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My Ireland

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  • #Landscapes
  • #CultureandHeritage
  • #OutdoorActivities
  • #Landmarks
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    Sky Road Clifden Connemara Co Galwaywebsize Sky Road Clifden Connemara Co Galwaywebsize

    The Sky Road

    Connemara’s epic driving route has surprises around every corner
    • #WildAtlanticWay
    • #Landscapes
    County Galway
    Amazing landscapes
    2 hrs from Ireland West Airport

    Sky Road, County Galway © Christian McLeod

    star-wars-last-jedi-malin-head-county-donegal star-wars-last-jedi-malin-head-county-donegal

    In a quiet corner of County Galway, a road winds through a wild and windswept landscape of craggy rock and rugged green bluffs. Every few moments a spectacular panorama of blue ocean flashes into view, with green fields tumbling down to meet the crashing waves.

    This is the Sky Road in Connemara, a looped driving route that hugs the coastline and takes around an hour to complete. Over a distance of 16km, the road takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Ireland – undulating, rust-coloured bogs, white sandy beaches, and fields crisscrossed with dry stone walls. It feels like the edge of the world.

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    Sky Road, County Galway © Christian McLeod

    Getting started

    The starting (and, indeed, finishing) point for the Sky Road is the buzzy town of Clifden in the heart of County Galway’s Connemara region. Whether you choose to cycle or drive, the route is the same: follow the upper road onto the Kingston Peninsula to enjoy the most spectacular views, before following the N59 back to Clifden.

    There are a few places to stop off along the way, including a spectacular panoramic viewing spot around 5km or so from Clifden. Eyrephort Beach is another don’t-miss spot around 9km from town. The beach looks out onto the islands of Inishturbot and Inishturk South and is known for its gorgeous white sands and azure waters – there’s no better place to sit back and soak up the scenery.

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    Clifden, County Galway © Big Smoke Studio for Tourism Ireland

    Explore more

    If you want to continue exploring, then you’re in the right place. There are countless must-see sights close to the Sky Road. Before heading back to Clifden, you could head north to the scenic village of Cleggan – a jumping-off point for ferries to Inishbofin Island.

    Or you could head inland to the exceptional Connemara National Park with a multitude of walking trails. Or how about an afternoon at Kylemore Abbey – one of Ireland’s most beautiful structures, set on the edge of a glassy lake?

    More around Galway

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    Inishturk

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    Clifden Castle

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    Clifden Historical Walking Tours

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    Walk Connemara

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    The Whitethorn Gallery

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    Lowry’s Irish Music and Whiskey Bar

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    Connemara Seaweed Baths

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    Dan O’Hara’s Homestead - Connemara Heritage & History Centre

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    Real Adventures Connemara

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    The Point Pony Trekking and Horse Riding

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