This was day three of our Ireland trip and our Connemara road trip in a single day: from Galway to Leenane by van, with seven stops along the coast, through the bog and into the mountains. This post is the overview. For every stop you get the short version here and a link to the full post with parking, van access and our honest take.

The Route: Galway to Leenane

We left Galway on the R336 coast road, followed it west and then north through Screebe, crossed the Inagh Valley on the R344 and joined the N59 towards Leenane (also spelled Leenaun). The last stop, Aasleagh Falls, is just over the county border in Mayo. It is a day that starts crowded and gets quieter with every stop.

Stop 1: Galway City

We started the day in Galway: colourful streets, a lively riverside and a historic centre. It was also the most stressful part of the day. Parking was hard to find even with our Tourneo Custom, and the streets were seriously crowded. If you travel in a larger vehicle, park outside the centre.

→ Read the full post: our honest Galway guide with parking tips.

Stop 2: Furbo Beach

About 30 minutes west of the city on the R336 coast road, Furbo Beach was exactly the reset we needed after the crowds. It is a small beach of sand and pebbles with views across Galway Bay, and the car park sits right in front of it, directly beside the busy road.

→ Read the full post: what Furbo Beach is like and where to park.

Stop 3: Cartron Harbour (Ballynahown Pier)

A short drive further along the coast brought us to Cartron Harbour, also called Ballynahown Pier. We only planned a quick look and ended up staying for almost an hour.

→ Read the full post: our stop at Cartron Harbour.

Stop 4: Screebe Waterfall

Around Screebe the landscape changes: fewer houses, more rocks, bogland and mountains. The waterfall was not on our plan at all. We simply saw it beside the R336, pulled over and spent about ten minutes there. The dark, tea-coloured water comes from the peat in the bog.

→ Read the full post: Screebe Waterfall, parking and why the water is brown.

Stop 5: Inagh Valley and Lough Inagh

The R344 through the Inagh Valley is narrower than the N59, so we took it slowly. The main Lough Inagh Viewpoint has a small car park that fills up quickly, so we stopped a little further north at Lough Inagh Point instead.

→ Read the full post: driving the R344 through the Inagh Valley.

Stop 6: Killary Fjord Viewpoint

Back on the N59 towards Leenaun, the road opens up and a huge stretch of water appears between the mountains: Killary Harbour, often called Ireland’s only fjord. The viewpoint is a simple lay-by beside the road, and you do not need to walk anywhere for the view.

→ Read the full post: the Killary Fjord Viewpoint and its lay-by.

Stop 7: Aasleagh Falls

Our last stop was just across the county border in Mayo. Aasleagh Falls is not a big waterfall, but the setting on the River Erriff makes it special. Use the free car park a few metres past the bridge instead of stopping on the road. We did not stay long, because it was finally getting dark.

→ Read the full post: Aasleagh Falls parking and the short walk to the bridge.

The Whole Day on Video

All seven stops are in one video. Jump straight to the part you are interested in:

• Galway City – watch from 00:17
• Furbo Beach – watch from 04:15
• Cartron Harbour (Ballynahown Pier) – watch from 06:22
• Screebe Waterfall – watch from 08:27
• Inagh Valley and Lough Inagh – watch from 10:36
• Killary Fjord Viewpoint – watch from 13:12
• Aasleagh Falls – watch from 15:02

Our Honest Takeaway

Looking back, the city was the part of this day we enjoyed least, and the unplanned stops were some of the best. None of the stops after Galway needs much time on its own, but together they make a full and varied day. If you are short on time, we would rather skip the city centre than the drive through Connemara.

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Planning your own Ireland road trip? Continue with day four, our North Mayo road trip from the Sligo coast to Erris Head, see every stop on our interactive Ireland road trip map, read how our ferry from Dunkirk to Rosslare went and check our Ireland facts before you go.