Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Italy
Luxembourg
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Park · Clifden, Galway
Connemara National Park
National park of about 3,000 hectares in Letterfrack, with mountains, bogs, Connemara ponies and the Diamond Hill trails, from where you can see the coast, the islands and Kylemore Abbey.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Connemara National Park
Connemara National Park opened in 1980 and covers about 3,000 hectares of mountains, bogs, fields and woods around Letterfrack in north Connemara, about 13 km from Clifden. Part of the land belonged to the Kylemore estate and the former Letterfrack industrial school. The park includes some of the mountains of the Twelve Bens range, of pale quartzite.
The visitor centre at the entrance has an exhibition about the landscape, peat and mountain formation, and is the starting point for the trails. The most popular is the Diamond Hill trail, a 442-metre mountain: the lower trail is a circuit of about 3 km, on wooden boardwalks and gravel over the bog; the upper trail continues to the summit, about 7 km in total, with a steep ascent and sections of rock.
From the top of Diamond Hill you can see Ballynakill Bay, the islands Inishbofin and Inishturk, Kylemore Lake with the abbey and, to the south, the Twelve Bens mountains. On clear days the view reaches far, but mist and wind can close in on the summit within minutes.
The park is home to Connemara ponies, the native breed of the region, kept in part of the area, as well as reintroduced red deer and many birds. There are short trails in the woods and a path to the old school cemetery. The park has no entrance fee and is open year-round; the visitor centre has its own opening times.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 hour for the lower Diamond Hill circuit; 2½ to 3 hours to climb to the summit and return.
Best time
In the morning on dry days without low cloud on the summit. From May to September the days are long and the visitor centre operates full hours. In strong wind or mist, do only the lower trail.
How to get there
The entrance is in Letterfrack on the N59, about 13 km northeast of Clifden, a 15-minute drive, and 4 km from Kylemore Abbey. There is parking at the visitor centre. Buses between Galway and Clifden pass through Letterfrack at certain times.
Tip
Bring a raincoat and footwear that can handle mud, even in summer. Combine the park with Kylemore Abbey on the same morning: the two are 4 km apart.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Connemara National Park
Is the climb to Diamond Hill difficult?
The lower trail is easy, about 3 km. The upper trail, to the 442 m summit, has steep ascents and stony sections, and takes around 2.5 to 3 hours in total, round trip.
Does the park charge an entrance fee?
No. The trails and visitor centre are freely accessible, and the park is open year-round.
Can you see the Connemara ponies?
The park keeps native-breed ponies in part of the area, and it's common to see them in the fields near the visitor centre, although their location can change.