Wander The Wild Atlantic Way by taking the road less travelled for a unique walking holiday on the West Coast of Ireland in Conneemara. Follow in the footsteps of those who have walked these paths over hundreds of years and discover their fascinating stories. Experience the unique scenery and lifestyle of a traditional island community existing on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, with a boat trip to Inishbofin island. Climb the pilgrim path to the summit of Ireland’s ‘Holy Mountain’, Croagh Patrick, and marvel at the ancient custom of travelling this rocky path barefoot.
This is a truly special place away from the crowds and the tour combines the rugged and awesome Connemara landscape with the legendary warmth of the people. The hotels are carefully chosen with upgraded rooms and are the best luxury hotels available. Enjoy too a stay in the vibrant city of Galway with a boat trip and walk on the Aran isles and wonderful views of the cliffs of Moher as your boat returns you to Galway.
Holiday details
Price
- Luxury
-
from £3,675 per person
Supplements may apply in peak season
Based on two people sharing a room
Duration
8 nights
Start & Finish
Starts daily between April and October, from Westport and finishes in Galway. Westport has a good train connection from Dublin. Galway has a good bus and rail onnection to Dublin and train to its own airport
Hotels
- Luxury
-
4* hotels, manors and an island retreat
Holiday type
Self-guided so you are free to explore at your own pace. More info...
Activity level
Gentle walking (5) More info...
Mileage
7 days of walking between 4 - 10 miles (6-16 kms) with options on some days
Terrain
This trip includes walking on ancient trails, soft ground and rocky pathways; also includes hills, so moderate fitness and stout shoes required.
What’s included?
Ensuite accommodation every night with breakfast. The services of our friendly local Hosts. Luggage transfers between hotels. 24/7 phone contact number. Adventure Handbook with our local tips. GPS Routes on an App with waterproof phone holder. Guidebook or OS maps. Protection of your funds. Advice, help and guidance planning your trip.
Transfers to and from the start and finish of each day's walk. Return ferry tickets to Inishbofin and Arran Isles. Entry to Kylemore Abbey. Visit to Toms Sheep Farm or a Tour on the Killary Boat. Dinner on 4 nights. Read About Our Trips for further details
Traffic-free
Low-traffic back-roads and foot paths
Options
- Take an extra day for some fly fishing on Lough Inagh or kayaking on Killary Fjord.
Itinerary day-by-day
-
1. Day one
Arrive Westport
Arrive in Westport by train or by plane and we will meet you for the short transfer to your hotel. Settle in, enjoy the fresh air and explore the town.
-
2. Day two
Croagh Patrick and Renvyle Peninsula
After breakfast you will be transferred to the start of today's hike at Murrisk, on the shores of Clew Bay in Co. Mayo. A place of ancient history, Croagh Patrick is Ireland’s sacred mountain, and a rich vein of archaeological heritage. This dazzling quartzite pyramid (764m) has been a holy mountain since before Christian times and even has a small chapel at the very peak. It is a hugely rewarding climb for the endless 360 degree views of coast and land alike and no walking trip in Ireland is complete without it. After you have conquered Croagh Patrick you will be driven to your next hotel. Your hotel is set in 150 acres, which include a private lake, a 9-hole golf course, a beach, woodlands, gardens and numerous activities on site.
4.5 miles (7 kms) / elevation 2,500 ft (764m) / 4 to 5 hours walking
-
3. Day three
The Famine Trail and Killary Fjord
So-called because it was built as a famine-relief project during the Great Famine of the 1840s, the greenway along the shores of Killary Fjord brought outlying communities closer together in the nineteenth century. When you hike along the path this morning, you cannot help but sense the history and lives of all those who have walked this way before you. With mountains rising out of the water on either side and few signs of civilisation along the way, this is a true escape and a rare find in the modern world. You will be transferred to the starting point and your walk ends with a visit to Toms Sheep Farm or a Tour on the Killary Boat. After that you will be driven to your hotel on the Renvyle Peninsula. Reaching out into the Atlantic Ocean, Renvyle is peppered with archaeological sites, historical ruins and white-sand beaches. It is also home to a thriving and close-knit community.
9 miles (15 kms) / 250 ft (80 m) elevation
-
4. Day four
Maumean
We transfer you to the start of your walk as you follow an ancient pilgrim’s path to Maumean (translated from Gaelic as the ‘pass of the birds’). The summit of Maumean at a height of 320m is marked by a small chapel and other religious features associated with Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick. There is much ritual and myth attached to this site and it will give you a fascinating insight into religious practice in Ireland through the ages. You walk leads you to your hotel on the shores of Lough Inagh, one of Connemara's most romantic lake-settings, surrounded by the impressive Maamturk and Twelve Bens mountain ranges. It is a perfect haven for complete relaxation and Lough Inagh is also well placed for fly-fishing!
10 miles (16 km) / 1,670 ft (2500 m) elevation / 3-4 hours walking
-
5. Day five
Connemara National Park and Inishbofin
We transfer you to the start of your walk on the Renvyle Peninsula in the National Park of Connemara. This is a relatively easy walk and a rewarding one for the extensive views it provides. Reaching the summit of Diamond Hill you will look over the whole peninsula, the islands of the Atlantic to the west and north west and the mountain ranges of Connemara to the south. Today also gives you time to enjoy Kylemore Abbey, with walks in its gardens and woods. At the end of the day we transfer you to the pier for your ferry across to Inishbofin Island renowned for its traditional music sessions which you can experience in any of the local pubs as you are staying overnight here.
4.5 miles (7 kms) and more/ elevation 1300 ft (400 m)
-
6. Day six
Inishbofin Island
Bofin or 'Inis Bo Finne' (Island of the White Cow) lies seven miles off Connemara’s coast. The first documented history of the island dates from early Christian times. As you sail around the tower and signal light at the entrance to the island’s harbour, you will see Cromwell’s 16th Century Barracks. set high above the crashing waves. There are looped walks you are free to explore around the island's naturally beautiful setting which is far removed from the daily distractions of the mainland. You transfer back to the mainland at the end of the day and we meet you at Cleggan Pier to take you to your hotel in Clifden.
Choice of walks between 4 and 9 miles (6 and 15 kms), elevation from 200 - 600 ft (60 to 180m), from 1 to 5 hours walking
-
7. Day seven
Explore Clifden and Galway
Take time to explore Clifden a little this morning, the main town and heart of Connemara and very popular with visitors, artists, musicians and those looking for a change of pace. That will be something for you to experience later in the day as we transfer you to Galway with your hotel in the heart of this vibrant city where you stay 2 nights. Stroll along the waterfont, enjoy wonderful pubs and seafood, live music and a local market if it's the weekend. The super friendly Irish will continue to warm the cockles of your heart!
-
8. Day eight
Aran islands and Cliffs of Moher
This final day is a stunner with a boat trip from the port at Galway to the nearby Isles of Aran where you disembark on Inis Mor, the largest of the three islands. There are several walks for you to choose from or you can hire a bike and enjoy an easy pedal or go authentic with a pony and trap ride. Your 4.5 hour visit here over, board the boat for a wonderful view of the Cliffs of Moher as you cruise back to Galway in the late afternoon. If you prefer to travel on land, there is a bus trip to view the Cliffs of Moher
Various
-
9. Day nine
Depart Galway
Depart from Galway on your onward journey.
Luxury
-
1. Day one
Arrive Westport
Arrive in Westport by train or by plane and we will meet you for the short transfer to your hotel. Settle in, enjoy the fresh air and explore the town.
-
2. Day two
Croagh Patrick and Renvyle Peninsula
After breakfast you will be transferred to the start of today's hike at Murrisk, on the shores of Clew Bay in Co. Mayo. A place of ancient history, Croagh Patrick is Ireland’s sacred mountain, and a rich vein of archaeological heritage. This dazzling quartzite pyramid (764m) has been a holy mountain since before Christian times and even has a small chapel at the very peak. It is a hugely rewarding climb for the endless 360 degree views of coast and land alike and no walking trip in Ireland is complete without it. After you have conquered Croagh Patrick you will be driven to your next hotel on the Renvyle Peninsula where dinner is included. Your hotel is set in 150 acres, which include a private lake, a 9-hole golf course, a beach, woodlands, gardens and numerous activities on site.
5 miles (8 kms) / elevation 2,500 ft (764m) / 4 to 5 hours walking
-
3. Day three
The Famine Trail and Killary Fjord
So-called because it was built as a famine-relief project during the Great Famine of the 1840s, the greenway along the shores of Killary Fjord brought outlying communities closer together in the nineteenth century. When you hike along the path this morning, you cannot help but sense the history and lives of all those who have walked this way before you. With mountains rising out of the water on either side and few signs of civilisation along the way, this is a true escape and a rare find in the modern world. You will be transferred to the starting point and your walk ends with a visit to Toms Sheep Farm or a Tour on the Killary Boat. After that you will be driven to your hotel on the Renvyle Peninsula. Reaching out into the Atlantic Ocean, Renvyle is peppered with archaeological sites, historical ruins and white-sand beaches. It is also home to a thriving and close-knit community.
9 miles (15 kms) / 250 ft (80 m) elevation / 4-5 hours walking
-
4. Day four
Maumean
We transfer you to the start of your walk as you follow an ancient pilgrim’s path to Maumean (translated from Gaelic as the ‘pass of the birds’). The summit of Maumean at a height of 320m is marked by a small chapel and other religious features associated with Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick. There is much ritual and myth attached to this site and it will give you a fascinating insight into religious practice in Ireland through the ages. You walk leads you to your hotel on the shores of Lough Inagh, one of Connemara's most romantic lake-settings, surrounded by the impressive Maamturk and Twelve Bens mountain ranges. It is a perfect haven for complete relaxation and Lough Inagh is also well placed for fly-fishing! Dinner is included tonight.
10 miles (16 km) / 1670 ft (250 m) elevation / 3-4 hours walking
-
5. Day five
Connemara National Park and Inishbofin
We transfer you to the start of your walk on the Renvyle Peninsula in the National Park of Connemara. This is a relatively easy walk and a rewarding one for the extensive views it provides. Reaching the summit of Diamond Hill you will look over the whole peninsula, the islands of the Atlantic to the west and north west and the mountain ranges of Connemara to the south. Today also gives you time to enjoy Kylemore Abbey, with walks in its gardens and woods. At the end of the day we transfer you to the pier for your ferry across to Inishbofin Island renowned for its traditional music sessions which you can experience in any of the local pubs as you are staying overnight here.
4.5 miles (7 kms) and more/ elevation 1300 ft (400 m)
-
6. Day six
Inishbofin Island
Bofin or 'Inis Bo Finne' (Island of the White Cow) lies seven miles off Connemara’s coast. The first documented history of the island dates from early Christian times. As you sail around the tower and signal light at the entrance to the island’s harbour, you will see Cromwell’s 16th Century Barracks. set high above the crashing waves. There are looped walks you are free to explore around the island's naturally beautiful setting which is far removed from the daily distractions of the mainland. You transfer back to the mainland at the end of the day and we meet you at Cleggan Pier to take you to your hotel in Clifden.
Choice of walks between 4 and 9 miles (6 and 15 kms), elevation from 200 - 600 ft (60 to 180m), from 1 to 5 hours walking
-
7. Day seven
Explore Clifden and Galway
Take time to explore Clifden a little this morning, the main town and heart of Connemara and very popular with visitors, artists, musicians and those looking for a change of pace. That will be something for you to experience later in the day as we transfer you to Galway with your hotel in the heart of this vibrant city where you stay 2 nights. Stroll along the waterfont, enjoy wonderful pubs and seafood, live music and a local market if it's the weekend. The super friendly Irish will continue to warm the cockles of your heart!
-
8. Day eight
Aran islands and Cliffs of Moher
This final day is a stunner with a boat trip from the port at Galway to the nearby Isles of Aran where you disembark on Inis Mor, the largest of the three islands. There are several walks for you to choose from or you can hire a bike and enjoy an easy pedal or go authentic with a pony and trap ride. Your 4.5 hour visit here over, board the boat for a wonderful view of the Cliffs of Moher as you cruise back to Galway in the late afternoon. If you prefer to travel on land, there is a bus trip to view the Cliffs of Moher
Various
-
9. Day nine
Depart Galway
Depart from Galway on your onward journey.