The Best Hikes of Galway, Mayo, and Connemara
Treasures of Ireland’s West Coast
Overview
The long west coast of Ireland is blessed with islands, peninsulas, seaside villages, and the most stunning sea cliffs in Europe. With our legendary Irish Trip Leaders, we'll explore this stronghold of Irish culture with hikes atop the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, through the moonscapes of the Burren, with its Bronze Age burial sites, along pilgrim trails on Ireland's holy mountain, and in wild Connemara and the fascinating Aran Islands. Meet farmers, musicians, and artists, savor sea-to-table cuisine, hear the lilting sound of the fiddle in local pubs, and enjoy a warm welcome at our historic lodges and island guesthouses.
Arrive: Galway, Ireland
Depart: Galway, Ireland
Highlights
- Inspiring Trip Leaders who bring a deep understanding of Ireland's history and culture
- Hikes on Ireland's holy mountain and along the cliff ramparts of charming Clare Island
- Sea-to-table cuisine, with specialties from oysters to fresh wild salmon
- Insider experiences including music nights in pubs and meeting local farmers
- Lodgings of character, including a lakeside manor house in Connemara and a charming guesthouse on Clare Island
Itinerary
Our first hike is on the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, and we're on our own “secret” route to keep us well away from the crowds. In the surreal landscape of the Burren, with sea spray in the air, we'll enjoy a magical walk in limestone hills that hold a wealth of Bronze Age burial sites and Celtic high crosses.
Heading into County Mayo, with its island-filled bays, we follow pilgrim trails across Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holiest mountain, visit the famine monument, and join local musicians for tea and song. Out on Clare Island, once the domain of the Gælic pirate queen Grace O'Malley, we hike Ireland's finest cliff ramparts (and best-kept secret!) and visit a sheep farmer to see his collies in action. In charming Westport, overlooking Clew Bay, we enjoy a festive pub evening.
Hiking a pilgrim route into the Maumturk Mountains brings us right to our lakeside Victorian lodge in a wild region of Connemara. Flying to the otherworldly Aran Islands, where The Banshees of Inisherin was filmed, we walk through stone-walled fields and sea cliffs to reach Dún Aonghasa, a magnificent Stone Age fort that has been called an acropolis of the Celtic world. Depart on Day 9 via Galway.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system, depending on the hiking options you choose. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day. You will need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group; however, there are alternative hiking options available most days. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 7 miles
- 5 hours
- 1,000 feet gain/loss
- Day 2: 8-10 miles, 4-6 hours, 1,000 feet gain/loss (longer option)
- Day 4: 8 miles, 2,000 feet gain/loss
- Day 6: 8-12 miles, 4-6 hours, 1,500 feet gain/loss
There are a variety of moderate hikes over contrasting geological landscapes. Some paths and trails are well-groomed, but many can be rough with rocky and uneven terrain. With the frequent rain, trails can be muddy or even wet underfoot. As is common in Ireland, we may sometimes hike off-trail where the terrain allows, gaining lofty summits via switchbacks across wide, grassy hillsides. Hiking boots with ankle support are always best and hiking poles are recommended.
This trip takes place when Ireland has some of its best weather. Being the Emerald Isle, however, you must be prepared for rain showers at any time. Ireland's weather is dictated by the pressure systems coming in from the Atlantic and is notoriously variable. Gore-Tex outerwear, warm layers, and proper boots are necessary. Overall, Ireland's climate is milder than Britain's, thanks to the Gulf Stream, and a morning of rain can easily be followed by a brilliant blue sky and abundant sunshine.
Our accommodations are a mix of carefully chosen family-owned and run guesthouses, small hotels, and a historic lodge. All rooms have en suite bathrooms and one has a pool and full-service spa. They are charming and comfortable, but since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Most lunches are picnic-style during our hikes, but we occasionally stop at a local cafe or pub. Dinners will be at restaurants in town or at the hotels. We have one evening with a slow food tasting menu, and there are plenty of opportunities for fresh seafood throughout the trip. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
We will use a mini-coach/van throughout the trip, which will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"Once again, Wilderness Travel has exceeded my expectations. The trip blew my heart and mind open with its variety, its delicious food and drink, its exquisite hikes, its comfortable nights, its brilliant guides."
Andrea L.
Brooklyn, NY
"I would do this again in a flash—spectacular itinerary, well-organized, great hikes."
Andy W.
Oakland, CA
"Wonderfully planned and executed itinerary. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every minute of this fantastic trip—I didn't want it to end!"
Carrie H.
Santa Fe, NM
"One of the most enjoyable and best experiences I've had with Wilderness Travel in 21 trips!"
Joe N.
Seattle, WA
"There was not one thing that could have made this trip any better."
Lisa L.
Grand Blanc, MI
"Thank you for this most wonderful, magical experience. Ann and Con are exemplary in every way: as guides and escorts and interpreters and life-changers—not just making the trip seamless but also binding together all of us fellow travelers. This trip was truly a spectacular, full-immersion Irish experience that leaves me with a much richer understanding of Irish culture, history, religion. and archaeology. I will forever carry in my heart the images of the rocks and sea and mountains and bogs; the remnants of the famine potato beds still etched in the land; the ruins of the churches laid waste by religious intolerance; the haunting melodies of the Irish music we were treated to—music emanating from those ‘thin places,’ as Con calls them, where the ancient past and the present commingle. Every day brought unexpected gifts."
Marsha C.
Yardley, PA
"The trip surpassed all expectations! Ann and Con were superb leaders, modeling compassion, diligence, and humor. Preparation was exceptional and their attention to detail remarkable. Everything appeared seamless and, yet, we know hard work and planning were behind it all. They created a fun, optimistic experience and overall esprit de corps. The hikes were breathtaking and challenging. Thank you for offering this terrific opportunity!"
Nancy O.
North Weymouth, MA
"I appreciated the deep knowledge of the area and of the culture that the guides shared with us. We were truly 'off the beaten path' and traveled to areas that I never would be able to organize on my own. Each hike was unique and very interesting as we learned a lot about the historical aspects of the area."
Patricia F.
Cambridge, MA
"Our second trip with you to Ireland...it continues to be magic and wonderful."
Sally R.
Dillsburg, PA
"This trip by far exceeded my expectations. The guides were such an inspiration and really gave me a sense of their history and culture. I came away with a new understanding of Ireland and I am forever grateful to our guides for making this all come together for us. A trip of a lifetime!"
Sandy M.
Prescott, AZ
"The trip operation could not have been smoother, and the lodging and food were great. The freedom that is given to the trip leaders to improvise of the fly is so helpful; on the night we were in Westport, for example, there was an unscheduled Irish music concert at the town hall. Con got everyone tickets and it was a great evening and an unexpected treat. We really couldn't have asked for anything more. Superb!"
Tom G.
Los Altos, CA
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.