Connemara is a very popular destination for locals and visitors alike. It is dominated by the Twelve Bens, a range of mountains that overlook beautiful valleys and lakes. As the spectacular scenery is always changing with the light, your photographs on this tour will be truly unique. The photo you will most treasure will be the one of Kylemore Abbey, a magnificent structure built in rugged landscape during the 19th century. Despite its popularity, there are many quiet locations to be visited during your visit to this region and of course we will also find you a very nice place for lunch!
Mountains, valleys, lakes and an Abbey that will take your breath away.
Featured on this tour
Doolough Valley
Our route from Westport takes us through this wilderness area. Located between the Mweelrea Mountains and the Sheefry Hills this beautiful valley was created during the ice age. The deserted valley has two lakes which make it an extremely beautiful landscape. This is one of many opportunities for some great wilderness photos. The valley however has a sad story in which a number of people died of starvation during a journey to look for food during the Great Famine.
Derrygimlagh
In June 1919, Captain John Alcock and Arthur Whitten-Browne took off from St John’s in Newfoundland in a Vickers Vimy bi-plane. After a hazardous flight lasting 16 hours and 28 minutes they crash-landed in Derrygimlagh bog to claim the honour of being the first men to fly across the Atlantic and claim the prize of £10,000. The landing place in the bog is marked by a large white beacon.
Kylemore Abbey
Mitchell Henry and his wife Margaret fell in love with Kylemore (Gaelic: coill mór, big wood) when they came here on their honeymoon. They bought several thousand acres in the area and built the iconic Kylemore Abbey. They also developed the area by planting thousands of trees and creating a beautiful walled garden. Ladies, you will love the Irish gift shop attached to the Abbey, a great opportunity for some ‘retail therapy’!
Connemara National Park
If you are feeling energetic this is an opportunity to get some exercise. The park consists of 2,000 hectares of wilderness and there are trails of easy and moderate difficulty. There is also a visitors centre with an explanatory video of the history, heritage and wildlife in the park. After all of your activity the coffee shop awaits. You deserve it!
Killary Harbour
This is the location of Ireland’s only fjord. It was created by a glacier 10,000 years ago during the last ice age and is dominated by high mountains on both sides. The fjord is 16km long and up to 40m deep. It was used for shelter by German submarines during the second world war. Today it is used to grow the renowned Killary mussels. Delicious.
Lough Derryclare
Sometimes referred to as ‘The Connemara Postcard’ due to its picturesque location. Most tourists drive by this beauty spot but ‘local knowledge’ knows to stop. for a photo. There is beauty in the foreground, middle ground and background with the lake, the tree-covered island and the mountainous backdrop. This will be your favourite picture to show your friends and family back home.
Professionally guided tour by Neal Doherty in a top spec Land Rover Discovery classified as a Limo. Expect an interesting and entertaining tour with lots of stories, history and anecdotes that you will remember and take home to your family and friends. Our tours are designated tours but if you have some subject or area in which you are particularly interested please let me know and I will tailor the tour to your needs.