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Connemara Safaris would like to introduce you to probably the most relaxing holiday you're ever likely to have. Our island hopping tour of the West coast is a truly unique experience with the sights, sounds and atmosphere to both fascinate and amaze you. It's an active adventure of both nature and mind, so enthralling it will make you forget about everything else in the world. Just read on and you'll discover why people choose Connemara Safaris again and again.


ISLAND HOPPING TOUR 1999
MAY 20, 31 - JUNE 7, 21, 28 - JULY 12, 19, 26 - AUGUST 2, 9, 23 - SEPT 6, 13

THE RATE IS IR£349 PER PERSON SHARING, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

  • 1. DINNER, BED AND BREAKFAST IN THE ABBEYGLEN CASTLE, CLIFDEN.
  • 2. DINNER, BED AND BREAKFAST ON INISH BOFIN ISLAND.
  • 3. DINNER, BED AND BREAKFAST ON INISH TURK ISLAND.
  • 4. DINNER, BED AND BREAKFAST ON INISH TURK ISLAND.
  • 5. ELABORATE PICNICS EACH DAY.
  • 6. LUGGAGE TRANSFERS.
  • 7. INSURANCE.
  • 8. BUS FROM ABBEYGLEN TO KILLARY AND KILLARY TO CLEGGAN.
  • 9. BOAT FROM CLEGGAN TO INISH BOFIN, FROM INISH BOFIN TO INISH SHARK, FROM INISH TURK TO INISH SHARK, FROM INISH SHARK TO CLARE ISLAND AND FROM CLARE ISLAND TO ROONAGH QUAY.
  • 10. GUIDE.
  • 11. MAPS.
  • 12. RAIN GEAR AND LIFE JACKETS.
  • 13. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IR£50.
  • 14. ACCOMMODATION SPECIFIED IN PROGRAMME/BROCHURE IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY. EARLY BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
  • 15. A BOOKING IS NOT DEFINITE UNTIL IT IS RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY US.
  • 16. GUIDES HAVE A VAST LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. HISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY ARE A BIG PART OF THIS TOUR. VISITS TO ANCIENT SITES AND MONUMENTS FREQUENTLY TAKE PLACE.

 

Day 1 - Monday
The magic begins with your journey through some of the West's most breathtaking scenery en route to the town of Clifden, capital of Connemara. Here you will be greeted as you make yourself at home in the luxury of Abbeyglen Castle or nearby Guest House. In the evening the Abbeyglen restaurant will serve a five-course gourmet experience that's sure to please and the warm singsong atmosphere of the piano bar is the perfect way to end your first day.

 

Day 2 - Tuesday
After a hearty Irish breakfast our bus leaves for Killary Harbour. Here we begin our first walk, passing on the way the beautiful village of Letterfrack, the Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey. Our six mile Killary Harbour walk begins along a road dating back to 1850. It was built during the Great Famine to give relief work to locals in return for food. Killary is truly spectacular as it is the only fjord in Ireland and the British Isles. Midway through our walk we'll stop for a picnic lunch, before setting off to meet with our bus at the far end of the fjord. By early evening we'll arrive at Cleggan harbour, where the Captain will welcome us aboard his boat, and following a short voyage we arrive at the island of Inishbofin. There a bus will transfer all luggage and the less enthusiastic walkers to our Hotel/Guest House where we shall have dinner at around 8pm.

Day 3 - Wednesday
After breakfast we set off to walk to the west end of Inishbofin. This remote island, with a population of just 180, has many sights and places of interest to take in. We'll see everything from cliff forts and monastic sites to the great sandy beaches and even a Cromwellian Castle. There's the island's seal colony to view and a deep sea cave and arch system which you can actually climb into. At around lunchtime we'll stop for a picnic lunch and later set sail for Inish Shark. Landing on the island is subject to tide and weather conditions. Inish Shark is said to be the former home of Oscar Wilde's mother for a very short time but is now famous for its deserted village where nobody has lived since 1960. After walking through the many different field systems to the far end of the island we again set sail, this time to the island of Inish Turk in Co. Mayo. We will be greeted on the island by the O'Toole family and taken to our Guest House. Here we will be treated to a traditional island dinner followed by a traditional evening of Irish music, song and dance.

Day 4 - Thursday
After breakfast we will set out on a walk of the island. You will find Inish Turk a truly unique experience - as there is no daily ferry to the island any visitors that do arrive are made to feel very welcome indeed. It's an island wholly dependent on the traditional activities of farming, fishing and local craft businesses such as currach making, etc. Our walk ends at the mouth of the harbour where we drop in to one of Ireland's longest surviving Shebeens for a little light refreshment. Later we shall explore another route and return to our accommodation and rest before dinner.

Day 5 - Friday
Our morning breakfast is followed by a short sailing to Clare Island. Clare Island is synonymous with Grace O'MalIey, the formidable ruler of the Clew Bay district during the second half of the 16th century. One of the most interesting places on the island is the remains of a late 15th century Cistercian Friary, founded by the monks of Abbeyknockmoy in Co. Galway. According to local folklore, following the death of Grace O'Malley in 1600 her remains were interred in the decorated O'Malley Wall tomb in the friary. The chancel vault was once covered in fresco painting, patches of which still remain. Connemara Safari will guide you through the island to the Light House. Later in the day we shall have lunch before catching our next boat to Roonagh Pier. Here a bus will await us and take us back to Abbeyglen Castle where we shall say our final goodbyes.

Click to enlarge the map
See the tour on a map (click to enlarge)

Get more information from our page on the Connemara Tourism website

Also: see the Croagh Patrick Walking Holidays site

Connemara Safari
Sky Road, Clifden, Co. Galway

For further information contact Brian Hughes
Tel: (095) 21071 Fax: (095) 21797 or Freephone 1850 777 200
http://www.abbeyglen.ie/connemara-safari