3 WESTPORT TO GALWAY CITY
DRIVE: From Westport to Galway on the Bay Coast.
DISTANCE:
130 miles – a leisurely four-hour drive.
WOW FACTOR:
Connemara means ‘sea inlets’ and the route follows a wiggly coast of bays, loughs and beaches, including Clew Bay, which has 365 islands. Highlights include Eire’s biggest lake, serene Lough Corrib; Grace O’Malley’s castle on Clare Island; and the chance to ride a horse along the water’s edge with thepointponytrekkingcentre.com.
PITSTOP:
Hike the ancient pilgrim route up Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s ‘holy mountain’, for huge views of islands, headlands and beaches (croagh-patrick.com).
OVERNIGHT:
Wake to Atlantic views at Cashel House country house hotel (cashelhouse.ie) with a beach in the front garden. It claims to be 22 miles from the nearest traffic light. Double B&B from £128.
COSY EATS:
Explore Galway’s cobbled streets to find John Keogh’s The Lock Keeper gastropub (johnkeoghs.ie). Amid peat fires, this establishment serves up whiskey-cured salmon and oysters in Guinness.
FLY:
Via Knock, Co Mayo from six UK airports daily.