Walking in Connemara

Tour Type:

Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

Activity Level & Terrain

This itinerary is graded easy to moderate and is suitable for regular walkers. There are very few elevation gains and losses and the most you will encounter is 150m elevation gain on a couple of the walks.  

It must be noted that in Ireland there are  no “public rights of way”. Therefore this itinerary does involve walking on roads which have low traffic, especially on the first few days so you will need to feel comfortable with walking on tarmacked surfaces. This is unavoidable to experience this area on foot, which is stunning, however at times you may have to watch out for traffic. The roads are pleasant to walk on though with great views and always with a friendly wave from the locals.

Navigation

The routes on this tour are not generally way-marked, except on the Western Way, However we provide you with route notes and detailed maps which will help you find your way. As much of the walking is on rural roads the navigation is not at all difficult and it is also possible to ask us for information about our Macs Adventure App.

• 5 Nights accommodation in B&B’s, hotels and guest houses
• 5 Breakfasts
• Luggage transfers
• Day 3: Transfer to Cleggan
• Day 5: Transfer to the Western Way
• Day 6: Transfer to Clifden
• Detailed information pack, route notes & OSi maps
• 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office in the event of any issues

• Travel to Clifden
• Travel from Leenane
• Lunches & Dinners
• Snacks & Drinks
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Equipment
• Ferry to/from Inishbofin Island
• Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage

• Extra nights before, after or during your walk

When To Go

This walking tour through Connemara is available between mid-April to mid-October. You have the flexibility to start on any date, subject to availability. We recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment, especially when travelling in a group.

In our opinion, one of the most beautiful times to visit this region is in spring when colourful wildflowers are in bloom, forming a beautiful contrast against the ocean. July and August are the busiest months and accommodations tend to fill up fast, but you're also more likely to encounter a local music festival or two and you can appreciate long hours of daylight. For a quieter experience, September is an ideal month and it has the advantage of the crowds beginning to thin.

Weather and Climate

Irish weather is typically unpredictable year-round so be prepared for any conditions and you will be pleasantly surprised. At the start and toward the end of the season the conditions may be wet and windy which can slow down your progress along the route. It is important that you check the local weather forecast before setting off each day, especially on Day 4 as your walk to Omey Island is subject to the tides. 

Getting to the Start

There is access to Galway from Dublin Airport on a Citylink bus. They run every hour and the journey takes about 3H. From Galway there is a Citylink bus to Clifden, which takes 1H30 and they run every 2-3 hours. Other useful travel websites are Bus Eireann and Irish Rail.

Should you wish to fly into Shannon Airport, there is also access from here to Clifden.  Take a bus from Shannon Airport to Galway (1H40) and then the Citylink bus as described above from Galway to Clifden.

Getting from the End

From Leenane, a private transfer is included to Clifden, a 30-minute drive. Citylink buses are available from both these locations to Galway, from where you can travel by bus to Dublin or Shannon Airports.

Luggage Transfer

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 18kg per person.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.  Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person.  It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

General Information

The distances and descents / ascents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat and sunscreen. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking/ cycling gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a day pack.

Ferry Information

The ferry from Cleggan pier to the Island of Inishbofin takes approximately 30 minutes. For ferry information use the following website, Inishbofin Island Discovery.  There is one ferry that leaves at approximately 11:30am and returns at approximately 5:00pm. However please be sure to view up to date timetables as during Easter week and on bank holidays schedules are different. We recommend buying your return ticket (approx €20) on the website in advance, although you can also buy a ticket locally.

Please note that schedules may change according to the tide and weather conditions and the ferry company also reserves the right to cancel ferries if the weather is extreme.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.