Strong Travel – Ireland Southwest Self Drive - Final Information

Dublin Airport – Glasson Lakehouse via Athlone: Driving Route.

Clonmacnoise A 6th Century Monastery which includes a Cathedral, two round Towers, three high crosses, nine Churches and over 700 Early Christian graveslabs.

We check opening hours for the day you plan to visit.

If you visit Clonmacnoise, there is a cafe onsite. In Athlone, we recommend Bastion Kitchen.

We recommend Thyme or The Fatted Calf.

Ireland’s Oldest Pub Sean’s Bar is also in Athlone.

Glasson Lakehouse – Ardagh Hotel: Driving Route.

Note: This route contains all recommended stops, remove as necessary.

Killary Sheep Farm A traditional working mountain farm with approx. 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely in the mountain with spectacular scenery overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Kylemore Abbey Nestled in the heart of Connemara, Kylemore Abbey is a haven of history, beauty and serenity.

Connemara National Park Hiking Trails Our favourite is Diamond Hill!

Please check opening hours for the dates you will be visiting. 

We recommend Misunderstood Heron, located on the shores of the majestic Killary Fjord. Alternatively, try the Purple Door Cafe in Leenane.

We recommend Guy’s Bar & Snug or Mitchell’s in Clifden.

Name: Calliam Johnson
Contact Number: +353 (0)85 770 4702
Meeting Place: Cleggan Pier | Meeting Time: 11:00

Your ferry departs at 11.30 am. Your guide will meet you beforehand and will have your tickets. Your return ferry is at 5.00 pm. Contact Calliam directly on the day if you have issues or are delayed.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and waterproof clothing if needed. We recommend bringing water in a day bag.

We recommend Mannion’s Bar & Restaurant or Darcy Twelve in Clifden.

Ardagh to Fiddle + Bow, via Galway: Driving Route.

Note: This route includes recommended stops, remove as necessary.

Padraig Pearse Cottage  In the midst of a typical Connemara landscape with mountains and lakes, Gortmore boasts a restored cottage that was once used by Padraig Pearse as a summer residence and school. Pearse is closely connected to the history of Ireland as one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916.

Eyre Square Eyre Square is the focal point of Galway and it was renamed Kennedy Memorial Park in 1965 after J.F.K himself had visited. Today Galway’s main square is a large, open plaza, home to mini festivals, local and international buskers, musicians, and street performers.

Galway City Museum & The Spanish Arch Learn all about the history of Galway City through the archaeology, art, geology, natural history, and social, political and industrial materials preserved here. Take a peek at the historical Spanish Arch, located where Galway’s River Corrib meets the sea. This is a tranquil spot that tourists and locals alike enjoy. Visit the remnants of a 16th-century bastion which was used to protect merchant ships from looting.

Galway Cathedral One of the city’s biggest buildings, Galway Cathedral is home to a huge octagonal dome visible for miles. The building of the cathedral began in 1958 on the site of an old county jail. The modern cathedral houses some interesting statues, a rose window and a huge crucifixion mosaic. It is built of Galway limestone and locally quarried Connemara marble.

Shop Street Packed with buskers, restaurants, pubs, and people – Shop Street is the beating heart of the city. It’s worth a browse in the local shops and at the street art.

We recommend Ard Bia in Galway City.

We recommend The Ivy Cottage or Anthonys at Doolin Inn.

Fiddle + Bow to Burren Meeting Point: Driving Route.

Activity: Heart of Burren Walks

Start Location: UCG Research Station | Start Time: 00:15 | Approx Duration: 4 hrs
Phone: +353 (0)87 292 5487 | Website: https://www.heartofburrenwalks.com/

Meeting point: UCG Research Station.

We recommend heading for dinner at the Roadside Tavern or Homestead Cottage.

Fiddle + Bow to The Lansdowne Hotel, via Killarney: Driving Route.

Muckross House & Gardens Muckross is known throughout the world for its scenic beauty and cultural attractions, including the magnificent house itself, craft workshops, Garden Restaurant and 1920’s 1920s-style working farm.

Gap of Dunloe Boat Tours A mini adventure through Ireland’s Lake District, you can travel by boat through the majestic Lakes of Killarney and the National Park.

Torc Waterfall Hike on All Trails

We recommend Kitty O Se’s in Killarney Town.

We recommend No. 35 or The Horseshoe.

Activity: Seaweed Foraging

Start Location: Derrynane Harbour | Start Time: 15:00 | Approx Duration: 1.5 hrs
Phone: +353 (0)86 106 2110 | Website: https://www.atlanticirishseaweed.com/

Meeting up point: Atlantic Irish Seaweed.

The Lansdowne Hotel – Atlantic Irish Seaweed: Driving Route.

We recommend The Blind Piper in Derrynane or The Smugglers Inn in Waterville.

Ladies View A breathtaking view of moorland, mountains and lakes – and a great pit stop for some photos!

Kenmare Stone Circle Built during the Bronze Age, this monument is one of the largest stone circles in southwest Ireland and is 3,000 years old.

Derrynane House The ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman, and one of the great figures in modern Irish history.

Derrynane Beach Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and just south of the village of Caherdaniel.

Kells Bay House & Gardens Kells Bay is one of Ireland’s most spectacular settings, and the scenery offers a wonderful backdrop to Kells Bay Gardens. Known locally as the ‘Jewel on the Ring,’ the Gardens cover just over 17 hectares, containing a large collection of sub-tropical plants.

We recommend The Lime Tree or Mulcahy’s Restaurant.

Glengarriff Nestled between the mountains and the sea, Glengarriff is bathed by Gulf Stream waters which give it a tropical feel, unmatched by anything else you’ll find in Ireland. Visit its imaginative gardens and its ancient woodlands for a gentle stroll

Garnish Island  The island is renowned for its richness of plant form and colour, which change continuously with the seasons.

Allihies Copper Mine Museum Discover breathtaking landscapes, a lively village and the captivating story of Europe’s most westerly copper mines!

Dursey Island One of the few inhabited islands that lie off the southwest coast of Ireland. Accessible only by cable car.

Route for suggested stops. 

Please check opening hours for the days you will be visiting. 

We recommend The Blue Loo in Glengarriff.

We recommend Davitt’s or Casey’s Bar &Restaurant.

The Lansdowne Hotel – The Wilder Townhouse: Driving Route.

The English Market Renowned as a food market, it is an important part of food culture in Cork, with an emphasis on fresh, local produce with traditional Cork foods as well as an array of international delights. Grab some lunch here!

Cork City Gaol Step back in time to see what 19th and early 20th-century life was like inside prison walls.

EPIC Museum You won’t find leprechauns or pots of gold here, but you will discover that what it means to be Irish expands far beyond the borders of Ireland through the stories of Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists and even outlaws all over the world.

Kilmainham Gaol For over 100 years Kilmainham Gaol held thousands of men, women and children for crimes that ranged from minor offences to being involved in some of the most momentous events in Irish history.

Dublin Castle Constructed in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland.

National Gallery of Ireland At the corner of Merrion Square West and Clare Street, the recently renovated National Gallery is a treasure trove of permanent and temporary art exhibitions. Highlights include Ireland’s National Portrait Collection, the Yeats Archive and stained glass by Harry Clarke.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral As the largest cathedral and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years.

Dublinia See Dublin from a new perspective as you travel back to the heart of the old city at Christchurch. Walk where Vikings walked, find out about Dublin’s rich past and even climb an original Medieval tower.

14 Henrietta Street When you enter 14 Henrietta Street you’ll experience over 300 years of city life in the walls of one address. By connecting to the personal stories of those who called 14 Henrietta Street home, the building’s hidden histories are revealed. See the house, hear its stories and discover the layers of Dublin’s history within its walls.

The GPO The GPO Museum is an immersive, interactive and engaging experience telling the story of the 1916 Easter Rising and Modern Irish History.

The Jeanie Johnston One million Irish people fled Ireland during the famine. 2,500 took a gruelling voyage on the Jeanie Johnston. Take a journey back in time, get an insight into life on board a Famine ship and hear the stories of the people who made the arduous voyage.

Marsh’s Library Marsh’s Library is a beautifully preserved library of the early Enlightenment. It was built with money provided by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, an academic and book lover with a strong belief in the public utility of education and learning.

Please check the opening hours for the dates you’ll be visiting.

We recommend BANG Restaurant & Wine Bar, One Pico or Etto.

The Wilder Townhouse – Dublin Airport: Driving Route.