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The Best Walks in Galway

Galway is known for its green hillsides, friendly people, pints of Guinness, art festivals, live music, and much more. Of course, there are tons of things to do in Galway 鈥� and not all of them are in the heart of the seaside town. Exploring all of County Galway may usually require a car, but going the extra mile (literally) to see the incredible countryside is well worth it. 

County Galway is home to some of the best sights, viewpoints, and hikes in the entire country 鈥� and all of Europe, if we do say so ourselves. Not only can you gaze at the incredible coast, but you can meander around cute villages, check out lesser-visited towns, and reach the top of the nearby hillsides, gazing out at the bright green pastures and faraway peaks of Connemara. 

Let鈥檚 check out the best walks in County Galway that range from easy to difficult 鈥� if you brought your trekking boots, that is. 

Diamond Hill Loop Walk

Diamond Hill Connemara – By Dr Charles Nelson, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9155960

Located in Connemara National Park, the Diamond Hill Loop Walk is a great choice for new hikers who want to follow a trial. Although The rest of Connemara is wild, rugged, and daunting (which is IDEAL for more experienced hikers who can bring their own map), the Diamond Hill Loop Walk is a taste of what you will get in the rest of the mountains. And it isn鈥檛 super easy, you will still have to be on the trail for 2-4 hours depending on your speed 鈥� and how long you decide to take in the expansive views at the top of the 鈥渉ill.鈥� 

Inishbofin Westquarter Loop

Inishbofin from the road heading North 0- .By Towel401 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52175384

Inishbofin is a place where it feels like you stepped back in time. This seaside town is a sleepier and quieter than other towns dotted along the bus routes, so you will get a bit more serenity here. We love the Westquarter loop, as you can see some of the infamous Atlantic Coast, catch a few glimpses of the cows and sheep, and take in the infamous Dun More cliffs. Trust us, it is much less crowded than the cliffs of Moher! 

Barna Woods Walk

Barna Woods – By Trish Steel, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13961736

Barna Woods is just a few minutes outside of the city center of Galway, making it the perfect escape on a crow

Sky Road, Clifden

Clifden Overview – By Bert Kaufmann – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2903994

Sure, this is more known for being a plc to drive your car or take a bike. But you can go on this road in any mode, whether it is on foot, skateboard, bicycle, car, bus鈥� you get the picture. Personally, we love cycling this road (with a helmet, of course) since you can zip down the road coming back into Clifden and get the wind on your face. But walking this paved road is a nice way to see the views on both sides of the inlet, offering you amazing viewpoints of the surrounding islands, Aran Islands, and homes dotted along the coast. 

We recommend catching the 350 bus from the Coach Bus Station in Galway city center to Clifden 鈥� it is very easy! 

Twelve Bens, Connemara

Twelve Bens from Roundstone – By Lisa Harbin – Boats and mountains, Roundstone, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61809382

The Twelve Bens is a feat that every avid hiker sets their sights on when they visit Ireland. This incredible range of mountain peaks in Connemara takes in some of the best views in the country 鈥� and really makes you work for it! This one-day hike is often completed in 12-14 hours. If you can, we recommend wild camping on the route to break the trek up into two days.

Before you start this hike, it is recommended to download a map on your phone, have transport arranged, bring a tent if you are camping, and check the weather. The weather is often rainy and unpredictable in Galway, especially in Connemara, so this hike should only be attempted in fair conditions. 

If you want, you can break the hike up into two days, or you can tackle one of the Twelve Bens. There are a few different starting points, so it is possible to do 3-4 of the BEns in an out-and-back hike beginning from the main road connecting Galway city to Clifden. Just ask the CityLink bus driver to let you off at Ben Lettery Hostel, and then off you go! 

Mweelin Mountain Hike 

Mountain from Ben Lugmore – By Britishfinance – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81473441

Mweelin is one of the most widely-known mountains in County Galway. This hike is accessible from the N59 connecting Galway to Clifden, Letterfrack, and Kylemore Abbey. We recommend taking the bus to Kylemore abbey or driving to the Abbey yourself and parking in the car park. Most of the people you see will be heading to the Abbey and the gift shop 鈥� but you are going to one of the highest points in Connemara!

You won鈥檛 find signposts and directions on this hike 鈥� this is for avid hikers who are confident in their navigational skills and download a map to their phone (or bring an old-school paper map). Start at the abbey car park and begin your trek over three high summits overlooking the incredible scenery and the lake down below. This hike takes approximately 4-6 hours, depending on conditions and physical fitness.