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August 21, 2022
Ireland Travel series: Connemara and Kylemore Abbey guide
Castles, mountains and lakes
Connemara and Kylemore Abbey should be included in any Wild Atlantic Way trip itinerary. This genuine, wild and romantic part of Ireland truly deserves your attention. It’s easily accessible, and offers a variety of things to do to suit everyone’s taste.
We have only moved to Ireland recently, and want to shine a light on this beautiful country through our Ireland Travel series! To kick this series off, we are starting with a few guides for what we consider must-do’s along the Wild Atlantic Way. In this post we share everything you need to know about visiting Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, even when it’s cold and wet outside.
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to moody and dramatic destinations along the Wild Atlantic Way. It can be hard to narrow down where to prioritise your time.
To help you with your planning, we’ve also prepared guides for a trip to the Aran Islands, a guide to the best things to see and do in Sligo, and a weekend in Donegal. Combine these locations with Connemara and Kylemore Abbey and you will tick off some of the most beautiful landscapes Ireland has to offer!
To make it even easier, you might want to take a look at our 7 day unique Ireland road trip guide or our Wild Atlantic Way road trip itinerary, which cover off all of these stunning locations.
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In this article
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Why visit Connemara & Kylemore LodgeWhy visit Connemara & Kylemore Lodge
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When should you visit?When should you visit?
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How long do you need?How long do you need?
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How to get there?How to get there?
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Options for day tours from GalwayOptions for day tours from Galway
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Cost breakdownCost breakdown
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Where to stayWhere to stay
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Where to eat and drinkWhere to eat and drink
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ConnemaraConnemara
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Kylemore AbbeyKylemore Abbey
Why you should visit Connemara and Kylemore lodge
Connemara is a culturally rich area, a stronghold for the Irish language and a place where you’ll start to see road signs go from being in English to Gaelic. The rugged landscapes around Connemara are easily accessible from main cities like Galway. This makes Connemara more convenient compared to some remote regions like Donegal, without having to sacrifice the outstanding natural beauty you get to experience.
And who wouldn’t want to see the most photographed castle in Ireland? Kylemore Abbey was built by a wealthy aristocrat in the late 1800s for his beloved wife who died only a few years after the castle was completed. The Abbey has been the home to a Benedictine order of Nuns for 100 years now. It was opened to the public for visits after the school closed in 2010 as a means to raise funds in order to keep up maintenance of the castle.
When should you visit?
If you let the weather stop you from doing outdoor activities in Ireland, you’d never get outdoors. If you have flexibility, try to keep an eye on the forecast and adjust your schedule if the weather really doesn’t look good but otherwise try to embrace the rain if it isn’t so heavy.
At the end of the day, it rains a lot in Ireland and that doesn’t need to stop you from enjoying Connemara and Kylemore Abbey. In fact when we went in winter (December), it rained a lot and cloud cover was low. The only negative side to this in our opinion was that we didn’t get a chance to see the beautiful landscapes while driving in and out of Connemara National Park. We were still able to go on walks, explore Kylemore as well as a lot of the local towns in the area.
Like anywhere in Ireland, traveling during the summer months is going to give you the best chance of nice weather and longer daylight hours. It’s also going to be the busiest time to travel, because everyone has the same idea.
We think if you can aim for the fall months that would be perfect. It won’t be as wet as it is in Spring, you will still have plenty of daylight hours. Also, it won’t be so cold that you can’t spend all day outside.
How long to spend in Connemara will really depend on how many hikes you want to do. Which of course depends on the weather. If the clouds are low, don’t expect to see anything even on the easy to moderate trails. Always use common sense, if visibility is low and you are inexperienced, turn around and try somewhere else.
We only had two days to explore the area and we don’t think it was nearly enough time. I would suggest, if you can, spend at least two nights here.
Connemara and Kylemore Abbey are located in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland. It is a highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way, showcasing some of the most beautiful landscapes you’ll find in the country.
Unfortunately, public transport routes in Ireland don’t get you very far. Car hire at the time of writing this (July 2022) is extortionist in Ireland. Since we moved here 9 months ago, car rental prices have almost tripled. You will need to factor this in if you don’t have your own car.
If car hire prices don’t go down again before your trip, maybe consider taking an organised day trip tour. This obviously means you won’t have the same level of flexibility you otherwise would have had, but it could make the most sense financially.
Options for day tours from Galway
For €35, this 8 hour day trip will take you through Connemara and Kylemore Abbey. The entrance fee to Kylmore Abbey isn’t included, so budget for another €15 per person for that.
If you want to focus more on Connemara National Park and squeeze in a walk, then this guided tour for €45 is for you.
If you’re looking for trip ideas within Ireland that you don’t need a car for, read our guide here on camping and cycling on the Aran Islands.
Cost breakdown for your trip to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey
You can certainly make this trip budget-friendly. The below cost breakdown are our actual costs for a 2 day / 1 night trip from Dublin.
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (per night) | €78 |
| Kylemore Abbey tickets | €30 |
| Food | €125 |
| Car hire (incl. full insurance) | €150 |
| Fuel | €30 |
| Total | €413 |
Where to stay?
Most people stay in Letterfrack or Clifden. Letterfrack will be more convenient if you plan on spending more time in Connemara National Park. It’s also only a 7 minute drive to Kylemore Abbey from here and would make a great base if you were planning on any hikes in County Mayo, as it’s only 40 minutes from famous trails such as Ben Creggan (more on that below).
We stayed at Kylemore Lodge, a gorgeous bed and breakfast run by Nora which cost €78 a night. It is located on Pollacapall Lough, the same lake that Kylemore Abbey is situated on. The backdrop to this B&B is remarkable! You need to drive into town for dinner, but at only 8 minutes to get into Letterfrack this didn’t bother us.
It looks like they aren’t accepting reservations for Saturday nights at the moment, but for weekday trips we highly recommend staying here.
Where to eat and drink?
- Veldons Seafarer Bar & Restaurant: We came here for dinner during our stay and the service was exceptional! We were told by our Irish friends to try the seafood chowder while we were in Connemara. The one they served up here was just delicious, not to mention warm and hearty after a cold day walking through Connemara.
- Lowry’s Music & Whiskey Bar: If you’re stopping in Clifden, pop into Lowry’s for a drink. Trad music is on every night of the week in season.
- Mitchell’s Cafe, Kylemore Abbey: A convenient lunch stop before or after your visit to Kylemore Abbey. Browse through the souvenir shop first to pick up your handmade chocolate (not to be missed!) then visit the cafe for a hearty lunch. It’s very reasonably priced and the food was tasty and generous.
Connemara
Explore the National Park
Due to the time of year when we visited Connemara (in December), we didn’t plan to do any of the big, more difficult hikes in the area, opting instead to go to Diamond Hill. Our experience was misty and moody, which we loved, but meant we were never going to get the magnificent views over Connemara like you do on a clear day.
If you’re not into walking, you can still experience the stunning landscapes by driving the Connemara Loop. Keep an eye out for Connemara ponies! These ponies descend from Andalusian horses brought to Ireland by the Spanish Armada.
Make sure to stop at Pine Island. There is actually a track you can take to walk onto the island, and I wish we knew that before we went there!
Other hikes to combine with your trip to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey
If the weather and your time allows, then here are some suggestions for more challenging and rewarding hikes in the area. These are all located in County Mayo, but can all be easily reached by car from Letterfrack.
- Mweelrea
- Ben Creggan
- The Reek (Croagh Patrick Mountain)
Visit the towns
For when the weather isn’t in your favour, and you’ve done the Connemara Loop already, consider exploring the towns in this area. Some of our Irish friends in Dublin tell us the best thing about Connemara is the pubs. With this in mind, explore towns (and their pubs) like Clifden, Letterfrack and Leenaun. While you’re up near Leenaun check out Killary Fjord as well where you can take a 1.5 hour boat cruise for €25.50 (available April to October).
Famine walls
Landlords dictated during the potato famine that everyone who wanted food must work for it and so created meaningless projects that were largely left unfinished. If you see a rock wall winding aimlessly up a hill and ending at a point that doesn’t make sense, it’s probably a famine wall.
Summer activities for your trip to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey
If you’re visiting in summer, don’t miss a visit to Dog’s Bay. It’s a 45 min drive from Letterfrack and is one of the best beaches in Ireland.
If you’re up for some adventure, Real Adventures Connemara offers outdoor experiences ranging from rock climbing to sunset kayaking. I love canyoneering, so next time we head to Connemara during summer I really want to try coasteering (a combination of rock scrambling, climbing, adventure swimming, and cliff jumping) run by Real Adventures.
Kylemore Abbey
We ended up spending hours at Kylemore Abbey. The property is absolutely beautiful, and the history of the castle is romantic and tragic. Tickets cost €15 per adult and access is seasonal, with the Abbey closing between around January to March.
We went there in December and the crowds started rolling in around 11. So try to get there early, right when it opens to truly appreciate the peacefulness of the property, especially during summer.
After walking through the castle and learning all about the history of Kylemore (SO interesting!), take a walk to the walled garden. There are shuttle buses as well, included in the price of your ticket. In its heyday this walled garden had 21 heated glasshouses, requiring 40 ground staff to keep it maintained. Even in winter the gardens were serene, but I am itching to get back during spring or summer for a more colourful experience.
On the other side of the castle is a neo-Gothic Church, built by the original owner of Kylemore Abbey for his wife who died only years after construction was completed on the property. Make sure to try the hand made chocolate, made on site by the Nuns. We ended up buying some to take home with us. It was that good.
Thanks for stopping by!
We hope we’ve inspired you to plan a trip to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey. This part of Ireland is truly breathtaking and is a convenient pit stop on your Wild Atlantic Way road trip as it isn’t too remote.
Suggested: To help you with your planning, we’ve also prepared guides for a trip to the Aran Islands, the best things to see and do in Sligo, and a weekend in Donegal. Combine these locations with Connemara and Kylemore Abbey and you will tick off some of the most beautiful landscapes Ireland has to offer!
To make it even easier, you might want to take a look at our 7 day unique Ireland road trip guide or our Wild Atlantic Way road trip itinerary, which cover off all of these stunning locations.
If you have any questions, please let us know, and please subscribe!
Extend your Wild Atlantic way trip?
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