clare & galway
 

We are planning a trip to Clare and Galway. Arriving and departing thru Shannon. We'd like to limit the driving and instead do some nice walks and bike rentals. Any suggestions on good walks, b&b's, local music venues & sights in these areas? What about b&b's in Galway city? Some that seem appealing are Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Clifden, Rossveal, Cong. Much appreciated, Molly.

Molly,

I think you are wise to stay in a relatively small area and limit your time spent driving from one place to another.

In Connemara (in Co. Galway) we used Clifden as a base. Cool little town. We stayed at the SeaMist House and LOVED IT--probably the second best B & B we encountered in two visits to Ireland. We saw some really good trad music at Mannion's in Clifden.

Especially as you want to bike & hike, I suggest you not stay in Galway City--go further west into Connemara and stay at Clifden or Cong or Roundstone or Ballynahinch, etc. We saw lots of hikers & bikers in Connemara. Really, really beautiful country!

We've spent a little time in Co. Clare, but not enough to give you good specific suggestions. Perhaps others can help with that.

Dont miss out on Doolin in september, you will have a ball, there are lots of little B&b's just as you come into doolin. Seaview house is a really nice one

http://www.ireland-doolin.com/

We spent ten days, mostly biking, in Ireland in late August. We did not rent a car--used Noel from Dial-A-Car in Doolin and then went on to Galway by the local bus.

You can rent bikes from two locations in Doolin and there's good hiking from there, too.

Galway is a great walking town, and I think biking along the river would be nice.

We did not rent bikes ourselves from Galway and points north, but you probably can get some ideas of what to do, where to go from our trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34671880

Good luck!

We just returned from a 10-day trip. We stayed at Daly's B&B in Doolin. It is walking distance from O'Connor's pub (great music) and Susan Daly is great and a wealth of information. In Galway, we stayed at Devondell B&B in Salthill. It is a 15 minute walk to the city, Berna is wonderful and the breakfast was delicious. We did a lot of driving, and not a lot of walking, but Clifden would be a good base to do some walking in Connemara NP and to rent bikes to ride through the beautiful countryside. Don't miss Roundstone in Connemara - great little town.

Do you play golf? I don't mean expensive championship courses like Doonberg & Lahinch. I have enjoyed playing Connemara Isles Golf Links at at Ross a'Veal & Spanish Point on the coast next to the Armada Hotel in County Clare. In Ross a'Veal I stayed at An Ceibh Guesthouse; in Miltown Malbay I stayed at Fitzgerald's B&B. The former has Irish Country & Western Thursday nites and Trad Irish music on Fridays.

You don't mention when you plan this trip: Ennis' fall music festival is 3-days in November and their Spring Trad Irish music festival is the last week of May. Cruise's Restaurant & Pub on Abbey Street in Ennis (adjacent to the Queen's Hotel) has Trad Irish music every night - best on weekends.

During the summer, several Galway Pubs have 'matinee' Trad Irish music Saturday afternoons.

You might like to walk the Burren. My former Physician cycled her way with a group thru west Clare. Loved it!

After I posted I remembered that I had a picture of An Chiebh Guesthouse in Ross a'Veal on this website:
http://groups.msn.com/NedsIrelandPubsandgolf

The owner/manager of the B&B is Brid.

Thanks, NedsIreland. We like golf alot and will look into your suggestions. The photos are very appealing!
Doesn't seem like Lough Derg or Mountshannon is a popular destination as I haven't heard many responses.

Does anyone know of a good B&B in the city center of Galway?