West Coast Tours
You can choose from three different tours described below. All tours last around
8 hours.
Please book the tours via Tripadvisor/Viator Journeyswithulla page
or contact me directly for a discount ullajuriska@gmail.com
Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, Doolough Valley
Galway – Inagh Valley – Killary Fjord – Doolough Pass - Kylemore Abbey – Sky Road – Roundstone – Ballynahinch Castle - Galway.
Price: 630EUR (per car)
Bookings via Tripadvisor/Viator
or contact me directly ullajuriska@gmail.com
I will pick you up at 10 am and we will head towards Connemara, driving through villages of Moycullen, Oughterard, Maam Cross and Recess. The road takes us through the scenic Inagh Valley surrounded by the majestic Twelve Ben Mountains on your left and the Maumturk Mountains on your right. We will drive along the shore of Lough Inagh where we might get “distracted” by the numerous sheep who graze freely everywhere in Connemara. Our next destination is Killary Fjord, Ireland’s one and only fjord.
We stop in Leenaun for a cuppa in a local craft shop and continue our journey to the other side of the fjord, towards Doolough lake and the magnificent Mweelrea Mountain (814 m/2,671 ft). From Doolough Valley we turn back for Kylemore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden, one of Ireland’s top tourist destinations. We then visit Kylemore Castle Estate and see all it has to offer.
Kylemore visit duration: 2-3 hours including lunch. After a hearty lunch you will sit back and enjoy the drive towards Clifden and The Sky Road. We take the spectacular peninsula loop drive to reach the highest point. There you will see unbeatable views of Connemara, the Atlantic Ocean and the islands. The rugged coastline of county Mayo will be to the North and county Clare to the South. There is still much more to see as we descend from the Sky Road and arrive in Clifden, the capital of Connemara.
From Clifden, we follow The Wild Atlantic Way to Dogs Bay with its bright white sandy beach. In summer, you will feel free to take a refreshing dip in its crystal blue waters and enjoy being on one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
After our beach-break we drive through picturesque Roundstone Village and arrive at the Ballynahinch Castle, set in a private 700-acre estate of woodland, rivers and walks. Among many previous owners it was once purchased by an Indian Maharaja Ranji, also called The Prince of Cricketers, in 1924. Today the castle operates as a 4-star hotel.
The Burren and Cliffs of Moher
Breathtaking views in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher.
Price: 590EUR (per car)
Bookings via Tripadvisor/Viator
or
contact me directly ullajuriska@gmail.com
I will pick you up at 10 am and we will drive through a romantic seaport village named Kinvarra and head towards the famous Burren – a vast limestone plateau formed 320 million years ago. Here you will find Alpine, Arctic and Mediterranean plants growing side-by-side. Soon after we leave Kinvarra, you will see the hills of Burren and be amazed by this very unique landscape.
Our first stop will be the Flaggy Shore, a beautiful road with limestone pavements and sculptured rocks along the shores of Galway Bay, with the Burren hills as a backdrop. On a fine day you can even spot the Connemara mountain peaks across the bay.
Our journey continues through the harbour village of Ballyvaughan and takes us to the megalithic Poulnabrone Dolmen, situated on one of the highest points of the Burren. We will stop here and take a short walk to this world famous site. Just a short drive from Poulnabrone is Caherconnell Fort, built in the 10th Century. This is one of the best preserved stone forts in the Burren. After a short walk on the grounds we can enjoy some food and refreshments in the Mountain Haven Cafe.
Our next target is Corkscrew Hill, a steep and winding road with spectacular views of the ocean. After a short stop at the viewing point we head for a hill named Slieve Elva and drive along the winding road almost to the summit. On a clear day, driving from here down towards the ocean and the Wild Atlantic Way near Fanore is very eye-pleasing for sure.
Back on the main coastal road, we continue our journey to the Cliffs of Moher. This natural wonder, towering 214 meters above the ocean and stretching eight kilometers along the coast, will take your breath away. Take your time to explore this unique area by walking on the winding trails and pathways along the towering cliffs. Afterwards, we will visit the award winning visitor center with its graphic displays, gift shops and restaurants. We could have a lunch here or on the way back in the rustic Monks Restaurant near Ballyvaughan, in the heart of the Burren.
After a full day of grand views and lots of beauty, I hope you will still have some space left in your “beauty storage” as we drive back to Galway along the Wild Atlantic Way. On a fine day it is magical, as the white hills of the Burren turn pink at sunset.
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Achill Island
via Westport
Galway – Westport - Newport – Mulranny – Achill Sound – Keel –
Keem Beach – Dugort – Galway
Price: 690EUR (per car)
Bookings via Tripadvisor/Viator
or contact me directly ullajuriska@gmail.com
I will pick you up at 10 am. Our first stop is in Westport - in a small and romantic town on the Clew Bay, recently voted as “The Best Place to Live in Ireland”. We will stroll along its colourful streets and soak up the friendly atmosphere. Driving through Newport and Mulranny gives us some spectacular views of Clew Bay, including its blue flag beaches and surrounding mountains. On a clear day, we will have a spectacular view of Croagh Patrick – Ireland’s pilgrimage mountain.
We will arrive in Achill Sound and cross a swing bridge that joins Achill Island, the largest of the Irish isles, to the Irish mainland. From late May onwards, Achill Island welcomes you with plentiful pink displays of blooming rhododendrons.
We will drive along the Wild Atlantic Way and enjoy the island’s rugged landscape, dramatic cliffs, soaring mountains, remote lakes and gold sandy beaches. We also pass one of the castles of the legendary pirate queen, Grace O’Malley. You’ll enter a different world as we arrive at one of the most idyllic beaches in the country - Keem Bay. We will walk on the beach, barefoot if you wish, and take it all in as the world seems to disappear in the magnificence of the scenery...
From here we will take a drive to the northern side of the island. We pass German writer and Nobel Prize winner Heinrich Böll’s cottage in Dugort and two Blue Flag beaches - Silver Strand and Golden Strand, facing Blacksod Bay and the remote Belmullet Peninsula. There are many places to have lunch on Achill Island and we can choose from these as we drive along.
Another option is to have a lunch in Mulranny Park Hotel with its ocean and mountain views for your complimentary dessert! :) Depending on the length of the day and on your “exploration mode”, my little addition to the current trip would be visiting Ireland’s own Titanic Village and Titanic Memorial Park in Lahardaun in County Mayo. With the magnificent Nephin Mountain as its backdrop, it is a small but very moving memorial to those who lost their lives on that tragic night in April 1912. There were 14 passengers from Lahardaun village on board that night, full of hope for a better future.