Welcome to Ireland! Arrive at Dublin or Cork Airport and collect your rental car. Your first journey is to the start point of your driving tour in Ireland in 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 in the shadow of the Maamturk mountains. Enjoy your first night in this lovely place.

You will begin driving today 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 you pass through the dramatic, glaciated valleys of Delphi and Doolough. along by 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 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 Irelands 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 the John Ford 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 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 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 today 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. There 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 famouse 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. The final night of your driving tour is spent 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 good bye to you. You will drive to the airport and drop off your hire car as you continue with your onward journey.