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Looking For The Islands

From Clifden, follow the Sky Road to the scenic point for panoramas over Atlantic islands. Continue north to Streamstown Bay and Boolard island. At the end of the Sky Road, go left on to the N59, and then a quick left again on to the L1102 to Claddaghduff. Approaching Claddaghduff, you’ll see the tidal island of Omey, accessible by car and on foot (but make absolutely sure to check the tide timetable on the back page). Continuing around the Aughrus peninsula to Cleggan, your point of embarkation for Inishbofin island (please refer to the ferry timetable on page 32).

And North Connemara

Travelling from Clifden, go left at Letterfrack village, and left again at Derryinver before you reach the village of Tullycross. This road loops back towards Renvyle Beach and Tully (a different village further out the peninsula), passing the remains of Renvyle Castle and views of Ballinakill Bay. From Tullycross, take the coast road left of the church towards the spectacular Glassilaun Beach. At the N59, go left for Leenane and the Killary Fjord. Those with time on their hands can loop back to the Galway-Clifden road via the R345, the Maam Valley and Maam Cross.

The Galway Gaeltacht

Heading west from Galway City through Salthill, take the R336 (Coast Road) to Barna, Furbo, and Spiddal (An Spideal). Home to Radio na Gaeltachta and television channel TG4, Irish is the day-to-day language in this part of Connemara. Continuing on the coastal route, go left at Screebe on the R340 to Rosmuc (home of Pearse’s Cottage), Kilkerrin, Carna, and then continue left towards Cashel, Roundstone, Ballyconneely and eventually Clifden. This route is significantly longer than travelling directly from Galway to Clifden on the N59, so allow plenty of time for stops and photo ops along the way.

From Galway, take the N59 and head towards the charming towns of Moycullen and Oughterard. At both, you’ll find sideroads that lead off to the right towards Lough Corrib. If coming from Clifden, take a left at the crossroads village of Maam Cross and continue through the haunting Maam Valley until you come to Maam Bridge. A right here on to the R345 will take you past lakeside scenery and on to the Joyce country villages of Cornamona, Clonbur (An Fhairche), and, eventually, Cong. Heading west on the R345, meanwhile, returns you to Connemara via Leenane.

Cycle routes