Getting Oriented
With the most westerly seaboard in Europe, this region is one of the wildest stretches of the Wild Atlantic Way. While just to the west and north of hip Galway City, this area is famed for its remoteness and rural character. Connemara sits in the northwest corner of County Galway. County Mayo is Ireland's third-largest county, with coast on three of its four sides, and the River Moy and the huge expanse of Lough Conn and Lough Cullin on the fourth. Bright lights are to be found in Clifden and Westport, both lively small towns of great charm.
- Roundstone. This charming Connemara fishing village has an especially scenic setting, which makes it popular with artists and photographers.
- Clifden. With the Twelve Bens Mountains backdrop and the Atlantic Ocean in the foreground, Clifden is a beautiful base for exploring the Connemara region.
- Letterfrack. The gateway village to Connemara National Park and a convenient base for local hiking and spending time at Kylemore Abbey.
- Kylemore Valley. A beautiful stretch of Connemara that contains the lakeside Kylemore Abbey.
- Leenane. A tiny, idyllic village that is home to Killary Harbour and a cool food truck.
- Cong. Hugging Ashford Castle, this small village is known as the setting for 1950s movie, The Quiet Man.
- Westport. On an inlet of Clew Bay, this attractive town is a great base for exploring Achill Island and Croagh Patrick.
- Castlebar. Not as pretty as Westport but Mayo's capital town is a lively town and home to the Museum of Country Life.
- Foxford. A pretty village and home to Foxford Woollen Mills and showroom and its heirloom woollen blankets and throws.
- Belmullet. This under-the-radar town is the perfect access point to the rugged and unspoiled Mullet Peninsula.
- Killala. A pretty bay-side village and the gateway to Mayo's rugged northern coast.
