Updated June 2026--Connemara in County Galway has for generations attracted writers, artists and travelers drawn to its raw beauty. The famous Irish writer Oscar Wilde once described it as a “wild mountainous country,” while poet WB Yeats and playwright John Millington Synge looked to the remote landscape as a place where life could be lived more simply.
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While today many visitors to the region stick to the well-trodden paths that Connemara National Park offers or pass through Connemara on their exploration of the Wild Atlantic Way, there’s far more to discover than what you’ll find in guidebooks.
When exploring this part of Ireland, you’ll discover quiet beaches, forgotten pilgrimage trails, famine-era ruins and coastal walks.
These hidden attractions in Connemara, outlined below, offer a deeper connection to the landscape, history and Irish-speaking culture that makes this region of Ireland so unique.
A rental car is essential for exploring this region, which includes coastal peninsulas, mountain passes, and remote inland valleys.
Use the Google map above to help you navigate this route.
1. Cleggan Village and Cleggan Head
This small fishing village is in an area of Connemara that doesn’t get as many visitors as the more well-known towns like Clifden, a mere 10 km/7 miles away, but it’s totally worth a stop if you’re in the region.
One of the focal points in the village is the bridge built by the Scottish architect Alexander Nimmo.
Nimmo moved to Ireland in 1810 to investigate the drainage and cultivation of Irish bogs.
He fell in love with the Connemara region and stayed there for many years, eventually building many of the piers around the Galway coastline, as well as developing the carriage road from Oughterard to Clifden.
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Hike Cleggan Head
Several beaches dot the coastline here, but to get a sense of the sheer beauty of the area, you should consider a hike to Cleggan Head, which lies on the northern end of Cleggan Bay.
On your way to the top of Cleggan Head, there’s plenty to see and experience, including a variety of plant and animal life, as well as a Neolithic wedge tomb.
From the top, you’ll get extraordinary views of Inisturk and Clare Island to the north, as well as Achill Island, the Mweelrea and Partry Mountains, and of course Croagh Patrick in County Mayo.
A secluded cove sheltering a small beach adds to the beauty of the area.
2. The Knockbrack Court Tomb
About 1.6 km/0.9 miles from Cleggan, look for the Knockbrack Court Tomb located in an area overlooking Sallerna Beach on the Aughrus Peninsula.
Archaeologists say that this Megalithic chamber is unusually narrow for a court tomb at only 0.8 meters (2.62 feet) wide.
The slab is also known as “Labbadermot” or “Dermot’s Bed,” referring to the legend of Diarmuid and Gráinne, the lovers who were chased around Ireland by Gráinne’s betrothed, Fenian chieftain Finn McCool.
To protect them from their enemies, Diarmuid built 365 different “beds” like the capstone on this one, which would have been invisible to everyone except them.
3. Dog’s Bay Beach
This is one of Ireland’s finest beaches, although it doesn’t always get top billing.
Dog’s Bay Beach is about two miles outside Roundstone and located on the road to Clifden, Connemara’s largest town.
The sand here is made up of seashell fragments, giving it a pure white color.
Since it is sheltered from currents, the water here is calm and crystal clear.
The area around here is known internationally for its rare ecological, geological, and archaeological features.
The grasslands are also rare and are native to the west coast of Ireland and Scotland.
Parking is limited and fills up quickly during the summer months, so be sure to arrive early.
Gurteen Beach is equally beautiful and is situated beside it. All that separates them is a wild headland that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean.
4. Glassilaun Beach
The water is fresh and clear at the horseshoe-shaped Glassilaun Beach, which is located between Renvyle and Killary Bay.
It also has an impressive mountain backdrop, which makes this a must-see attraction on your tour of Connemara’s hidden gems.
The beach is popular for swimming, snorkeling, and walking.
5. The Moyrus Loop
This looped walk, a mix of beach and boreen, is another hidden attraction in Connemara to add to your itinerary.
Begin at the Moyrus cemetery, the site of a medieval church, and make your way along the coast, ending in the townland of Halfmace.
Near the cemetery, you’ll find the remains of a church set up in 1855 by a Protestant Christian group called the Irish Missions.
Some of the highlights of the walk include the rocky shoreline that leads to An Trá Mhór (when translated, means “Large Beach”), a long, sheltered beach that is perfect for swimming.
An old wartime lookout shelter on a nearby headland provides great views of St. Macdara’s Island, which houses an ancient oratory and is dedicated to the patron saint of fishermen and sailors.
Nearby is the internationally renowned Macehead Atmospheric Research Station, an active climate research facility that is one of the longest-running mercury recording stations in the world and gathers vital information used to study the atmosphere.
It is not open to the public.
All along this beautiful walk, you can see the Twelve Bens Mountain range and many of the smaller islands that exist in the region.
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6. Maumeen Mountain Pass and Shrine
A half-hour drive north will take you to the Maumeen Mountain Pass.
Be sure to wear your hiking boots on this 2 to 4-hour hike, an ancient trail that leads to a mountainous pilgrimage site dedicated to Saint Patrick.
At the end of the 4-km hike (2.5 miles) walk you’ll reach the Maumeen Pass located in Connemara’s Maumturk Mountains, with epic views of the surrounding lakes and bogland.
While the site is dedicated to Patrick, it was also an important pilgrimage spot in pre-Christian Ireland, where the god Lugh was idolized.
The mountain pass is the second highest in Ireland after the Connor Pass in County Kerry’s Dingle Peninsula.
At the top is a statue of Patrick with a ram in his hand, a reference to the legend that claims he sank a ram in a nearby lake.
A small chapel called Cillín Phádraig is located behind the statue, as well as a holy well.
During the 17th and 18th centuries when Irish Catholics were prevented from practicing their faith, mass was said on a nearby rock that today is known as “St. Patrick’s bed.”
7. Foher Famine Village
Away from the coast in North Connemara where the counties of Galway and Mayo meet, you’ll find the last remaining famine villages in Ireland.
The original potato ridges where the local people eked out a living from a crop that would fail miserably in the middle of the 19th century are also evident.
The Foher Famine Village is located close to Killary Fjord, one of three glacial fjords on the island of Ireland.
Nearby is an unfinished “famine relief road” snaking its way up and over the nearby mountainside.
It is one of several public works projects that the Irish were expected to work on in return for meager rations and a small allowance from the British government.
Many of the residents of the Foher famine village died, with many more emigrating.
Set in a beautiful region of Connemara, with fabulous mountain vistas, this out-of-the-way hidden attraction is a stark reminder of Ireland’s dark past.
If you decide to visit, be sure to wear sturdy footwear as the terrain can be uneven and exposed.
Before You Go: Practical Tips for Exploring Hidden Connemara
Connemara is one of the wildest and most beautiful parts of Ireland, but that also means it requires a little preparation before you visit. It’s best to keep these practical tips in mind before setting out to explore these 7 hidden gems.
🚗 You’ll Need a Car
Most of these attractions are located on narrow rural roads. A rental car will give you the most flexibility to explore at your own pace and stop whenever you want.
📶 Wifi Can Be Limited in Some Areas
Parts of Connemara, especially around the areas mentioned in this article, tend to get patchy mobile coverage from time to time.
To safeguard yourself, you might want to download maps before you travel so you can access them offline. You can check the mobile coverage anywhere in Ireland by using this mobile network coverage map.
🌦️ Expect Changeable Weather
Weather in Ireland is always unpredictable and even during the summer months, the weather can shift quickly from sunshine to showers.
It’s always wise to travel with a good rain jacket, wear comfortable shoes (waterproof shoes are not entirely necessary, but if you really want to wear them in Ireland, I recommend Vessi shoe wear), as well as layers. Download my packing guide before you travel.
🐑 Watch for Sheep on the Roads
Free-roaming sheep are common throughout Connemara. Drive slowly, especially around bends.
🅿️ Parking Is Limited at Beaches
Dog’s Bay and Glassilaun beaches are popular during the summer. Parking areas are small and can fill up quickly in July and August. Arrive early if visiting during peak season.
🧭 Respect Private Land & Leave No Trace
Cleggan Head is on private farmland. As mentioned above, be sure to stay on the marked track and do not bring dogs. At all locations, follow Leave No Trace principles to preserve this beautiful landscape for future visitors.
Let me know in the comments below if you’ve seen any of them.
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