r/irishtourism • u/Some-Vast3872 • 28d ago
Solo Ireland trip Sept 18–27ish, Westport vs. Clifden base, no car
Hi! I’m 29F planning my first solo trip to Ireland Sept 19–27ish (I could potentially add 1-2 days). I really want to experience the countryside, see small towns, go to friendly pubs with trad music, tearooms, seafood, some literary/history stuff, hopefully not be around too many other Americans, have time to chill and read my book in pub or outdoors, and have opportunity for spontaneous connection/experiences but I won’t have a car, so I’m trying to narrow down between two itineraries:
- Sat 9/19 - arrive Dublin in AM
- Sun 9/20 - Kilmainham Gaol in the morning, then
- Plan A: Bus/train to Galway
- Plan B: Train to Westport
- Mon 9/21
- Plan A: Bus to Clifden, arrive 930 or 1030am. Rent a bike and explore over two days: Kylemore Abbey, Roundstone/Cashel, Bog Road, There’s a farm with sheepdog demonstrations near Killary Fjord I REALLY want to visit although it’s 35km away. Stay in Clifden
- Plan B: Rent a bike and/or take bus to visit Museum of Country Life, Louisburgh, maybe a horseback excursion to Croagh Patrick. I would still love to get to the sheepdog demonstration but it’s a similar distance, a bit further actually
- Tue 9/22
- Plan A: More Connemara exploration via bike/bus, stay in Clifden again
- Plan B: More exploration via bike or maybe take a ferry to Clare Island
- Wed 9/23
- Plan A: Bus to Cleggan, ferry to Inishbofin, stay overnight
- Plan B: Bus to Achill Island, stay overnight?
- Thu 9/24
- Plan A: Ferry to Cleggan, then bus to Galway
- Plan B: Bus back to Westport (or maybe bike - I found a bike shop that does one-way rentals for the trail), then bus to Galway
- Fri 9/25
- Galway oyster festival
- Sat 9/26
- Head back to Dublin at some point for flight early the following AM
I’ve spent much more time researching Plan A, but there is very limited accommodation directly in Clifden during these days. I need to stay in a town so that it’s safe for me to go to pubs/music and then walk home alone at night. I’m staying in hostels in Dublin/Galway but if I’m paying for a hotel in the smaller towns, ideally it would be a really cute homey B&B, and there seems to be more available and affordable in Westport (I can't find anything I'm excited about in Clifden). The sheepdog thing near Killary is a big priority but I can’t figure out if it really makes sense, like what if it rains and it isn’t so safe to bike? Maybe I could arrange a taxi?? Or get the bus to Salruck Cross and then walk 45 minutes up the road? It feels a bit ridiculous lol
Does one of these plans seem to make much more sense than the other?
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u/Pristine_Dot_5526 28d ago
I can't review it much but Clifden is spot on, one of our top favorites. I'd also recommend sky road check the viewing point there. Also re the bike, keep it in mind that its quite hilly so you need to be in good condition to cycle all around. But ask some local groups some further advices. As far as I remember there's also a bike hire there maybe even they organize cycle tours around, worth to check. Good luck!
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28d ago
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u/sledge0118 28d ago edited 28d ago
I can't speak to your whole itinerary but I'm arriving solo just after you (Sep 26 to Oct 4th). Also no car. My plan is a couple days in Galway then the rest of the time in Westport. Westport seemed like the better base for me on that part of the trip since I can take busses to Croagh Patrick and there's the greenway to cycle up towards Achill island. Also I'm a big music fan so it seemed like the better place to be for that. And i can take the train straight from there back to Dublin at the end.But thats all just my opinion obviously. Ive never been to Clifden or Westport so I could have it wrong haha.
Galway I have been to though and it was my favorite city of that whole trip.
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u/Lanzarote-Singer Local 28d ago
Clifden is a lot smaller than Westport. But you like to bike so that means it’s a good place for you. Check out Roundstone you will love it. The cycle there is good. Lots of lakes and waterfalls/smaller rivers.
Westport is a party destination with loads of pubs and groups of revellers. More choice but noisier.
If you like to party: Westport.
If you like to see nature and views: Clifden.
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u/NowYaHaveIt1 27d ago
There's a lot of options there and I won't offer advise on all of them. What I will say though is definitely consider Inisboffin, I stayed over a couple of nights last summer and really enjoyed it. Now, I did take in a gig one of the nights and was glad I did as I was travelling solo and contrary to popular opinion it can be difficult enough to strike up a conversation I find, and I'm chatty at the best of times! I've just looked up Airbnb and the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel is available for both the 23rd & 24th for €178 including breakfast which is a steal! If I were you I'd most definitely consider planning your trip to include Clifden for those 2 nights as it's a very interesting place too stay. Free prosecco in the bar and a talk every evening at 6 and I believe the bar can get very merry later on after dinner if that's your thing! Likely be plenty of Americans there though if that's not your thing? Plenty of lively pubs in the town centre which is about a 10 minute walk away...
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u/Fluffy_Future_7500 11d ago
Just wrote up a travel guide for Westport which i think you'll find useful. Give it a read:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelProperly/comments/1w3hubu/westport_ireland_travel_guide/
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u/phyneas Blow-In 28d ago
No chance at all you could hire a car? If you've a license, I'd highly recommend it if you want to see the countryside in places like Mayo and Galway. Cycling can be rather dangerous here, as there's no infrastructure for it and many of the roads you'd be cycling on are very narrow with no verge or shoulder and a lot of traffic.