Holiday rentals and lettings in Connemara

Connemara is an area of contrasts, colours, wilderness and warm welcomes on the west coast of Ireland. Clifton is in the heart of the region and offers ample facilities for tourists and many lovely holiday lettings. To get off the beaten path, head for the wild landscapes around the coastal villages of Claddaghduff and Errislannan right to the north. In the south holiday rentals in the village of Murlach Moorings and its environs provide easy access to stunning white sand beaches and dazzling scenery.

Many lettings in the area of Connemara are renovated properties that are hundreds of years old, stuffed full of charm and waiting for you to enjoy their bright and open spaces and the expansive views they afford over the wild landscape. Well-kept gardens, often surrounded with traditional hand built stone walls are the order of the day here. The central town of Cliften offers a wide range of fabulous lettings, putting you both close to the main sights of the town and its lovely beach.

Connemara is located in County Galway, and there are regular bus and train services direct from Dublin Airport to the region. Connemara’s capital and a seaside town Cliften in the far west of the region is the starting point for many visitors. Consider making it your base to explore Connemara from the bogs and lakes of the Gaelic speaking south, to the mountain landscapes of the north and west, and the islands of Inisbofin and Omey, where the diversity of the landscapes will create memories to last a lifetime.

Many of Ireland’s most beautiful beaches are to be found around the rugged coastline of Connemara, and a beach visit is bound to be a part of your Connemara experience. The dramatic peaks of North Connemara overlook some wonderful beaches, such as Lettergesh, with its beautiful strands, and Glassilaun that is popular with water sports enthusiasts. Ballyconneely in the south is blessed with numerous beautiful beaches, and a popular swimming spot. And last but not least, the island of Inishbofin boasts some spectacular award winning beaches that are winners of European Green Coast Awards and is a must on a sunny day on the island.

Connemara is brim full of fantastic walking trails and routes waiting for you to explore. Maumturk Mountains is a picturesque mountain range offering superb views and no congestion on the mountain trails. You can even combine wonderful hiking with culture at the Maumean mountain pass, a holy place that has attracted pilgrims since the early Christian period, and your hike with take you past a medieval church, an outdoor altar, a rock known as St. Patricks bed, a statue of St Patrick, and a holy well. But if you only have time for one hike, head to Omey Island, it offers remarkable scenery, archaeology, flora and fauna, and so many species of birds and wildlife.

When in Galway, take a kayaking trip on the River Corrib, you will go upstream to hidden lakes and Menlo Castle. With rowing boats and swans for company, it is a great way to spend a few hours and enjoy another side of the town. Ever fancied trying out deep sea angling? Onboard the Celtic Queen, Ireland’s largest and best equipped sea angling boat, you can look forward to an adventure on the open sea with the opportunity to catch pollock, ray, mackerel and even sharks!

Kylemore Abbey is an exclusive boarding school, but is open to the public all-year round so that visitors may enjoy its splendour. Stroll around the lake, visit the Victorian walled gardens and marvel at the period architecture of the abbey itself.

Located just outside the village of Oughterard, Glengowla Mines date back to 1850 and were focused on the extraction of silver. Now they are home to a visitor experience and heritage centre, and guided tours take you to the mineral deposits and crystals as they shimmer in the lights.

Accessible by foot or car but only at low tide, this is an amazing sandy grass island with magnificent views over the Atlantic. Walk around the island and take in its scenery and rare solitude.

Killary Fjord is a unique area not only in terms of flora and fauna, but also its landscape, which is unlike anything else in Ireland. When there, check out the rope-grown mussel farms, and order a plate in the local pubs!

This peninsula showcases some of the most spectacular scenery. And the quaint villages of Tully and Tullycross make an excellent pitstop, with welcoming pubs offering locally caught seafood.