Temple House | Touring the West and NW of Ireland

1. We suggest that you leave Shannon for the Cliffs of Moher and drive around Black Head to Ballyvaughan where the Ailwee cave is worth a visit. Drive to Kinvara by the coast road and you should visit Dunguire Castle on a small isthmus just out of Kinvara. Turn left on the Galway road N18 and at the bottom of the hill from Kilcolgan there is a sign post to the left for Moran's of the Weir, a thatched pub by a creek with swans swimming up and down in the tide.
Take the road to Clarinbridge and turn for Sligo at the Oranmore round-about. Join the N17 in Claregalway and there is a TH sign post to the right 9 miles after Tubbercurry, 2 hours later.

2. Or drive north on the N18, through Galway and head for Oughterard, Clifden, Leenane, Cong, Ballinrobe, Claremorris and N17.& TH 4 hours later.
Or Leenane, Louisburgh, Westport, Castlebar, Charlestown and N17. & TH 5 hours later.

3. N18 to N17: 3 1/2 hours. Our signpost is to the right 9 miles/15km from Tubbercurry or 6 miles/10Km from Collooney roundabout N4/N17.

Temple House - Slieve League – Temple House

Donegal is 1 hour 20 minutes away through Sligo on the N17/N4/N15 and you will have time to visit Belleek Porcelain factory. When you drive up river at Ballyshannon to the roundabout just continue straight on and then fork left after 3 miles, the factory is on your right over the bridge. Return to the N15 and visit Magees for tweeds/linen/lace in Donegal Town & have a look at the Castle nearby. I would then suggest that you drive west through Killybegs & take the first coast road which comes out at Kilcar, miss the next & turn left/west. Turn south in Carrick for Teeling and then right off that road for Bunglas which is a car park at 600 ft and you see the cliffs of Slieve League rise to 1972 ft. Do not take the road signposted Slieve League as it is a single track up the back of the hill and someone will park behind you......
Return to Carrick and turn west for Glencolumbcille which has an interesting folk village. This is a Gaeltacht [Irish speaking] area. Drive NE through the Glengesh Pass to Ardara and return to Donegal via Inver and home for dinner.

From Larne around the Antrim coast to Temple House

We love the route from Larne and around the Antrim coast, especially the road round Tor head if the weather is clear. Then miss the rope bridge at Carrickareid but visit the Giants Causeway and Dunluce before you test some samples at Bushmills. 'Derry to Buncrana and Fanad head, coast road to Glencolumbcille or if it is raining go to the art gallery at Churchill and then Glenveigh Nat. Park and pass Erigal on the way to the coast. Turn south to Ardara and climb the Glengesh gap to Glencolumbcille in the Gaeltacht. Turn for Killybegs and in Carrick turn south for Teeling and then west to Bunglas which is a car park on a 600ft cliff looking up at the cliffs of Slieve League. Killybegs, Donegal [Magee for tweeds] Ballyshannon turn east for 3 miles to Belleek pottery and return to Sligo. N4 to Collooney and turn to N17, don't go to Ballymote but stick to the N17 for 6 miles and TH is sign posted left after Ballinacarrow village- with an Esso garage.

Clifden, Connemara to Temple House

As we came up the river to Clifden we could see The Quay house on the north side of the estuary. www.thequayhouse.com. It was the old harbour master's house in Clifden & most bedrooms overlook the picturesque harbour. It is now run as a town house by the Foyle family, whose forebears have been entertaining guests in Connemara for nearly a century. Clifden has many excellent restaurants and pubs within 7 minutes walk.

The road continues through heather covered hills past Kylemore Abbey www.kylemoreabbey.com to the only fjord in Ireland - Killary Harbour and Leenane, made famous by the film The Field.. You can drive north straight to Westport www.westporttourism.com but we suggest you turn west along the north shore to Delphi Lodge www.delphilodge.ie . Delphi is an old fishing lodge by some beautiful lakes and woods set in the highest mountains of Connemara. Though fishing is a primary pastime, Delphi is also popular with hill walkers, artists, golfers and horsemen and, being very remote, it offers real peace and relaxation to all guests.

The road climbs through waterfall covered hills to a boggy plain ending in Louisburgh. If you turn left you can catch a ferry to Clare island or walk along the 7 miles silver strand. The drive along the southern shore of Clew Bay past Croagh Patrick, whence St. Patrick threw the snakes in to the sea. There is a remarkable sculpture by the pub at the bottom of the path which leads to the shrine on the top of the hill. Westport harbour has some good restaurants for lunch and Westport House is open to the public. The town itself is well laid out either side of a mall and full of interesting shops and pubs.

Westport is 1 hour 20 minutes away from Temple House via Castlebar and Charlestown, then the N17.

Achill – Temple House

If you have time, coming up the west, we would suggest that you drive through Newport and drive towards Achill. When you cross a new bridge with an old multi-arched one to your right [with Scots pine trees nearby] you will see a sign post to the left 'Rockfleet Castle' or 'Carrickahowley Castle'. Turn down towards the sea and when you see the tower house to your right ignore it and drive straight down the avenue in front of you towards a Georgian mansion in nice old trees. The key of the castle is under the white cat which sits on the garage window sill. Please return it afterwards. If you visit in high season the castle is sometimes left open anyway.
Turn west for Mulreaney and then take the road south around Curraun which comes up to the bridge at Achill Sound. Take the left turn just outside the village signposted 'Atlantic drive' This winds round the south of the island, passing Boycott's tower on the way. You rejoin the main road after 5 miles and should head west for Keel. Drive through the links golf course, with a beautiful cliff view to the SW and up the hill whence Basking shark are sighted in the autumn, to drive down to the old shark fishing station in a pretty bay. There are cliffs on the other side of one man's walk - rope yourselves if you climb 2000 ft up the hill in front of you because of the wind on the ridge.
Return to Achill sound via the northern route past the hill village which was deserted during the famine... Turn north to Bangor Erris where the road through Crossmolina leads to Ballina and Temple House via Tubbercurry. [Bangor Erris to TH = 1 1/2 hours]

Temple House - Clifden, Connemara - Temple House

Your destination is Clifden Connemara. The western wonderland of Europe where rugged mountains soar above wild Atlantic beaches. In Connemara every month of the year has its own special magic.

Departing from TH head straight for Cong. N17 to Charlestown then Claremorris, and Cong. You were driving, now you are touring.Head for Maam and then Clifden - Louisboug - Westport and back to TH.

5 hours driving at a leisurely pace plus time for stops, etc.

Touring Sligo - Discover Sligo has a useful guides for you www.discoversligo.com

Of course, we would be delighted to make other suggestions for some driving tours. South Donegal and parts of Mayo are very achievable in a day. And we’ll get you back here in time for dinner.

Telephone: +353 71 9183329

Temple House, Ballymote, Co. Sligo, Ireland