This tour explores the beautiful region of Connemara famous
for its rugged granite landscape as well as its beautiful
lakes and rivers. The scenery changes from dramatic mountain
ranges and fjords to sweeping open bogland and a rocky fractal
coastline.
Day 1 - Arrival
You make your way to the village of Leenane in County Galway
where the tour starts.
Accommodation - B&B in Leenane
DAY 2 –
Rossroe to Leenane (14 km, 190 m ascent)
Transfer by complementary taxi to Rosroe, at the mouth of
Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. Walk from Rosroe
to Leenane along the old path that hugs the southern coast
of the fjord. The path was built during the famine of 1845-7
as part of a scheme to provide employment for those forced
off of the land by the failure of their potato crops. Across
from the fjord the slopes rise directly to the summit of
Mweelrea, the highest peak in Connaught.
Accommodation – B&B in Leenane
DAY 3 -
Leenane to Kylemore (15 km, 190 m ascent, or 18 km, 690m
ascent )
A delightful walk leaves Leenane along the old famine relief
track before heading southwards towards the Twelve Bens
and Maumturk Mountain ranges. The walk then climbs up through
the Salrock pass to Little Killary then leaves the coast
to walk past Lough Fee to Kylemore. An easier route follows
the main trail around to the Inagh Valley then out on a
spur to Kylemore.
Accommodation – B&B in Kylemore
DAY 4 -
Kylemore to Inagh (18 km, 100 m ascent) (easy route 11 km,
60 m ascent)
An easy walk leads initially on a diversion to take you
first to Kylemore Abbey and then around Kylemore Lough to
the Inagh Valley walking along the base of the Maumturk
mountains with glorious views across to the Twelve Bens
mountains.
Accommodation – B&B at Inagh
DAY 5 -
Inagh to Maam (15 km, 290 m ascent or 14 km, 480 m ascent)
The walk follows the Inagh Valley between the Maumturk and
Twelve Bens mountains. Both ranges are steep rugged quartzite
peaks rising steeply from the expanse of blanket bog. The
route then climbs up to the Mám Eán pass,
there is a small chapel built on the summit of the pass.
St Patrick is said to have spent some time resting here
and it is now a pilgrimage site, hence the structures. A
holy well is found to the left about thirty metres beyond
the chapel. From the pass the route drops down to follow
a quiet narrow lane to the village of an Mám.
Accommodation – B&B at Inagh
DAY 6 –
Aran Islands - Inishmore
You begin by taking the taxi from Inagh to Rossaveal from
where you take the ferry from Kilronan on Inishmore, the
largest of the Aran Islands. You then spend a day walking
around the beautiful and fascinating island with its wonderful
rocky cliffs and a wealth of archaeological sites including
Dun Aengus, the best preserved Iron Age ring fort in Europe
perched high on the southern cliffs.
Accommodation - B&B at Inishmore
DAY
7 – Aran Islands / Galway
You spend another day exploring Inishmore. Then you take
the ferry back to Rosaveel, and you will be transferred
to the buzzing city of Galway for your last night.
Accommodation - B&B in Galway
DAY 8 - Departure
TOUR
PRICE
€660.00 per person sharing
TOUR INCLUDES:
Seven nights accommodation: a mixture of guesthouses, farmhouses
and country homes.
All rooms have a bathroom en suite
All breakfasts
Four packed lunches
Luggage transfer between your accommodation stops
Needed transfers
Ferry transfer from Rosaveal Harbour to Inishmore Island
and back
Full route details with a map of the tour
Moderate to
Strenuous
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