Galway, Connemara & Ireland's Stunning West

Discover one of the most beautiful and unspoilt corners of Ireland, renowned for its ancient Gaelic heritage and traditional Irish hospitality.

From your delightful base in the four-star McWilliam Park Hotel, enjoy a full and varied itinerary and make the very most of your time in this lovely part of the Emerald Isle. Highlights include an exploration of historic Galway city, a visit to a sheep farm, a scenic tour of Connemara and the Wild Atlantic Way, a Fjord cruise, exploration of the famed Cliffs of Moher, and an opportunity to learn about the unique landscape of the Burren.

Price

from £1008 /pp

was £1259
Flights included
Dates Available

September 2026 - September 2027
Duration

6 days
Depart From

6 airports
Excursions & Visits

6 included
Meals

10 included
Ways to pay

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan and pay from £153.27 per month.

Cliffs of Moher, view of the sea on the right and rassy land in the left forefront

See the towering Cliffs of Moher and the lunar-like landscape of the Burren

Shutterstock 1190107633 The Claddagh Galway

Visit vibrant, colourful Galway City

Enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Killary Fjord

Black and white border collie dog sat in a field

Partake in a sheep-dog experience at Glen Keen Farm

Following your flight to Ireland, you will be met by your tour manager for the coach transfer to your hotel. After check-in, you'll have rest the day free. Depending on your arrival time, you may like to explore Claremorris (which is about a 10-minute walk away) and its interesting range of shops and bars. At the far end of the town you'll find McMahon Park, where you can enjoy a delightful five-kilometre circular walk around Clare Lake. Alternatively, why not make the most of the hotel’s leisure centre and beauty studio?

If you decide to arrange your own travel and book our Tour Only package, you'll need to meet your Tour Manager at Knock airport in time for the coach transfer to your hotel, or at the hotel itself. (Exact times will be confirmed closer to departure.)

Today we'll head into the lunar-like landscape of the Burren, the largest expanse of limestone pavement in the world and home to an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, as well as to megalithic tombs and monuments older than Egypt’s pyramids. The visitor centre in Kilfenora is fascinating. A short film traces the history and unique environment of the Burren, while the exhibition takes you on a Walk Through Time as the story of the region unfolds. You’ll learn about the remarkable landscape, and how man and animals have co-existed through history in this apparently inhospitable landscape.

The other highlight of the day is your visit to the awesome Cliffs of Moher. Standing 702ft at their highest point, the Cliffs stretch for five miles along the Atlantic coast. On a clear day, pathways and viewing platforms along the cliff edge offer simply stunning views out to the Aran Islands, to the Kerry Mountains and across to Galway Bay. An award-winning visitor centre, built into the hillside, will really help you get the most from your visit.

This morning, we'll head to Glen Keen Farm, one of the largest sheep farms on the Wild Atlantic Way and famous for its sheepdogs. Hear how life and farming have changed over the seven generations that the current owners have lived here, learn about the verbal and whistle commands used to herd sheep, and watch the farm's dogs in action. Tea or coffee and homemade scones are included during what promises to be a fascinating visit.

In the afternoon, you can immerse yourself in the beautiful, natural surroundings of the Killary Fjord on a leisurely cruise. This spectacular glacial fjord forms a border between Galway and Mayo. Our cruise starts at Nancy's Point, just west of Leenane Village, the setting for the film adaptation of John B. Keane’s famous play, The Field.

We’ll also make a stop at Westport, which sits on the southeast corner of Clew Bay beneath the slopes of Croagh Patrick, Ireland's 'holy mountain'. Wander around the harbour to the Quay area, just a few minutes from the town centre, where the old coastguard station and warehouses now house bars, cafes and restaurants, or stroll along the tree-lined mall.

Galway City beckons today. The old centre surrounds ancient Lynch’s Castle and a pedestrianised thoroughfare leads down to the thriving waterfront. Join our tour manager for a guided tour before exploring at leisure. Enjoy lunch in one of Galway’s countless eateries, take a harbour cruise, explore the city's cobblestone streets, visit its imposing (and unexpectedly modern) cathedral, or perhaps make the most of the varied shopping.

Possibly saving the best until last, this long, but wonderfully scenic day will reveal Connemara. This stunning landscape of pale grey mountains, golden beaches, sparkling loughs, rugged bogs and shimmering waterfalls is a place of remote beauty that's also home to the hardy, agile - but also gentle - Connemara Pony.

The route takes you on a lovely drive past Lough Mask and Lough Corrib and on to the Maam Cross. We continue along the Inagh Valley to stunning Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery founded in 1920. Learn about its history and its tales of romance and tragedy, explore the six-acre Victorian Walled Gardens and visit the Gothic Chapel and the restored rooms of the Abbey before returning to the hotel.

Depending upon the time of your flight, you may be able to spend a final few hours relaxing at your hotel, or perhaps exploring the local area, before returning to the airport at the end of a wonderful few days.

Rock tomb, with two vertical rocks and one horizontal rock on the top in a field, under a blue but cloudy sky

3 white and 1 brown horse on a sandy beach, under a blue sky with clouds

View of a grey abbey on the waterfront of a lake. Surrounded by trees. Back of two people in the forefront looking out at it

Five nights' dinner, bed and Irish breakfast accommodation at the four-star McWilliam Hotel, Claremorris
Burren and Cliffs of Moher tour
Killary Fjord cruise
Admission to Kylemore Abbey and Glen Keen Farm
Guided tour of Galway
Return flights to Knock
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
All mandatory local taxes and charges

Dates & Prices

Want to spread the cost? Choose our Easy Payment Plan.

Departure point	Departure date		Price (per person)	Availability
Edinburgh	April 2027 - September 2027		from £1453.00 pp	5 dates available
Edinburgh	25 Apr 2027 Sunday 6 days 30 Apr 2027 Friday		from £1683.00 was £1979.00
Edinburgh	09 May 2027 Sunday 6 days 14 May 2027 Friday		from £1530.00 was £1799.00
Edinburgh	06 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 11 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1836.00 was £2159.00
Edinburgh	20 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 25 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1691.00 was £1989.00
Edinburgh	19 Sep 2027 Sunday 6 days 24 Sep 2027 Friday		from £1453.00 was £1709.00
Glasgow	April 2027 - September 2027		from £1411.00 pp	5 dates available
Glasgow	25 Apr 2027 Sunday 6 days 30 Apr 2027 Friday		from £1411.00 was £1659.00
Glasgow	09 May 2027 Sunday 6 days 14 May 2027 Friday		from £1411.00 was £1659.00
Glasgow	06 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 11 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1535.00 was £1805.00
Glasgow	20 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 25 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1496.00 was £1759.00
Glasgow	19 Sep 2027 Sunday 6 days 24 Sep 2027 Friday		from £1411.00 was £1659.00
Liverpool John Lennon	April 2027 - September 2027		from £1181.00 pp	5 dates available
Liverpool John Lennon	25 Apr 2027 Sunday 6 days 30 Apr 2027 Friday		from £1237.00 was £1455.00
Liverpool John Lennon	09 May 2027 Sunday 6 days 14 May 2027 Friday		from £1266.00 was £1489.00
Liverpool John Lennon	06 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 11 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1212.00 was £1425.00
Liverpool John Lennon	20 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 25 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1212.00 was £1425.00
Liverpool John Lennon	19 Sep 2027 Sunday 6 days 24 Sep 2027 Friday		from £1181.00 was £1389.00
London Heathrow	September 2026 - September 2027		from £1076.00 pp	6 dates available
London Heathrow	20 Sep 2026 Sunday 6 days 25 Sep 2026 Friday	Late Escape	from £1076.00 was £1345.00
London Heathrow	25 Apr 2027 Sunday 6 days 30 Apr 2027 Friday		from £1203.00 was £1415.00
London Heathrow	09 May 2027 Sunday 6 days 14 May 2027 Friday		from £1237.00 was £1455.00
London Heathrow	06 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 11 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1326.00 was £1559.00
London Heathrow	20 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 25 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1326.00 was £1559.00
London Heathrow	19 Sep 2027 Sunday 6 days 24 Sep 2027 Friday		from £1292.00 was £1519.00
London Luton	September 2026		from £1008.00 pp	1 date available
London Luton	20 Sep 2026 Sunday 6 days 25 Sep 2026 Friday	Late Escape	from £1008.00 was £1259.00
London Stansted	September 2026 - September 2027		from £1012.00 pp	6 dates available
London Stansted	20 Sep 2026 Sunday 6 days 25 Sep 2026 Friday	Late Escape	from £1012.00 was £1265.00
London Stansted	25 Apr 2027 Sunday 6 days 30 Apr 2027 Friday		from £1164.00 was £1369.00
London Stansted	09 May 2027 Sunday 6 days 14 May 2027 Friday		from £1207.00 was £1419.00
London Stansted	06 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 11 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1198.00 was £1409.00
London Stansted	20 Jun 2027 Sunday 6 days 25 Jun 2027 Friday		from £1237.00 was £1455.00
London Stansted	19 Sep 2027 Sunday 6 days 24 Sep 2027 Friday		from £1118.00 was £1315.00

McWilliam Park, Claremorris Claremorris, Ireland The modern, four-star McWilliam Park Hotel offers spacious, comfortable accommodation in the County Mayo town of Claremorris.

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you arrive (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

The EES scheme commenced on the 12th October 2025, and the phased implementation will last until 9 April 2026. From 10 April 2026, EES will be fully operational at all EU borders. - the latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/ltr

EES is a new digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of most European countries. Once introduced, when you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will also have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system will register your entry on arrival and your exit when departing. You will only need to do this on your first entry into Europe after the scheme starts.

For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operational at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side. For further information please visit the https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/upcoming-changes-travel-europe here.

Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded.

Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, changes have been planned which affect the eligibility of citizens of the United Kingdom to have visa free travel to the EU. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the European Union and Schengen counties.

The ETIAS system is not live yet - the latest information can be found at www.etias.com. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live (and if applicable to you), apply for your ETIAS in good time prior to travel.

Newmarket Holidays will not be able to undertake ETIAS applications on your behalf, so have instead instructed the services of the Travel Visa Company to provide help, should you need it. You can find more information about this service here.

Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.

All mandatory local taxes and charges are included in the price of your holiday as per the itinerary. Prices for any optional excursions are listed separately. Any suggested free-time activities, attractions, meals or entertainment are not included (unless otherwise stated), and may be subject to local charges. Please note that tipping is optional and as such, is typically not included in the price of your holiday (unless otherwise stated).

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Galway, Connemara & Ireland's Stunning West

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