DAY 1 - WESTPORT
Arrive to the wonderful town of Westport (there is direct bus and train service to Westport daily).  Warm welcome and chance to settle in. You will be given your route pack and general information to study overnight. If there is time we meet with you to go through the details of the tour with you.  Westport is a nice town with lots of restaurants and pubs where you can find music on most evenings.

DAY 2 – CROAGH PATRICK

You will be picked up in the morning after breakfast and brought to Murrisk the starting point of today’s walk.  Your target today is the top of Croagh Patrick - Ireland's Holy Mountain climb (750m to the top; 4-5 hours).  . This is quite a tough climb, but the views from the top is fantastic.   The fact that you have walked where many pilgrims have before you make this a very satisfying day.   Having pre-arranged a time with your driver, you are picked up and returned to your accommodation in Westport.  Dinner your own choice in Westport town. 

DAY 3 – CLARE ISLAND

After breakfast a taxi will pick you up and bring you to Roonagh Quay where you will get the ferry to Clare Island (30 minute ferry).  Clare Island is the largest island in Clew Bay.   It is 5 miles long and 3 miles wide and there are wonderful options for you to walk.  On the rocky headland at the harbour is the square tower which served as Grace O’ Malley’s (Granuaile’s) castle. Clare Island was the stronghold of this remarkable 16th century O’ Malley clan chieftain who lived by her family trade of piracy and plunder.   You can also visit the 12th century Cistercian abbey that contains a remarkable series of medieval wall and ceiling paintings, The remains of a 19th century Napoleonic signal tower is situated at the western tip of the island and there are also some lovely beaches for you to explore.  You return on the ferry to Roonagh Quay where a taxi will pick you up and bring you back to Westport.  

DAY 4 – FAMINE TRACK

After breakfast a taxi will pick you up and bring you from Westport to the starting point of today’s walk which is the tip of Killary Harbour in Leenane.  With your map in hand you will walk above the shore of Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord, along the "Famine Track", a now disused road built after the Great Famine (1848) to provide some employment for the once extensive population of Connemara.   You will continue along the Western Way to the village of Leenane where you will be staying tonight.  Dinner your own choice in the village of Leenane.

DAY 5 – INISHBOFIN ISLAND

Today you will have an all day excursion to Inishbofin - one of three offshore islands just off the coast of Connemara! A taxi will pick you up at your accommodation and bring you to Cleggan where you will take the ferry to Inishbofin to sample the unique “island life” and take in one of Ireland's unique attractions!  This island is an ideal spot for swimming, hill walking, cycling and angling.   Irish Traditional music takes Inishbofin to its heart and world-class musicians visit it regularly. On arrival your first glimpse of Bofin, will be the impressive "Cromwell's Barracks" - these are well-preserved ruins dating back to the 17th century.  There are also many kinds of unusual kinds of birds as well as colonies of seals on the island. For lucky visitors, there is also the possibility of sighting dolphins, whales and sharks! You return on the evening ferry to Cleggan where a taxi will pick you up and bring you back to Leenane. 

DAY 6  – INISHMORE ISLAND

A taxi picks you up after breakfast and brings you to Rossaveal in time to take the morning ferry to Inishmore.  Inishmore is the largest of the Aran Islands.  There are many antiquities on the island, and some of the most fascinating are Dun Aengus, Dun Eoghasa, early Christian monasteries and many more. You may want to discover them on foot, or alternatively there are bicycles for hire at the pier.  Stay the night in a Guesthouse on the island, and enjoy a dinner in one of the restaurants.

DAY 7  – GALWAY

Return to the mainland with either the morning or the evening ferry and take the public bus (at your own expense) from Rossaveal into Galway.  Spend some time in this bustling, historic town. Enjoy dinner at your own choice (and expense) in one of the many restaurants, and afterwards the lively pub scene.  You will be staying in a Guesthouse in Galway tonight.

Please be aware that the programme given for this tour is strictly intended as a guide only and may not be fully adhered to. Climatic conditions, safety regulations and travel options may subject the programme to changes and/or modifications without due notice, at any time. In such case, Killary Tours reserves the right to make any necessary decisions.