A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK, IRELAND

When doing research for my Ireland road trip itinerary, one of the experiences I was looking forward to the most was the Diamond Hill hike in the Connemara National Park.

Nestled in the heart of County Galway lies the Connemara National Park, one of the six natural parks in Ireland and home to some of the best hiking trails in the country, including the scenic Lower and Upper Diamond Hill trails.

Covering a whopping 2.000 hectares, the park houses a wide variety of natural features, including bogs, rolling hills, heathland and rocky mountain ranges, with Diamond Hill and the stunning Twelve Bens range at the core of it all.

By far the best way to sample all these stunning and diverse landscapes is by taking on the manageable 7,6-kilometre hiking trail to the summit of Diamond Hill.

My in-depth guide to the Diamond Hill hike in the Connemara National Park offers all the essentials to have an unforgettable experience – plus some of my favourite hiking tips too.

Where is the Connemara National Park

Covering a total of 2.000 hectares, the Connemara National Park is nestled in the heart of County Galway in the West of Ireland.

The entrance of the park itself is located on the Clifden side of Letterfrack, about 1,5 hour drive away from Galway.

Connemara National Park entrance fee

Situated in Letterfrack, a small village just off the N59, is the Connemara National Park visitor centre, your first point of call when it comes to information about the park.

At the moment of writing (March 22’), there’s no entrance fee for those visiting the Connemara National Park. On top of that, the parking area is also completely free of use.

Opening hours of the Connemara National Park

In general, the Connemara National Park is open every day with no fixed opening hours.

However, given the ever-changing weather conditions in Ireland, the park closes for safety purposes when the weather warnings turn orange or red.

To avoid unexpected surprises, I’d highly recommend keeping an eye on the weather warnings, before planning a trip to the park.

How to get to Connemara National Park

CAR | As with most tourist highlights in Ireland, the best way to get to the Connemara National Park is as part of a road trip.

By renting a car, you’ll have all the freedom to get to the park on your own terms, while it’s also significantly easier to get around the country in general.

If you’re thinking of renting a car yourself, make sure you check out rentalcars.com, as they have a broad range of cars on offer, additional insurance options, and brilliant overall service.

Upon arrival at the Connemara National Park, you’ll have ​​free parking facilities

TOUR | Another great way to visit the Connemara National Park, is by joining this full-day guided tour from Galway.

What makes this tour interesting, is that you’ll be guided by an experienced local guide, who tells you about the region’s intriguing traditions, music, and language.

Add to that, that you have enough free time to explore the park and hike to the summit of Diamond Hill, and this tour is a great option for those without a rental car.

BUS | Alternatively, the Connemara National Park is also reached by public bus from both Galway and Westport.

For the route from Galway, jump aboard ​​bus 923 in the direction of Letterfrack. For tickets and timetables, visit the official Citylink website. The journey takes around 1 hour and 50 minutes.

From Westport, opt for bus 423 operated by Bus Eireann with end destination Letterfrack. For tickets and timetables, visit the official Bus Eireann website. The journey takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Lower Diamond Hill Trail

The first section of the famous Diamond Hill hike starts with the Lower Diamond Hill Trail, an easy-to-follow path that brings you along bogs, heaths, grasslands and forest.

Starting at the Connemara National Park visitor centre, the Lower Diamond Hill Trail is relatively short and it takes only 1,5 kilometres before it blends with the Upper Diamond Hill trail.

Depending on your fitness level, you can choose to continue the loop back in the direction of the visitor centre, or opt for a challenge, and hike to the summit of Diamond Hill via the Upper trail.

Upper Diamond Hill Trail

Upon arrival at the Upper Diamond Hill Trail, you’ll immediately notice the views, as they get better and better with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding region.

Though this part of the trail starts relatively easy, with comfortable boardwalks, it doesn’t take long before you stumble upon a dusty road that prepares you for the first real climb of the hike.

After about 20 minutes, you’ll come to the point where rocky stairs will lead you to the summit of Diamond Hill at 442m above sea level.

The final section of the trail is pretty steep and a tad sketchy, so make sure you take proper safety precautions, especially if it’s windy. Also, the summit is completely exposed, so be careful at all times.

Once arrived at the summit of Diamond Hill, you’ll be welcomed by the most stunning views of the Twelve Bens, a stunningly beautiful mountain range, with the Benbaun (729m) as its highest point.

How to wrap up the Diamond Hill trail

After taking a short lunch break while taking in the incredible views from the top of Diamond Hill, it’s time to continue the hike.

Since the Diamond Hill trail is a loop walk, it’s pretty straightforward to get back to the visitors centre with a clear paved path down the backside of the hill.

Once you’ve finished the descent, the trail flattens out and takes you back to the visitors centre in Letterfrack in about 3,5 kilometres.

While this section of the hike sounds like a quick go-to-your-car route, it actually offers some insane views of the Atlantic, as well as the encircling surroundings.

Where to stay near Connemara National Park

While visiting the Connemara National Park is an absolute must, there isn’t necessarily much else to do near the park.

For that reason, the Connemara National Park is best visited as part of a road trip through Ireland, meaning I’d recommend basing yourself in one of the region’s more popular cities of Galway or Westport, depending on the direction of your road trip itinerary.

To help you find the right accommodation, I’ve listed two excellent options per city below;

Galway

The Continental Boutique Residence | An excellent hotel suitable for solo travellers and families alike. Rooms are modern, clean and spacious, and are equipt with all the necessities. Continental Boutique Residence is also located only a stone’s throw away from the Galway city centre, which makes it one of the best budget-friendly picks in Galway.

The Lane – Boutique Residence | Another excellent budget-friendly option, the Lane – Boutique Residence is situated in the heart of Galway at only a 2-minute walk from Eyre Square. With spacious boutique-style rooms, comfortable double beds and a private bathroom with rainshower, this hotel is an excellent value for the money.

Westport

Westport Country Lodge Hotel | Situated in the historic village of Aughagower, at 5 minutes drive from Westport, this hotel combines elegant design with modern-day luxury and comfort. Doubles starting at only €81,- per night makes this one of the best options nearby Connemara.

The Wyatt Hotel | This excellent hotel is set within the heart of Westport and offers stylish and comfortable rooms, as well as free access to the Westport Leisure Park where you can use the swimming pool, hot tub and sauna. So, if you’re after a tad more comfort, look no further.

Best time of day to visit the Connemara National Park

Though you could visit the Connemara National Park at any time of day, I’d highly recommend visiting in the morning, especially if you’re planning to hike up to the summit of Diamond Hill.

As with any hike, the best time to start is usually about an hour before the sun rises.

I hiked Diamond Hill in Connemara in the morning and arrived at the summit just before the sun enlightened the Twelve Bens range in the distance – it was magnificent.

If you’re not quite an early bird, don’t worry, the Connemara National Park is also perfectly suitable for an afternoon visit.

Best time of year to visit the Connemara National Park

This one is rather tricky/though, given the weather conditions tend to change relatively quickly in Ireland, meaning all four seasons could occur in one day, no matter the time of year.

Having said that, I believe the best time to visit the Connemara National Park is from May to Augustus, when the weather is great and the days lengthy for explorations around the park.

Additionally, opt for the shoulder months of March to May or September to November. During this time it’s significantly less crowded in comparison to the peak summer months, but still comfortable enough to do the hike to the summit of Diamond Hill.

What to pack for the Connemara National Park hike

Before you start the Diamond Hill trail in the Connemara National Park, I believe it’s essential that you’re well prepared. For that reason, I’d highly suggest bringing the following equipment:

A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE | One travel item that I carry with me at all times is the Grayl Geopress. This reusable water purification bottle allows me to fill up water from almost every water source, which makes it one of my best investments to date.

HIKING BOOTS OR A GOOD PAIR OF SNEAKERS | While hiking boots definitely provide more stability to your ankles, I believe you could easily hike Diamond Hill Connemara in a good pair of sneakers – just be sure that they have a firm sole with enough grip, so you’re supported when things get slippery.

LAYERS | Since the weather in Ireland is rather unpredictable, wearing layers is essential. While I had excellent weather during my visit, my hoodie and raincoat weren’t an unnecessary luxury, especially at the windy summit of Diamond Hill.

SNACKS | Whilst you can buy snacks and drinks at the Connemara Visitors Centre, I’d highly recommend bringing some fruits, nuts and protein bars to fuel yourself during the hike. Additionally, take enough cash to grab a coffee or a few snacks after the hike.

HIKING POLES | I did the Diamond Hill hike without hiking poles, but if you have weaker knees or prefer a little support during the more ascents and descents of the trail, I’d highly advise bringing a set of quality hiking poles. These Montem Ultra Strong Hiking Poles are light, collapsible, and a great value for the price.

CAMERA GEAR | If you’re into photography like me, don’t mind bringing your camera gear, as the Connemara National Park offers some of the best scenery in the region. I was glad to bring my drone with me, and captured some stunning shots – PS, see what’s in my camera bag.

SAFETY IN IRELAND | TRAVEL INSURANCE

Since travelling in Ireland is all about the outdoors, I recommend everyone to sort out good travel insurance before setting out on their own road trip adventure.

Where we prefer that everything goes smoothly during our travels, something unfortunate can happen at any moment, whether it’s an injury during a hike, a stolen camera, or an accident on the road.

For travel insurance, I use Heymondo, as they offer full covid-19 coverage, as well as a handy app with 24-hour medical assistance. Make sure you check it out – readers of WTSW receive 5% off any insurance policy too. Additionally, I also recommend World Nomads.