Connemara: castles as lodging B & B near Clifden in Connamera
 

Abbey Glyn and Ballyhinch have been recommended to my husband and me. Have you stayed in one of these or both? Can you compare? for next spring...We are in our 70's and have been to Ireland twice.

If its an area you have not stayed in then I recommend The Quay House just outside of Clifden on the lake. Lovely hosts and comfortable large rooms. We enjoyed the village of Clifen as well.

Have heard good things about Quay House. We stayed last time at the Dolphin Beach House. Lovely, too.

Abbeyglen and Ballynahinch are two very different places, there are other alternatives in Connemara it depends really on what you yourself want and expect.

Abbeyglen is a reasonable walk into Clifden, formally the Priests house it has been extended and developed into a tasteful higher end hotel.

Ballynahinch is a former Staging rest developed into a Hunting Lodge and then a Hotel has some wonderful grounds but is a fair way from anywhere else.

Quay House on Clifden bay is a high end quest house, very nice but carries too high a price tag for me to recommend over Abbeyglen lots of people do though like the place. Dolphin Beach House on the lower Sky is a taxi in and back from town if you plan having a drink. There are excelent B&B's and guest houses in town itself.

Personally I would recommend Dun Ri by the showgrounds on the eastern end of the town.

Some influence may be determined by when you call "Spring" and how long you plan to stay in the area. Also the transport options if you are planning to drive or rely on the bus's?

We stayed at the Quay House when we were there some years ago. Loved it. Not a fan of Abbeyglen. It is nice on the inside, but its exterior is perfectly awful IMO.

We are going the last 2 weeks in May. Your answers are all helpful.