The tourist information centre[dead link] is on Main St, open M-F 9AM-5PM.
Get in
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See Galway for long distance routes by road and rail. From Galway, road N59 runs west to Clifden (79 km) then loops north to Letterfrack and Westport in County Mayo.
Citylink Bus 923 runs every hour or two from Galway via Oughterard and Maam Cross to Clifden (90 min); four of these continue to Letterfrack or Cleggan. This is a scenic drive across Connemara with views of Lough Corrib, numerous smaller lakes and the Twelve Bens mountain range.
Bus Éireann 419 from Galway usually turns back at Oughterard, but two per day continue to Clifden.
Bus Éireann 423 runs every two hours from Westport, where it meets the trains from Dublin, and takes 90 min to Clifden via Leenane and Letterfrack.
1 Clifden Library is the town bus stop.
Get around
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Map of Clifden
Clifden town is accessible on foot. Taxi firms are Connemara Taxi Company (aka Lucas, +353 95 30000), Danny Ryan (+353 86 831 3462), and Ian (+353 89 215 2180). They'll be happy to negotiate a day trip.
Clifden Bike Shop on Market St does sales, hire and repairs, open daily 9:30AM-5:30PM.
See
[edit]- 1 Clifden Castle is a picturesque ruined mansion in Gothic Revival style. It was the home of John D'Arcy (1785–1839), who founded Clifden, but his successors went bankrupt during the great potato famine. The next owners were absentees then the estate suffered land raids; in the 20th century the place fell derelict. You can stroll up the lane from Sky Road but the building is unsafe to enter. It's inhabited by cows, who have made themselves comfortable, so you could reasonably call it "Clifden Cattle".
- 2 Alcock & Brown's landing site is at the end of Marconi St, 10 km south of Clifden off R341. In 1913 the Daily Mail of London put up a prize of £10,000 for the first transatlantic flight: the competition was suspended for the First World War but resumed after the Armistice. Captain Jack Alcock (1892-1919) and 2nd Lieutenant Teddie Brown (1886-1948) had both been shot down during the war and taken prisoner - Alcock near Gallipoli and Brown near Arras. Postwar they found their way to Vickers aircraft manufacturers, and a Vickers Vimy IV twin-engine bomber was converted for the attempt. They wobbled into the sky at 1:45PM on 14 June 1919 from Lester's Field in St John's, Newfoundland, stealing a march on the Handley Page team who weren't quite ready. Alcock was pilot and Brown was navigator: all their skills were tested to the limit. The aircraft generator failed, taking out the radio, intercom and heating; the carburettor and trim control also failed. They endured fog, snow and freezing rain. They flew 1890 miles (3040 km) in 15 hours 57 minutes at an average speed of 115 mph (185 km/h), and next morning crossed the Galway coast. They had enough fuel to reach England but in bad weather opted to land here, in a promising big green field - gloop! Sure enough they'd found themselves a bog, the wheels dug in and the aircraft nose-planted. But they'd flown across the Atlantic, and it only remained to squelch a few yards to the Marconi transmitting station, to send word of their triumph.
- 3 Slyne Head Lighthouse stands on the islet of Illaunamid, and remains active.
- 4 Dog's Bay and Gurteen Bay are the two sides of a tombola on the coast further south. The two beaches are made of tiny shells of Foraminifera or marine borers.
- 5 Roundstone (Cloch na Rón) is a picture-perfect harbour village. Roundstone Musical Instruments & Crafts, open daily, makes traditional bodhran and has become a tourist attraction. (See Inis Oírr for the annual bodhran festival.) Stroll up Mt Errisbeg (298 m) behind the village for great views.
- 6 Connemara Heritage and History Centre is a small museum on N59 six km east of Clifden, recreating a 1800 homestead. It's open Apr-Oct daily 10AM-6PM.
- 7 Cleggan is a tiny fishing hamlet. It has a couple of bars, a restaurant, some B&Bs and a riding centre. Ferries sail from here to Inishbofin and occasionally to Inishturk.
- 8 Claddaghduff is the start of the tidal crossing to Omey Island.
- 9 Inishbofin Island is reached by ferry from Cleggan. It's low-lying and treeless, with a Cromwell-era fort and Iron Age fortifications.
- 10 Inishturk: beware, there are three. This one, north of Inishbofin, is inhabited and can be reached by boat from Cleggan, but it's in County Mayo and more usually reached from Roonagh. Another, known as Inishturk South, is uninhabited and is seen just off the headland of the Sky Road. And there's the privately-owned Inishturk Beg in Clew Bay in Mayo.
- See Letterfrack for Connemara National Park and the "Twelve Bens".
Do
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- Sky Road is a scenic loop of lane around the Atlantic headland. This forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way: once Sky Road loops back to N59, the suggested route is to branch west along the lane to Claddaghduff (for Omey Island) and Cleggan, then return to N59 to reach Letterfrack. From Galway to Clifden by that route, hug the coast through Spiddal, Costello, Inver, Carna, Dog's Bay and Ballyconneelly.
- 1 Connemara Golf Links, Creggoduff, Ballyconneely H71 N243, ☏ +353 95 23502. Links course, usually with a stiff Atlantic breeze trying to whisk your ball away in the general direction of Dublin. Yellow tees 6235 yards, par 72.
- Fishing is available on the river and nearby lakes, and sea-angling boats put out from Clifden and Cleggan.
- Clifden Traditional Music Festival is in April.
- Connemara Marathon is in April; there are also half- and ultra-marathons.
- Clifden Arts Festival is in September.
Buy
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- Lidl and Aldi supermarkets are on the main road, east edge of town.
- Connemara Hamper is a deli on Market St open M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-3PM.
Eat
[edit]- Off The Square on Main St serves traditional cuisine daily 10AM-9PM.
- Mitchell's Restaurant, Market St H71 KH93, ☏ +353 95 21867. Daily noon-10PM. This long-established seafood restaurant continues to delight.
- Willow Tree next to Mitchell's is open Th-Tu 10:30AM-9PM.
- Mannion's on Market St is open daily noon-9PM.
- Jasmine Garden on Market St is open Th-M 4:30-9:30PM.
Drink
[edit]- Mullarkeys is within Foyle's Hotel.
- Guy's Seafood Bar, Main St H71 Y277, ☏ +353 95 21130, [email protected]. Daily noon-11PM. Great food, early and late music sessions.
- Griffin's on Main St is open daily 10AM-midnight.
- EJ King's on Market Square is open daily 10AM-11PM.
- Tom King's next door is open daily noon-11:30PM.
- Lowry's on Market St is open daily 12:30-11:30PM.
- McGrath's on Bridge St is open daily noon-11:30PM.
Sleep
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Budget
[edit]- 1 Ben Lettery Hostel, Ballynahinch / Sraith Salach H91 Y796 (10 km east of Clifden on N59), ☏ +353 85 206 2262. Clean, comfy well-run hostel in the hills of Connemara. It's a good base for local hikes such as 12 Bens. Bunk €25.
Mid-range
[edit]- 2 Alcock & Brown Hotel, Town Square H71 KN29, ☏ +353 95 21880, [email protected]. Ugly boxy 1960s building, but rooms and service are okay. On three floors, no lift. B&B double €150.
- Foyle's Hotel, Main St H71 FP99 (opposite Alcock & Brown Hotel), ☏ +353 95 21801. Old-world charm but rooms are comfy and well-maintained. B&B double €130.
- Blue Quay Rooms, 2 Seaview H71 N224 (100 m west of Alcock & Brown Hotel), ☏ +353 87 621 7616. Bright blue building and the decor within is just as striking in this splendid B&B. Open Apr-Oct, no children under 12 or dogs.
- 3 Buttermilk Lodge, Westport Rd H71 VF25, ☏ +353 95 21951, [email protected]. This is self-catering accommodation and no longer a B&B.
- 4 Kingstown House B&B, Bridge St H71 HO22, ☏ +353 95 21470, [email protected]. Cosy welcoming B&B.
- Ben View House B&B, Bridge St H71 HH21 (next to Kingstown House), ☏ +353 95 21256, [email protected]. Great little B&B, super welcoming. B&B double €130.
- Sea Mist House, Seaview H71 NV63 (50 m west of Alcock & Brown Hotel), ☏ +353 95 21441. Welcoming small B&B open Mar-Oct. Four rooms but none suitable for limited mobility. No children under 4 or dogs.
- 5 Quay House, Beach Rd H71 XF76, ☏ +353 95 21369. Excellent B&B stuffed with quirky antiques in harbourside knock-through. Open Apr-Oct, no dogs. B&B double €190.
- 6 Mallmore House, Ballyconneely Road, Ardbear H71 PY98, ☏ +353 95 21460. Quirky Georgian property, now a B&B in woodland overlooking the bay. Open Easter - Sep. B&B double €110.
- 7 Connemara Sands Hotel, Mannin Bay, Ballyconneely H71 TY79, ☏ +353 95 23030. Upscale spa hotel in modern chalets on the coast. They also have self-catering. B&B double €200.
- 8 Lough Inagh Lodge, Recess / Sraith Salach H91 E3Y8 (on R344 east bank of lough), ☏ +353 95 34706. Splendid small hotel in fishing lodge in idyllic lakeside spot. Open Mar-Dec. B&B double €180.
Splurge
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- 9 Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, 2 Sky Rd H71 NX28, ☏ +353 95 21201, [email protected]. Lovely welcoming upscale place in an early Victorian mock-castle, excellent dining. Open Feb-Dec. B&B double €250.
- Connemara Rentals rent out three self-catering properties in Clifden: Sunnybank House (11 bedrooms), The Lodge (4 bedrooms), and Townhouse (2 bedrooms).
Connect
[edit]As of May 2025, Clifden and its approach roads have 4G from Eir and Vodafone, and 5G from Three.
Go next
[edit]- Continue north along the coast to Letterfrack for Connemara National Park and the "Twelve Bens".
- Rossaveel east has ferries to the Aran Islands.
- Galway is the lively colourful city further east.
- Wild Atlantic Way is a motoring route right around the Irish coastline from Donegal to Kinsale.