Sustainable Connemara and Galway Bay Rail Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Scenic train ride through Ireland's countryside
- Explore Connemara's rugged mountains and lakes
- Discover Galway Bay's charming coastal villages
- Learn about local history and culture from expert guides
- Experience Ireland's natural beauty in an eco-friendly way
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip train journey from Dublin to Galway
- Guided tour of Connemara's natural landscapes
- Visit to Galway Bay's picturesque coastal areas
- Meals and beverages during the tour
Itinerary
We arrive in Galway at 10:05, off the train, and our conducted tour of Connemara (by tour bus) leaves Galway. At Maam Cross, the Connemara "crossroads", there is a replica of the cottage used in the 1950s John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara film ‘The Quiet Man’, which was filmed here. From Maam Cross our tour heads out to Leenane, Kylemore Abbey and Letterfrack, in the shadow of purple mountains rolling down to blue and green rocky valleys, reflecting the rich and varied colours of Connemara. There is a lunch break at Kylemore Abbey, an 18th century castle now owned by the Benedictine nuns who run an excellent pottery, gift shop and restaurant. Letterfrack is one of Ireland’s major national parks. The colourful town of Clifden has been one of Irelands leading holiday resorts for generations. It is an excellent touring centre beloved by the walker, the biker, the hiker or the fisherman. On the road out of Clifden the Dan O'Hara pre-famine farm (circa 1840) is on your left, fronted by a replica of an ancient Irish Crannóg or lake dwelling. Further on is the fully integrated Clifden Glen Holiday Village. Back at Maam Cross again and the road turns southwards now through the Screeb, Costello and Rossaveal. Rossaveal is the departure point for ferryboats to the Aran Islands and is also a major fishing port. We are now in the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) of Connemara where Gaeilge or Irish is still the everyday spoken language of a bilingual people – we rarely use the term Gaelic and usually say ‘Irish’ when referring to our national language. (For operational reasons, on certain days we will not travel to Clifden – please check with your host/driver) Our tour of Connemara heads homewards towards Galway City now, along the shores of Galway bay, through the Gaeltacht villages of Inverin and Spiddal and looking out across the blue waters of the Atlantic at the unique lime-stone of the Burren and the hills of Clare. In Spiddal there is a craft village and the Standun sweater shop. After your day's touring you will be returned to Galway Station.
Meeting point
Start Location
Heuston Station, Saint James, Dublin, Ireland
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; cancellations due to weather are rare but possible.
- Availability may vary; it's recommended to book in advance to secure your spot.
- Tour duration is approximately 12 hours; plan your day accordingly.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for walking and varying weather conditions.
- Bring a camera to capture the breathtaking landscapes and memorable moments.
- Check the weather forecast before departure to dress appropriately.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Service Animals Allowed
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Check in at 7:10AM! Train departs at 7:35am & it does not wait. Our yellow check-in stand is located close to the Customer Service Desk at Heuston Station where our representative will be waiting for you in their BRIGHT yellow jacket!
- Due to operational reasons it may, on occasion, be necessary to alter certain itineraries.
- WHEELCHAIR POLICY: Our tours are a combination of train and luxury coach and include a moderate level of physical activity, such as short walks to meeting points etc. Unfortunately even the most modern luxury coaches (buses) are not wheelchair friendly, thus our tours are not suitable for those with mobility issues, and regretfully walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be accommodated on our tours.
- This tour offers stops en route for photographs, shopping, etc.
Traveler reviews
Premium price with a Ryanair service.
Tour cancelled with less than 24 hours notice because they didn’t flog enough tickets. I’m not annoyed the tour was cancelled in anyway at all. However, I am furious about the short notice given and total disregard for failing to give me proper notice. I booked my travel and hotel to ensure it covered a date when this tour was running. Companies that charge a premium price and offer a Ryanair service like this can not expect my custom in the future.
Top notch tour, knowledgable and attentive guides, beautiful countryside!
My daughter and I had a wonderful experience taking this tour in spite of the rainy, cold weather. We were the only two rail passengers from Dublin to Galway so had our guide, Andrew Roche, all to ourselves for the three-hour trip west. He was very knowledgeable and pointed out many interesting facts along the way and shared many stories about the country with us. Once on the coach, we had a lovely time taking in the many sights through Connemara. I was especially struck by the beauty of the mountains and, of course, Kylemore Abbey. On the return train ride, we were kept up to date about our expected arrival time in Dublin, and were well taken care of. Andrew, again, made the time on the train fly by, keeping us entertained with more stories. I highly recommend this tour!
A bit stressful...
The rail trip was great. The scenery and sites visited were gorgeous. The guide was a bit rude - didn't really seem to want to be there - and "salesy" on the places we visited / passed by. The coach driver was dangerous - very high speeds on narrow roads. It felt a bit rushed. I might do the tour again for the convenience of rail and coach but would choose a different operator.
Beautiful views but makes for a long day of travel
The views were awesome but the trip seemed like forever! Our guide was very knowledgeable but never took a minutes break in speaking that got to be a bit much but don’t want to take away from his knowledge and life experiences as he is fantastic.
A wasted day
We wasted a day. We were booked on the Sustainable Connemara and Galway Bay Rail Tour from Dublin. However, our train was 15 min late and the tour bus would not wait. The guide on the bus said they couldn’t wait and our only option was to take another tour which included things we already did on another tour the day before and didn’t include Kylemore Abbey, which was the reason we signed up for that tour in the first place. She was not very pleasant. There is an earlier train from Dublin to Galway and I really think you should consider that earlier train rather then just throw customers on another bus, when the train is late, to take a tour they didn’t want. When we got back to Dublin we signed up, and paid for, another tour on another date so we could see Kylemore Abbey.