wrenwood

Please help me out with a little more information.

We will be staying at Ashford Castle 2 nights (our Anniversary splurge!) I anticipate getting in there mid to late afternoon the first day so we will really only have one full day to explore.

I know I want to visit Kylemore Abbey.

I have notes on my computer about driving through Doolough Valley, views of Croagh Patrick, Louisburg,

My notes say from Kylemore proceed to Leenane. From there, turn off on the R335, the road to Louisburg, via Delphi.

I guess my question is how long to allocate to this? Is this a full leisurely day? Do we go back to Cong on the same road? Or do we head towards Westport and then back to Cong? If we do that, places to see, stop? Scenic?

And do we incorporate Kylemore Abbey into that day or do it the following day when we leave Cong headed for Doolin ~ I'd thought of driving through Clifden briefly, sounded like a nice village. Also stopping ar either Connemara Smokehouse or Kinvara Smokehouse. I also have Spiddal marked as a quaint village?

wrenwood

ttt

rosetravels

I would suggest that you slow down a bit. The list you're asking about contains several days of activities. At this rate it will be a blur. Can you spend more time in the region? Perhaps a few days at Clifden or Westport?

littlejane

I do have a suggested plan - first a few comments / observations:

It doesn't really make sense to fit in Kylemore on the way to Doolin. The natural way to Doolin is from Cong to Galway and on to Doolin.

Spiddal is too far from Cong and in the opposite direction from Westport / Louisburgh. I'd suggest striking it off the list with only one day.

On the day you arrive, why not check out the ruined abbey in Cong. It's lovely and it would be a shame to visit Cong and not see it.

The following day, I'd suggest driving in a circle to catch Kylemore and some other scenic areas, more or less along the lines you have suggested.

You can either do a smaller circle which includes Westport but not Louisburgh, or a bigger circle to include Louisburgh (personally I love Louisburgh but I'd only go there if I had enough free time to take a detour and walk on a beach for half an hour with the wild atlantic blowing in my hair).

OK, so my suggestion is:
Cong - Leenane
Detour from Leenane to visit Kylemore
Back to Leenane
From Leenane you either do a smaller circle Westport-Ballinrobe and back to Cong, or a bigger circle Louisburgh-Westport-Ballinrobe-Cong. You can decide which to do on the day depending on how long you spend in Kylemore.

Clifden adds a lot of time, so I'd leave out Clifden although it is lovely. With just one day I think the Cong / Leenane / Mayo circle is about all you would be able for.

Things to see? Mostly just views en route - Croagh Patrick, Killary Harbour and Kylemore itself. So if you are going in winter the days will be short - you'll need to bear this in mind when deciding how much you can fit in.

jane

wrenwood

Don't worry, we won't hurry ~ we like to take our time which is why I was asking. It's not that we just have "1 day" it's just that the next day will be a "slow travel day" to Doolin. (We will be in Ireland for 3 weeks) The 2 days we have at Cong and 2 days near Doolin are the shortest stays we have

Yes, the first day when we get into Cong we will be just looking around Ashford Castle and the area.Thanks for the recommendation of the Abbey.

The one "full day" is the day I was thinking of the drive up Doolough Valley as it had been mentioned on several threads. Westport is not a destination point for us this trip, I was just curious about whether to make a full circle, or go up and back the same road, and whether to include Kylemore Abbey on that day or if that's an all day drive and we should do Kylemore the next day when we leave for Doolin.

I realize going to Doolin via Clifden is not the fastest route, but I would like to see the village and maybe stop for lunch as we head to Doolin. I thought the coastal route might be prettier than heading straight south from Cong towards Galway ~ and I had also thought of stopping at Connemara Smokehouse just south of Clifden.

We leave on Monday and will be in that area 1-4 of October, so we will have decent day length.

littlejane

Yes in early October you should have daylight 8 to 6.

Personally, I think the drive from Cong-Galway-Doolin is enough for a day if you want to take it slowly.

You could certianly drive through Clifden / Roundstone to Galway and on to Doolin (and if you did, it makes sense to leave Kylemore Abbey for this drive as it is en route) While this would be beautiful, it would be a mammoth day of driving.

The Burren smokehouse is I think superior to Connemara, just in case that swings anything.

If you are touring around the Burren area, I love Linnanes Lobster Bar between Ballyvaughan and Kinvara as a spot for fresh seafood for lunch. It's a bizzare run down old pub that serves the freshest seafood. In summer it's lovely to sit out the back overlooking the water but you'll need your big jackets in October!

On the Doolough valley, personally I would do a circle rather than returning the same road. The scenery on both is interesting but of course the valley is the spectacular one.

wrenwood

littlejane, thanks for the alternate of Burren Smokehouse, that looks great and might fit into our plans better as we can do that from Doolin!

So, lets say we actually do Kylemore and the Doolough Valley our first full day. Is Clifden worth the detour on the way to Doolin just to see and walk around? We will be spending the next 2 days at Ballinalacken Castle Hotel, 3 days in Dingle, and 6 days in Kenmare so it's not like we won't see coastal villages later on.

Is Oughterard a village for a stop?

Any other recommendations if we leave Cong and head towards Doolin without going to Kylemore and Clifden?

littlejane

Given that you will be seeing other coastal towns, I don't think Clifden is worth the detour (but would love to hear others' thoughts!)

Not much happens in Oughterard, but there's a nice hotel by the river if you want to stop for a sandwich. Again not worth the detour in my view.

On the way to Doolin, I would stop off in Clarinbridge the home of the famous Galway Oyster, you are right in season. Two nice spots for lunch there are Paddy Burkes (in the town) and Morans on the Weir (outside town by a river). Both are bars with "pub grub" predominantly oysters and guinness but also open crab / prawn sandwiches and the like. Clarinbridge also has a small crystal factory with a shop.

Lots of pretty villages once you get into County Clare if you take the "coast road" to Doolin - Ballyvaughan etc, though you may be covering these later in the week.

I'm going offline for the weekend, so hope others will chime in. Hope you have a great holiday

Jane

wrenwood

Thanks so much for your help Jane!

I had heard about Morans Oyster Cottage, sounds like a great place for lunch!

Foley

Hi Wrenwood,

Here is my two-pence-worth:

First full leisurely day: Cong to Westport, preferably via west shore of Lough Mask. Wander around Westport, possibly visit Westport House and/or Sheebeen for pub grub. Continue to Louisburg with Clew Bay on right and Croagh Patrick on left. Through Louisburgh to Leenaun (beautiful drive). Then to Kylemore and back to Leenaun and Cong.

Second full leisurely day: Cong to Maum to Maam Cross to Costello to Spiddal, through Galway to Clarinbridge to Kinvara to Ballyvaughan etc. Note: Clarinbridge Crystal may be not be there any more. I passed through there last week and there is a supermarket where it used to be. Also, Bourkes and Morans are a little touristy but good. More authentic is a pub/restaurant (can’t remember the name) with excellent shell fish in New Quay - on the sea off the road between Kinvara and Ballyvaughan – not easy to find. Also, there is an ok fish restaurant on the main street of Spiddal.

Enjoy your trip

Padraig

I like Foley's suggestions. A couple of tweaks to consider:
- after going along the shore of Lough Mask, make a minor detour to see Ballintubber Abbey;
- if you want to take a little work out of the transfer to Doolin, but still have a highly scenic drive, you can turn left at Maam Cross and go via Oughterard into Galway.

littlejane

Foley - I'd bet your bar in New Quay is Linnanes Lobster Bar - super super food.

Wrenwood, sorry about the bum steer on Clarinbridge Crystal - I must keep my eyes open next time I go past! The last time I actually stopped in there was a few years ago so it could well be closed. It was such an institution though - what a shame.