Traveling to Ireland in May - one leg I am working on is Doolin to Clifden= suggested routes, place to stay in Clifden... The guide books are kind gray on Clifden - any input would be helpful! Thanks

I highly recommend the Quay House in Clifden. It was one of our favorite places. Paddy & Julia are wonderful hosts.

Aprilmay, you chose well in deciding on Clifden. I have stayed in the area many times and it a perfect location to explore the glories of Connemara - THE most beautiful place on the planet for ME .

I can't help you on personal experiences of hotel accommodation, as we rented houses each time, but you will find a wealth of information if you do a search on “clifden”.

If you send me a note to [email protected], I can send you some suggested drives and restaurants. Restaurant information may be out of date, so you will need to ascertain of they are still in business and still offer good food.

Regards Ger

It depends on what you like. We've stayed several times at Abbeyglen Castle Hotel and just loved it. It's an old manor house with crenelation added--sort of weird--but I liked the accommodation and the food was wonderful. But everyone has different taste. Connemara is also my favorite part of Ireland.

We stayed at Mallmore House in Clifden on our honeymoon. (Granted that was a while ago, but it was my favorite place we stayed during our two weeks in Ireland.) It's a big home with beautiful gardens near the water, and just a ten minute walk into town. Our room was very big with a view over the garden. I just checked their website, and rates are 35-45 euros per person, www.mallmore.com.

The route to take depends on how much time you have and how much driving you want to do The shortest route is via Galway then along the N59. Or you could follow the coast and go via Spiddal, eventually meeting up with the N59 into Clifden.

My wife and I stayed 3 days in Clifden in 2004 and had a spectacular time. It was probably one of our favorite places. Wonderful scenery, great people (Say "Hi" to Paul at the Library ) Be sure to take the drive to Roundstone and enjoy the sights.

We stayed at the Rockmount House on the Sky Road. The Conroys were great hosts. Great views of the ocean on some small cliffs in back of the house.
http://www.rockmounthouse.com/

Hi 57BelAir..Your post caught my eye, as we are booked into Mallmore House come May for 3 nights. The website looks so inviting and have had great correspondence with Kathleen and Alan. Are the rooms fairly large? Have asked for room 1, which one did you have? How long did you stay, and what did you do in the area? If you don't mind my asking, that is!
We love the Connemara and plan to explore a few holy wells and the loughs and valleys.
Helen

Helen: I don't remember our room number, but it was quite large and had a nice view of the garden. We were in Clifden for three days. One day we went out to the Aran Islands, and rented bikes to go to Dun Angus, the old fort on the bluffs above the Atlantic. (Where we saw a Japanese woman in traditional garb with a parasol to sheild herself from that fierce Irish sun.) One other drizzly day we did a trip over to Kylemore Abbey. We spent the evenings in Clifden, which is a very nice small town. It was about a ten minute walk from Mallmore House into town.

For a cute little village that I like a lot consider Roundstone. The movie The Matchmaker was filmed around there.

I have been several times. The quay house looks lovely but I never stayed here. I have stayed at the buttermilk lodge which I have a feeking is in the area of the Mallmore. ALso I have stayed at the Abbeyglen Castle hotel. Even if you do not stay splurge and have dinner it is fantastic and such a nice and fun atmosphere. Also go later in the evening after the dinners have been served. The owners son is on the piano and there is stotytellking and singing...not the twee old fashioned kind but more people doing their party Piece. Great fun on a night out. Must go back soon. The village is lovely and there are lots of places to visit nearby like Roundstone, Kylemore etc. Also we brought bikes and just did our own biking around the area. It was a great day. Have fun