24 Apr 2024
This was a last minute decision - we booked the morning of the trip and are so glad we did. We stayed at the Galmont Hotel and the pick up spot was conveniently around the corner. Sean was a wonderful driver and storyteller. We saw so much of Connemara and learned interesting facts about the culture of the people and their history. We had our own car but decided to take this tour instead, and it did not disappoint! Kylemore Abbey and its gardens were beautiful. We followed the advice of other Trip Advisor reviews and visited the gardens first. An added bonus doing it that way is that you are not waiting for a shuttle to return when you need to get back to your bus. You can walk from the Abbey and lake walk right back to the parking lot. Other stops along the way included the quaint town of Leenane and a few photo op stops. The return trip took us through a traditional bog where Sean demonstrated the "back breaking" work of cutting and drying peat for the home fires. The final stop was in another picturesque town. Advice to travelers: The small town stops are really meant for a quick bathroom/coffee break. Not too much time for shopping. You have an opportunity to eat at the Abbey, but honestly, with only 2 hours, you may not wish to stop to eat, so throw a snack or two in your bag if you thing you'll need it. We were back in Galway by 5:45, so it really wasn't an issue. In addition to teaching us a bit of Irish, Sean also taught us that "cash is king" in these small towns, so be sure to have a bit with you if you plan on grabbing tea/coffee or a snack on the quick stops. They do take cards, but cash definitely helps to move along faster. Highly recommend this day trip if this is an area of Ireland that you have not explored before.