Cliffs. If you are not tired of walking, we suggest you to visit the Burren National Park on your way back to Galway. You will spend the final night of your driving tour in the coastal ‘City of the Tribes’, Galway. Located on the Wild Atlantic Way, overlooking Galway Bay, it is a bustling, colourful and friendly city and we know you will be eager to absorb all it has to offer. It has managed to maintain its traditional lifestyle and values while offering the exciting, cosmopolitan atmosphere of a modern 21st century city. Music, great seafood, cobbled streets, interesting architecture and wonderful art galleries all await you.

Today we have to say goodbye to you. You will drive to the airport and drop off your hire car as you continue with your onward journey.

ACCOMMODATION

B&B/3* ACCOMMODATION

When you select this tour you will have the chance to stay in either 3* hotels or Bed & Breakfast/guesthouse accommodation. 
The 3* hotels that have been selected are all comfortable, well-appointed properties which also boast their own character and style. You may find yourself in a historic manor house hotel, one with a modern twist or get a 'room with a view' overlooking a shimmering lake or a golden beach.
Staying in B&B/guesthouse accommodation is a unique experience where very often you are staying in a family home, with your hosts being the owners of the property. You will receive a warm welcome and will have access to plenty of local stories. Best of all you will catch a glimpse into the lives of the local people of the areas through which you travel. Accommodation is warm, cosy and homely and breakfast is home-cooked by your host. 

B&B/3* ACCOMMODATION

When you select this tour you will have the chance to stay in either 3* hotels or Bed & Breakfast/guesthouse accommodation. 
The 3* hotels that have been selected are all comfortable, well-appointed properties which also boast their own character and style. You may find yourself in a historic manor house hotel, one with a modern twist or get a 'room with a view' overlooking a shimmering lake or a golden beach.
Staying in B&B/guesthouse accommodation is a unique experience where very often you are staying in a family home, with your hosts being the owners of the property. You will receive a warm welcome and will have access to plenty of local stories. Best of all you will catch a glimpse into the lives of the local people of the areas through which you travel. Accommodation is warm, cosy and homely and breakfast is home-cooked by your host. 

TOUR DETAILS

ACCOMMODATION

Room TypeLow SeasonHigh Season 
Double/Twin/Triple€1,149.00€1,249.00Book now
Single€1,428.00€1,528.00Book now
Solo€2,049.00€2,149.00Book now
Displaying 1-3 of 3 results.

LOW SEASON: April, May, September & October

HIGH SEASON: June, July & August

What's included

Meals

  • All breakfasts

Transport

Manual compact car including CDW insurance (with excess), theft protection, unlimited mileage, VAT, airport & location fees. Drivers must be at least 25 years of age and have a full and clean licence for at least 2 years. All extras including extra insurance cover GPS, additional driver, and automatic option. Baby/child seat etc. must be paid directly by the driver on arrival.

Accommodation

  • 6-night accommodation (includes private en-suite)

Extras

Our App that will guide you along your journey

BIKES

  • Each bicycle is equipped with a bottle cage, small front handlebar bag, bike rack (with option to add pannier bags).
  • Safety – we provide a helmet (various sizes) and a high visibility jacket for our customer’s safety on the road.
  • Spare tube, repair kit with tyre levers, pump and bike lock are all provided.
  • Cyclists are expected to be able to have a general knowledge of the function of bicycles, i.e. how to change gears, how to brake properly, replacing a slipped chain, changing a flat tyre. Please check out this link if you are looking for few tips.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

DIFFICULTY Easy

Represents a low level of activity with maximum 35 kms on the bike or 12 kms by foot per day – 3 hours physical activity

DIFFICULTY Medium

Represents a medium level of activity with maximum 50 kms on the bike or 15 kms by foot per day – 4 to 5 hours physical activity

DIFFICULTY Hard

Represents a higher level of activity with maximum 80 kms on the bike or 25 kms by foot per day – 6 to 7 hours physical activity

CUSTOMISE THIS TOUR

You can add extra days or shorten this holiday to suit your needs or schedule.

We are very fortunate to have hundreds of kilometres of magnificent coastal and scenic routes and paths to enjoy. So the options are endless.

We understand that the duration of this tour may not be the ideal amount of time for everyone so if you would like a longer or a shorter version, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will design a custom tour for you to suit your needs.

GETTING TO TOUR START POINT

The tour starts in Leenane and finishes in Galway City, both in Co. Galway.

Depending on your flights, you will either pick up your rental car from Dublin/Shannon or Cork airport and continue your journey to Leenane which is a 3/4 hour drive from Dublin and Cork or a 2.5 hour drive from Shannon airport.

 

Reviews

ACCOMMODATION

Room TypeLow SeasonHigh Season 
Double/Twin/Triple€1,149.00€1,249.00Book now
Single€1,428.00€1,528.00Book now
Solo€2,049.00€2,149.00Book now
Displaying 1-3 of 3 results.

LOW SEASON: April, May, September & October

HIGH SEASON: June, July & August

What's included

Meals

  • All breakfasts

Transport

Manual compact car including CDW insurance (with excess), theft protection, unlimited mileage, VAT, airport & location fees. Drivers must be at least 25 years of age and have a full and clean licence for at least 2 years. All extras including extra insurance cover GPS, additional driver, and automatic option. Baby/child seat etc. must be paid directly by the driver on arrival.

Accommodation

  • 6-night accommodation (includes private en-suite)

Extras

Our App that will guide you along your journey

BIKES

  • Each bicycle is equipped with a bottle cage, small front handlebar bag, bike rack (with option to add pannier bags).
  • Safety – we provide a helmet (various sizes) and a high visibility jacket for our customer’s safety on the road.
  • Spare tube, repair kit with tyre levers, pump and bike lock are all provided.
  • Cyclists are expected to be able to have a general knowledge of the function of bicycles, i.e. how to change gears, how to brake properly, replacing a slipped chain, changing a flat tyre. Please check out this link if you are looking for few tips.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL

DIFFICULTY Easy

Represents a low level of activity with maximum 35 kms on the bike or 12 kms by foot per day – 3 hours physical activity

DIFFICULTY Medium

Represents a medium level of activity with maximum 50 kms on the bike or 15 kms by foot per day – 4 to 5 hours physical activity

DIFFICULTY Hard

Represents a higher level of activity with maximum 80 kms on the bike or 25 kms by foot per day – 6 to 7 hours physical activity

CUSTOMISE THIS TOUR

You can add extra days or shorten this holiday to suit your needs or schedule.

We are very fortunate to have hundreds of kilometres of magnificent coastal and scenic routes and paths to enjoy. So the options are endless.

We understand that the duration of this tour may not be the ideal amount of time for everyone so if you would like a longer or a shorter version, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will design a custom tour for you to suit your needs.

The tour starts in Leenane and finishes in Galway City, both in Co. Galway.

Depending on your flights, you will either pick up your rental car from Dublin/Shannon or Cork airport and continue your journey to Leenane which is a 3/4 hour drive from Dublin and Cork or a 2.5 hour drive from Shannon airport.

 

Reviews

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

To secure your booking, we will request 30% deposit per person. Please note this is a
non-refundable payment. The balance payment is due 30 days before the tour starts.

If your tour start date is within 30 days of booking, the full, non-refundable payment is required upon booking.

We do not organise travel to/from Ireland. However there is plenty of useful information on our Getting to Ireland page.