Connemara & Kylemore Abbey tour from Galway: Wild Atlantic Way

Nine hours through Connemara's mountains and coastline, with a choice of where to spend your afternoon

This guided day trip from Galway travels through Connemara along the Wild Atlantic Way, taking in Screebe Waterfall, Clifden, Sky Road and the Inagh Valley before returning to the city. You choose between spending three hours at Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian gardens or at Connemara National Park with its Diamond Hill trails. The driver-guide provides live commentary throughout, and the coach departs Merchants Road at 09:30, arriving back by 18:30.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Sky Road30m
2. Connemara3h
3. Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden3h

Connemara and Kylemore Abbey tour

• Depart Galway at 09:30
• Photo stop at Screebe Waterfall
• Photo stop at Derryclare Lough
• Visit Clifden town for 30 minutes
• Photo stop at Sky Road
• Choose Connemara National Park or Kylemore Abbey visit
• Photo stop at Lough Inagh Viewing Point
• Visit The Connemara Giant Viewing Point
• Return to Galway at 18:30

The experience

The coach leaves Galway at 09:30 from Merchants Road outside Kinlay Hostel, heading west into Connemara. Your driver-guide narrates the route as you pass thatched cottages, dry-stone walls and bog landscapes that stretch toward the coast. The first stop is Screebe Waterfall, a quick photo point that sets the tone for the day's scenery. From there the route climbs toward Clifden, the unofficial capital of Connemara, where you have half an hour to walk the town before heading to Sky Road: a 16-kilometre circular route that rises above the Atlantic with panoramic views on clear days.

At 12:45 you reach the main decision point. Kylemore Abbey, built in the 1860s as a wedding gift and set against mountains and water, sits on one path. Connemara National Park, with its Diamond Hill trails and free access to upland hiking, sits on the other. Both get three hours. If you choose Kylemore, your guide can arrange discounted entry tickets (cash only). If you choose the park, you can walk as much or as little as the trails allow, from short loops to the full Diamond Hill circuit. Either way, the landscape does not change, mountains frame everything.

The return journey follows the Inagh Valley between the Maumturk and Twelve Bens mountains, with a photo stop at Lough Inagh and another at the Connemara Giant, a statue in the village of Recess that marks a local landmark. The coach arrives back in Galway by 18:30. Transport is by air-conditioned minivan, and the commentary runs live throughout the day in English.

What’s included

• Driver-guide with live English commentary.
• air-conditioned coach transport.
• photo stops at Screebe Waterfall, Derryclare Lough, Sky Road and Lough Inagh.
• 30 minutes in Clifden town.
• three hours at either Kylemore Abbey (with discounted entry available) or Connemara National Park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (8 to 12 years) · Infant (under 8): free

GroupUp to 30 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Ireland Wild Escapes

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're spending a day in Galway and want to see Connemara's mountains, valleys and coastline without driving yourself: the fixed schedule and included transport mean the route holds together, and the choice between Kylemore Abbey and the national park lets you decide whether to walk or tour a historic building.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (8 to 12 years); Infant (under 8): free.

What's the difference between the Kylemore Abbey stop and Connemara National Park on this tour?

Kylemore Abbey is a castle with Victorian walled gardens set in dramatic landscape. Entry is available at a discounted rate arranged by your guide. Connemara National Park offers free access to hiking trails including Diamond Hill, which climbs through wild uplands and opens to views across the region. Both stops last three hours, so the choice depends on whether you want to walk or tour a historic building.

Does the tour include entry to Kylemore Abbey?

Kylemore Abbey entry is not included in the tour price, but your driver-guide can arrange discounted admission tickets on the day (cash only). Connemara National Park, the alternative main stop, is free to enter.

What time does the coach leave Galway and where do I meet it?

The coach departs at 09:30 from Merchants Road outside Kinlay Hostel in Galway city. You should arrive 15 minutes before departure.

How long is the full tour and when does it end?

The tour runs nine hours total, departing at 09:30 and returning to Merchants Road by 18:30.

What stops happen before the main three-hour stop at Kylemore or the park?

After leaving Galway, the route includes Screebe Waterfall (photo stop), Derryclare Lough (photo stop), Clifden town (30 minutes to walk around), and Sky Road (photo stop with views over the Atlantic). These stops fill the morning before you reach the main attraction at 12:45.

Is the coach air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transport is by air-conditioned minivan. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.