Explore Connemara

There are many things to do while you stay at The Anglers Return. From fishing and cycling to beaches and boat tours, you can walk, hike, bike, paint, read, bird watch, golf and more.

CYCLING

Market Street, Clifden, Connemara
Tel: +353 (0)95 22630
www.bikeelectric.ie
E-mail: allthingsconnemara@gmail.com

Bridge Street, Clifden, Co Galway,
Tel: +353 (0)95 211 60

No.11 Upper Dominick Street
Galway City, Co. Galway
Tel: +353 (0)91 588 830
E-mail: info@westirelandcycling.com
www.westirelandcycling.com

St. Augustine Street
Galway City County: Galway
Tel : +353 (0)91 569 888
Fax : +353 (0)91 569 888
Mobile : +353 (0)86 8487 097
www.bikehireireland.com/bikehire.html

BOAT CRUISES

The “Corrib Queen” departs from Oughterard pier daily to cruise beautiful Loch Corrib, with a luncheon stop at Ashford Castle — a short 1-kilometer walk to the village of Cong, famous as the location of John Ford’s 1951 classic Hollywood movie “The Quiet Man”. After lunch, the cruise continues to Inchagoill Island for a guided tour at St. Patrick’s monastic site, which dates back to the 5th century, before returning Oughterard in time for tea.

CORRIB CRUISES

6 Cregg Close, Oughterard, Co. Galway
Telephone: +353 (0)91 557 798
E-mail: david.luskin@hotmail.com
www.corribcruises.com

A scenic 30-minute drive north from The Anglers Return takes you to Leenane, the departure port for “The Connemara Lady” on cruises down the incomparable Killary Fjord. The 150-passenger cruise ship is fully enclosed, with a galley serving hot meals, a full bar, and multiple observation decks.

KILLARY CRUISES

Nancy’s Point, Leenane, Co. Galway
Telephone: +353 (0)91 566 736
www.killarycruises.com

Daily ferries depart from Rosavell, an hour’s drive to our east, for the world-famous Aran Islands. With breathtaking scenery, prehistoric stone forts, early Christian ruins, medieval castles, towering cliffs and sandy beaches, the Arans provide a rare glimpse into history and a traditional way of life. You can tour the main island, Inis Mor, by bicycle, mini-bus – or traditional pony and trap – all of which are available for hire at the ferry dock.

ARAN ISLAND FERRIES

4 Forster St, Galway, Co. Galway
Tel: +353 (0)91 568 903
E-mail: islandferries@eircom.net
www.aranislandferries.com

Trips can be arranged with an experienced local skipper to the small islands off the coast, including Slyne Head and a large seal colony. Prior booking is necessary to secure this trip. Weather dependent.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Connemara is a remote land of brooding, heather-covered mountains, vast mysterious moorlands, desolate bogs, and dense forests of pine and fir, interspersed with sparkling lakes and streams. Dominated by twelve towering mountains called, alternately, the Twelve Bens or Twelve Pins, it is the most rugged and magnificent land in all of Ireland.

www.connemara.ie

Connemara Black face sheep

On the north slope of the Twelve Bens, the 2,000 hectare (5,000 acre) Connemara National Park is the home of wild Connemara ponies (said to be descended from horses that escaped from Spanish ships wrecked when the Armada foundered on the Connemara coast in 1588) in a beautifully preserved and protected landscape of bogs and prairie-like moors. The park offers miles of scenic trails and a highly educational visitors centre that’s open between May and September.

www.connemaranationalpark.ie

Clifden is the largest village in the region, and a scenic 20-minute drive from the lodge. Built in the early 1800’s, it has preserved its largely Georgian architecture in a spectacular setting between the mountains and the sea.

Just to the south of Clifden at Derrygimlagh is the location of Marconi’s first transatlantic radio broadcasting station, set up in 1905, and the site of the crash landing of Alcock and Brown’s airplane at the finale of the first transatlantic flight in 1919 from St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The Derrygimlagh/Marconi walking loop provides a 5km trail across the bog complex where visitors can discover the stories of this famous site and its past history. Hire a BIKE and discover this unique and interesting area.

www.clifdenchamber.ie

The Clifden Arts Festival, one of the top cultural festivals in the country, is held annually at the end of September.

www.clifdenartsweek.ie

Roundstone is only 7 kilometers from the Anglers Return, and just might be the most picturesque fishing village in Ireland. Perched on the west shore of Roundstone Bay, the village is home to commercial fishermen, artists and craftspersons that live and work there year round. A favorite destination for holiday vacationers, the village also offers a nice selection of restaurants and friendly pubs.

Just past Roundstone is the beautiful Ballyconneely Road, a scenic drive along the ocean’s edge where a stop at the secluded Dog’s Bay and Gurteen beaches is highly recommended. Then continue on to the village of Ballyconneely. This is a popular route for cycling, too. Finally, one of our favorite drives is along the remote bog road from Ballyconneely back to Toombeola and the Anglers Return!

http://roundstonevillage.ie/

Sailing and rowing competitions and regattas are held up and down the Connemara coast throughout the summer. Wonderfully colorful and spectacular events, the closest and most famous is the Roundstone Regatta, held each year in mid-July.

www.roundstoneregatta.com

The many Connemara Pony Shows held throughout the summer in different villages are well worth a visit to see this indigenous beautiful and world famous pony at its very best. The closest shows are held in Roundstone, Cashel, Clifden and Ballyconneely with Roundstone hosting the champion of champions show every September. Most of these shows include dog shows, agricultural produce and the best of Irish music and dancing.

Roundstone

http://www.roundstoneponyshow.com/

Connemara Pony Show

http://cpbs.ie/

Galway City is an easy hour from The Anglers Return. As one of Ireland’s major cities, there are many things to do there. Some of our favorites are mentioned here:

GALWAY ARTS FESTIVAL

Ireland’s largest international arts festival. The Festival showcases a wide variety of international artists alongside the best of Irish talent and includes music (popular, contemporary, jazz, world, classical and traditional), theatre (indoor and outdoor), visual arts, dance, talks, discussions, family events and comedy in its programme.

www.galwayartsfestival.ie

 

THE GALWAY RACES:

The Galway Races is certainly a festival for everyone. It runs for seven consecutive days at Galway Racecourse (at Ballybrit, on the outskirts of Galway City) starting from the last Monday in July each year. A second Meeting is held early September.

www.galwayraces.com/

ISLAND TOURS

Dogs beach in roundstone Connemara

The “Island of Discovery” departs daily to the beautiful island of Inishbofin from Cleggan, a scenic fishing village located a few kilometers north of Clifden. The 30 minute ride takes you along the rugged coast of west Connemara and almost 10 kilometers across the open sea. Inishbofin is renown for magnificent scenery, historical and archeological features, cliff walks and deserted sandy beaches.

Cloonamore, Inishbofin Island, Co. Galway
Telephone: +353 (0)95 45819 / (0)95 45894
Cleggan Ticket Office: +353 (0)95 44878
E-mail: info@inishbofinislanddiscovery.com
www.inishbofinislanddiscovery.com

Daily ferries depart from Rosavell, an hour’s drive to our east, for the world-famous Aran Islands. With breathtaking scenery, prehistoric stone forts, early Christian ruins, medieval castles, towering cliffs and sandy beaches, the Arans provide a rare glimpse into history and a traditional way of life. You can tour the main island, Inis Mor, by bicycle, mini-bus – or traditional pony and trap – all of which are available for hire at the ferry dock.

ARAN ISLAND FERRIES

4 Forster St, Galway, Co. Galway
Tel: +353 (0)91 568 903
E-mail: islandferries@eircom.net
www.aranislandferries.com

WALKING/HIKING

Connemara is a walkers paradise, with remote beaches, bogs, forests and mountains all within a short drive away from the house. We especially recommend a trek through the famous Roundstone Bog, directly across the river from us; where you will encounter purple moor grass, bog myrtle, rare heathers, orchids, a variety of lichens and mosses and perhaps a merlin or an otter or two!" The Twelve Bens and Maamturk mountains lie a short drive to the North East, with Derradda Hill and the Ballynahinch woods only a short walk away. In addition, the headlands and sand dunes along the coast provide miles of spectacular seaside walks for the non-climbers. We have a large selection of maps and walking books, and for serious hikers, we recommend a visit to the Connemara Walking Centre in Clifden where you can buy booklets on the local trails and sign up for a guided walking tour. At the day’s end, we provide drying facilities for your boots and gear – along with a hot fire and a cup of herbal tea.

Michael Gibbons is one of Ireland’s leading field archaeologists. Born and raised in Clifden, Connemara where he still lives with his family, Michael is a graduate of University College Galway with a degree in History and Archaeology. He is a member of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland with thirty years of experience as an archaeologist and completed a 5 year term on the Archaeology Committee of the Heritage Council. He has worked with the Department of Antiquities in Jerusalem and for the Museum of London City Excavation Programme.

Walking Ireland, Michael Gibbons: www.walkingireland.com 

 WALK CONNEMARA.
Organized walks, guide books and guiding is available through Walk Connemara

http://www.walkconnemara.com/

PONY TREKKING

Wandering wild in the open fields and beaches are Connemara ponies, whose ancestry is said to include stallions that swam ashore from wrecked Spanish Armada galleons. The Point Pony Trekking & Horse Riding Centre in Ballyconneely, Co. Galway. offers a unique opportunity to discover some of the most breathtaking scenery in the West of Ireland on horseback. Our riding center is situated right beside the Atlantic Ocean and the famous Connemara Championship Golf Links. Our spectacular beach rides have provided riders with some fantastic experiences over the years.

BEACHES

Nearby Gorteen Beach and Dogs Bay are two of Connemara’s finest white sand beaches, formed from the tiny shells of sea-dwelling Foraminifera, not rock as is the case with most beaches. With beautiful, rugged surroundings, they offer unsurpassed walking, beachcombing and bathing opportunities. Windsurfing is very popular on Gorteen Beach.

Roundstone Outdoors
Telephone: 087 226 5403
Kayaking and Paddle boarding
http://bogbeanconnemara.com/roundstone-outdoors-activity-centre-connemara/

GOLF

Few people realize that Connemara boasts one of the finest golf courses in Ireland, and it’s only a 20-minute drive from the lodge. The Connemara Championship Golf Links is a classic 27-hole championship links course stretching between the land and sea. Designed in the 1970’s by Eddie Hackett, the Connemara course will challenge the most discriminating golfer. Clubs, carts and buggies are for hire on premise.

CONNEMARA CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF LINKS

Ballyconneely, Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)95 23502 / 23602
Fax: +353 (0)95 23662
E-mail: info@connemaragolflinks.net
www.connemaragolflinks.com

 

CONNEMARA ISLES GOLF CLUB

www.connemaraislesgolf.com
Email: info@connemaraislesgolf.com

Stay at the anglers return