Galway-Clare Itinerary – Wild Atlantic Way | Ireland Travel Guide

Galway – Clare Itinerary (One Day)

In this itinerary, it's farewell to Clifden, Co. Galway as I make the short journey to the next ‘significant discovery point' on my Wild Atlantic Way trip, Derrygimlagh, home to a fascinating history of Marconi as well as Atlantic flight pioneers, Alcock & Brown. I pass by Galway, Dunguaire Castle and Gregan's Geosite, before reaching one of my favourite coastal views in the world, the Cliffs of Moher. Then it's overnight at Doolin to sleep well ahead of my Aran Islands trip next day.

Catch-up Links

If you need to catch up to this point on my trip, I started my adventure further north, at Malin Head, before exploring the North of Donegal. I stayed beside the sensational Fanad Head Lighthouse and used that as the starting point for a tour of South Donegal. Up next was a tour of great Sligo locations, including Mullaghmore Head, followed by Downpatrick Head and Achill. Rounding it out was the Mayo-Galway itinerary, including visits to Killary Harbour and the Downton Abbey-esque surrounds of Kylemore Abbey.

Derrygimlagh, Co. Galway

Although I knew the area around Clifden, County Galway reasonably well from filming for many years with Irish Choral Group, Anúna, I did not know Derrygimlagh until I read about it as a Signature Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way.

The story is a fascinating one and well worth further investigation and a visit.

Derrygimlagh | Marconi Connection

This bog, in a remote part of County Galway, seems the most unlikely place for the pioneer of Telegraph Stations, Marconi, to have situated the largest ever listening station at the time it was established.

Derrygimlagh | Alcock & Brown: First Ever Transatlantic Flight

Derrygimlagh is also the place where the aviation pioneers, Alcock & Brown, crash-landed their biplane in the first ever successful transatlantic flight. They won a prize of £10,000, a knighthood each and sealed the fate of Derrygimlagh in the history books.

Dunguaire Castle

Dunguaire Castle is one of the most photographed castles in Ireland and it's easy to see why.

The Castle sits on a rocky outcrop on the southeastern shores of Galway Bay, making for a combination of green hills, stony tower and Bay waters. Yet many don't know you can see inside, nor about its history as a retreat house for Ireland's poets of the early 20th Century.

Gregan's Geosite

The Wild Atlantic Way will introduce to all kinds of new locations and ways of thinking about the geology of the island.

The viewpoint called Gregan's Geosite sits on top of Corkscrew Hill and looks out at a natural amphitheatre created by ice sheets thousands of years ago.

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher pull at the heartstrings of my childhood. I visited here for the first time almost 40 years ago.

Find out where to park, what you can do there (apart from take amazing photographs), the best spots to view the cliffs from, plus a history of O'Brien's Tower and all the logistics you need for your visit.

Video Link

Find the accompanying video for this article below:

Excursions in the Connemara Area