24/7 Customer Service. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Opening Hours: 09:30 – 18:00 daily 16/03 to 28/10. An aside – Before the village there is an impressive large gateway and often a nice man who will charge a fee to visit the estate grounds of Ashford Castle, with remnants from the mid twelfth century the castle has been enlarged and modified over the centuries, most notably by Arthur E. Guinness known as Lord Ardilaun, great-grandson of the Arthur Guinness who in 1759 founded the world’s most famous brewery bearing his name. Locals would have known it as Leam Bridge until recent years. This drive takes in Castlebar, Ballintubber Abbey, Ballinrobe, Cong, Clonbur, Tourmakeady and back to Castlebar. A sandy beach is nestled at the edge of the lake and it is ideal for a swim or a picnic lunch on a sunny day. It was built sometime around 1800 from nothing but local stone and spans the end of a lake. Thanks for stopping by & have a great day. The Lake District Drive This driving loop brings you to the heart of the Lake District. The contrast between the lake & the mountains is breathtaking. Situated amidst the serene Lakelands of Galway and Mayo, Cong straddles Lough Mask and Lough Corrib, with a stream connecting the two lakes under the town. We do the same now we have a little one. The house, built in a traditional manner, offers visitors breathtaking views over the lake and the Partry mountains in a tranquil scenic setting. Love the quotes too – especially the one about collecting moments and not things. The same figure who gives his name to the Isle of Man, the Irish Sea’s largest island. Head north on the N84 Headford Road signposted for the towns of Headford and Castlebar following the eastern side of the lake. Árd Aoibhinn Farm is found in a scenic and peaceful place near Tourmakeady, County Mayo and conveniently located along the shores of Lough Mask. • Most Scenic Location overlooking Lough Mask • 7km from Tourmakeady • Site of 0.078 Ha (0.19 Acres) • Total Floor Area 107 sq.m (1,152 sq.ft) • PVC Double Glazed Windows and OFCH • Accessible to Ballinrobe (27km), Westport (34km) and Castlebar (33km) Even if this twin-arched stone bridge wasn’t associated with John Ford’s The Quiet Man it would still be worth stopping for. It is nestled between Lough Mask & the Partry Mountains in County Mayo. As well as the underground tour, there is an opportunity to pan for gold and view the seismological equipment on site. What a beautiful area. Leave Castlebar on the N84 for Ballinrobe. Not far off this road lies Moytura House, the childhood home of Oscar Wilde whose father William studied and wrote at length about Lough Corrib. There's a fabulous scenic drive or bike ride which starts from Westport called the Great Western Greenway, which runs to Achill Island overlooking the wild Atlantic Ocean. Because you are in the Gaeltacht, an Irish language speaking area, some road signs will only have the Irish placenames. One of the teachers at the college was Sinead Flanagan, and one of her pupils Eamon de valera, whom she married in 1910. Vacation rentals available for short and long term stay on Vrbo. We did the around the coast daily – it was so beautiful, especially at sunset. Sure beats Minnesota! Dinner is available in the restaurant and the bar is well known for cocktails. The fishing hut pictured had a fireplace and chimney and using a hole in floor the monks could sit and fish here in comfort year round. Brigit’s Garden was created by Jenny Beale who commissioned local craftspeople to design elements in addition to Reynolds’ landscaping. Tourmakeady is a small village in the West of Ireland known for its rugged & scenic views. The 40 room hotel features tastefully decorated rooms and is “One of the best places to stay in Ireland” according to the New York Times. Very soon the countryside begins to show its beauty. Takes some getting used to, I suppose.) Through this small but vibrant city the River Corrib, Lough Corrib’s only outflow, makes its way powerfully into Galway Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Defiantly made me want to visit island, thanks for posting. This is a classic Irish landscape, the brown and fawn colour spreading out on either side of the road in the flat countryside with evidence of peat cutting, a practice of cutting the bogland (made up of compressed vegetation), stacking and drying it to be burned as a fuel. Property Partners Emma Gill are delighted to present to the market this charming 3 bedroom property situated on a scenic site just outside of Clonbur village. Europe - Help! Head back to Headford and turn left at the traffic lights, take the R334 signposted for Cong. We hope to head back to Tourmakeady over the summer to go for a walk. The House Hotel in Galway City is a small hotel located in the centre in an area known as the Latin Quarter, just a minute’s walk from Spanish Arch and Quay Street. Ashford Castle is now a hotel. Opening Hours: 10:00 – 17:30 daily all year. Covering 176 square kilometres with a highly indented shoreline and stretching 44 km northwest from the city of Galway , Lough Corrib is the second largest lake on the island of Ireland and divides the western part of County Galway known as Connemara from the rest of Ireland. Darren McLoughlin is a photographer, tour guide and author. #BloggerClubUK. Click my image to read more about me. Hi Becky The next settlement you arrive at is Maam Cross. (I did initially gasp a bit when I noticed the driving-on-the-left-side-of-the-road bit! Mountain bikes can be hired from West Side Cycles in Galway and includes a free bike rack to put on your rental car to take the bikes out and back to the trail. Stunning location, a wonderful setting, sure to appeal to the romantic. That view from the bridge is beautiful, looks like a stunning place to visit! Aside from the places mentioned in the guide there are lots of options for things to do around Lough Corrib. View back down valley – picture The road now climbs towards a high pass with Lackavrea mountain on your left. Rooms are available from €79 and booking can be made via the House Hotel’s website here. A sign to the left for Ross Errily takes you past Joyce’s supermarket, a good place to stop for provisions if you plan to have a picnic. Derroura woods has over 16 km of trails, mostly singletrack with some north shore and great views of Connemara’s mountains and Lough Corrib. I’m hoping to get back to Tourmakeady someday, for a walk next time. What a gorgeous part of the world. One of Ireland’s great scenic drives, the Lough Corrib drive in County Galway is a circuit of an inland sea with ever-changing scenery,  ruins, castles, sheep-lined roads and plenty of places to visit. I love that. They formed the best memories. My family & I drove through Tourmakeady over the weekend & it was so beautiful that I decided to start videoing so you could enjoy the scenery too. #BloggerClubUK, Nice work. For any angling enthusiasts the property is located just off the R300 road that runs along the shore of Lough Mask and just a short drive from the village of Tourmakeady. Secure online payment. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Oughterard, like Headford on the other side of the lake, is a popular base for angling and is situated on the small but pretty Owenriff river. For the first section this is a rather uninspiring road, very busy with traffic and laden with roadside industry for a few miles. ... and we had Lough Mask on one side, Lough Corrib on the other, making for some spectacular lake and mountain views. when I was little my parents couldn’t drive so when I passed my test at 17 I was always going out for drives and just driving along the country roads, my little ones love the journeys we go on. Árd Aoibhinn Farm is found in a scenic and peaceful place near Tourmakeady, County Mayo and conveniently located along the shores of Lough Mask. GREAT DRIVE LOUGH MASK: The magnificent views over Lough Mask provide a suitably scenic finish to this year’s journeys, writes BOB MONTGOMERY STRETCHING … I’ve always wanted to visit the West of Ireland, if you keep on showing me all these lovely places don’t be surprised if I rock up on your doorstep one day! The lake, Lough Mask is huge! The tragedy was immortalised in a poem by Raftery,  a wandering, blind, Irish language poet whose works were written down by contemporaries. Cuddle Fairy is a positive space on the internet where all of my blog posts & videos have a positive slant. To be honest I actually quite like it, head space, beautiful English countryside, its so peaceful. #bloggerclubUK, It looks lovely, I’m fortunate to live near the Lake District, so even though I hate having to drive 50 miles to get to work, at least I get a nice scenic commute through the Lakes! You live in such a beautiful place Find out more at Panoramic Ireland. While passing through Cong, you'll no doubt enjoy a visit to the 12th-century abbey in the town centre. Keep straight on the N84 if you want to skip this location. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Get Cuddle Fairy's latest posts straight to your inbox. My name is Becky, I'm a wife & mom of 3. The bustling village of Oughterard is situated on the western side of the lake and calls itself the Gateway to Connemara. For more information see http://www.brigitsgarden.ie/. Hop in the car with my family & enjoy the drive along the narrow & winding roads of the West of Ireland! #candidcuddles, Looks amazing, I have always wanted to visit Ireland! It would be easy to spend half a day in lovely Cong. With magnificent mountainous views on your doorstep and close proximity to the popular fishing lakes of Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, this is an ideal residence or country bolt hole away from the hustle & bustle. Lough Nafooey. The ruins of Cong Abbey are the real star attraction in the village. RCSL Flyfishing 2009, Lough Mask The RCSL 15th Annual Game Angling Event will be held on Thursday 4th June 2009 at Lough Mask, Ireland, launching from Gortmore Bay, Tourmakeady, Co Mayo. We headed out for a cruise into the Lough and had great views of the many islands and the multiformed Connemara Mountains. We used to go for Sunday drives when we were little. Be My Bear Party Kit Review – Make Your Own Bear! All content in this article ©Darren McLoughlin and ©scenicdrives.eu. Aughnanure is flanked on one side by the river, adding a level of protection and also has two bawns or surrounding walls. Go for an early morning walk or evening stroll along the many lakeside pathways and enjoy the fresh unpolluted air. I remember the torture of those lol x, What a lovely day trip out. Originally from NY, I now live in the gorgeous West of Ireland with my family. A Paradise for Wildlife lovers, Artists, Birdwatchers & Anglers but you don’t have to be any of those to stay with us. The B8035 is signed, northwards at its southern end' as 'Scenic Route to Salen'. Lough Mask and Lough Corrib are all within easy reach. Covering 176 square kilometres with a highly indented shoreline and stretching 44 km northwest from the city of Galway , Lough Corrib is the second largest lake on the island of Ireland and divides the western part … After approximately 16 km turn left for Annaghdown on the L2118. Parking is available one minute away in a multi-storey car park for €8 for 24hrs. We will be staying … Lakes and bogland stretch out in all directions below a large, unending sky. And it is in driving from Galway along the N59 after Oughterard that the landscape changes to that which is typical of Connemara – bogs, lakes, mountains and sky. #CandidCuddles Great post! The Scenic Drive will remain open to private vehicles and commercial shuttles through Dec. 24, when it will close for shuttle operation until Jan. 2, 2021. Note I wasn’t asked or paid to promote Tourmakeady – it was just a fun family day out. The music reminded me of PS I Love You #BloggerClubUK, I love the quote about the earth having music for those who listen. National ... Local road (i.e. After about 11 km there is a … Panoramic Ireland create personalised photography tours, day trips and workshops for all ages in Galway and throughout Ireland. The view from the top is beautiful! Mullagh Cottage is traditional-style stone cottage with space for up to six people. Tourmakeady Map We would like to spend a day exploring Galway (can see from forum there is heaps to see) and then do two days of driving to other areas. Tourmakeady (Tuar Mhic Eadaigh) is a scenic angling district between Lough Mask and the Partry Mountains. #BloggerClubUK xx, I so agree collecting moments is so much more important!! #BloggerClubUK, Wow it looks so beautiful. For more information on fishing on Lough Corrib see here. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 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