A Town Guide to Clifden Ireland
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Clifden is the capital of the scenic region known as Connemara 80 km west of Galway in Ireland. The town itself is the largest in Connemara with a population of over 800.
This picturesque town at the head of Clifden Bay straddles the Owenglin River and consists of quaint houses tightly packed into winding streets with the only buildings of any height being the town’s churches and their steep spires.
The town has as its backdrop the Twelve Bens mountain range to the east of town and it is this scenery and location that sets up Clifden as the perfect base to establish for those exploring Connemara. The area provides excellent opportunities to enjoy an outdoor holiday with plenty of angling options, rambling routes, mountaineering for the more adventurous and of course a wonderful display of nature and wildlife.
A great many visitors to Connemara choose to experience the countryside by bicycle. This is the ideal way to see this countryside at a pace that is in step with the easy going pace of life in the region. There are a number of locations in the town from which bicycles can be rented.
The nearby Connemara Walking Centre provides guided walking trips to local sites of geographic and natural interest in the areas. The Centre also provides maps and route details for ramblers and cyclists.
For those wishing to partake of a less demanding outdoor activity the Errislannan Horse Riding Centre (3 km south of Clifden) can hire out ponies for riding along Clifden beach or alternately for trips into the hills surrounding the village. Beginners’ lessons are also available.
After completing all these outdoor activities you will have no doubt worked up quite an appetite and Clifden does not disappoint in providing multiple options.
At the centre of town lies EJ Kings on the square that provide the option of hearty pub fare year round in their pub and the option of a slightly more formal sitdown meal at their adjoining restaurant. Seafood lovers will adore Clifden’s dining options. The Salmon Leap Seafood Restaurant and O’Grady’s Seafood restaurant are the two stand-out choices in town with O’Grady’s being widely considered one of the best restaurants in Galway county.
Accommodation options in and around the town range from Clifden’s hotels and B&B’s through to a variety of hostels (all IHH associated) open year round.
Buses run daily from Galway to Clifden and Westport by Bus Eireann though the timetable is prone to change with the season so be sure to check on this or other information from the Clifden tourist office (on Market Street; open March to October) or the Galway tourist office.
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Source by Roderick Dunne