Odowds Bar and Restaurant
This is in Roundstone Village

The Bards Den
This is in Letterfrack

Pangur Ban
www.pangurban.com

Padraicins
www.padraicins.com/

Connemara is splatter with intimate villages with traditional thatch cottages and many of them by the sea with fishing as the main industry. These villages all have distinctive identities and many people have different views on which ones they prefer. Dues to Connemara's distintive and varied landscape there is something for everybody.

Many people enjoy Clifden. Its the largest town of Connemara, traditionally known as a market town has viery distinct centre iwth a market place and many shops and restaurants. It is set at the summit of the Sky Road which is a splendid drive between Clifden and the Connemara National Park.

Roundstone. This is known as the arts and festival capital of Connemara. It is also the widely argued that is the most picturesque village in Ireland. It is set directly adjacent to the water where their is a port for local fisherman. It is also a placewhere you can can directly accross the water to the 12 pins. Roundstone also has a beach about 1km from the village centre. It is actually 2 beaches adjacent from each other in an arc shape. These beaches of Gurteen and Dogs bay are also hugely popular as the offer pristine coral beaches with clear turquie water and resembles the mediterian in the hight of summer with the Irish humid heat. the beaches stretch 2km and offer a lot of isolation and space for the visitor. Roundstone also enjoys numerous festivals throughout the summer months including the Roundstone Arts week and the Roundstone Summer Festival.

Letterfrack is well known for being at the foot of the Connemara National Park. This village which revolves around a crossroad with pubs at each corner which offer tradtional Irish Music has a real buzz about it. It is set close to the sea and the Peak of Diamond Mountain is there in presence. It is also just 5km from Kylemore Abbey which is one of Irelands leading tourist destinations, and is 3km from Renvyle peninsula which is a coastal area of natural stunning beauty.

Other nice villages include, leenane which is at the foot of the Killary Fjord, Outgherard which is the gateway to Connemara.

The Connemara National Park is one of the most exhilarating activities to do in Connemara. It will most certainly be one of the highlights of any trip to Ireland. Located just ten minutes walk from the Lodge the park will present an eclectic array of views and landscapes which unfold into better majestic panoramic scenery as you venture up the hill. At top the whole of Connemara seems to feel at your fingertips and one can sense the splendid diverse range of rugged beauty that Connemara has a reputation for.

A recently built path of stone makes the journey more pleasant and accessible to a wide range of walkers. Infact, the park is divided into three different walks which suit the beginner to the more avid walker. Because they cover different areas many people do different paths on different days, so be warned The Connemara National Park could become your second home.

From the start of the walk you are presented with the view of Tully mountain and its adjacent winding bays of clear blue water. As you go further up the view of Lettergesh and Renvyle Strand comes into sight which is North West Connemara. Keeping going up and Cleggen and Clifden will present themselves. At the top of the Mountain Kylemore Lake will introduce itself alnong with Kylemore Abbey, the Inagh Valley, and on a really clear Day Westport and Achill Island

You also may pass various animals and wildlife peculiar to Ireland. Connemara Ponies, Rams, Deers, Insects, Birds, running around marble, natural stones, Heather, rhododendrons and many more.

At this point you may see unusually contrasting views. The Irish weather has its quickly changing moods as it could well be raining on one side and very hot on the another. Clifden could be cloudy and Tully Mountain may have all the sun. By the time you finish the walk it will be vice versa.

Of more practical convenience the path is well signposted so it would extremely difficult to get lost in the wilderness. If something does happen one of a dozen extremely friendly Park rangers will be there to help. We came across a man near the top of the mountain who was searching for a wallet that a traveler had lost.

Once at the bottom of the National Park you can relax in front of the pond area surrounded by large trees, or go for a coffee and browse the Museum.

The Aran Islands are one of Irelands most popular tourist destinations and most people who visit Galway will spend a day going to Inish Mor Island and cycling to the world Heritage site Dun Aoghasa. This stands on 300ft cliffs and offers a breathtaking scene of natural beautyof both the Islands, its Cliffs, and the Atlantic. It set within and ancient stone fort.