Activities in Roundstone
Roundstone Beaches
Gurteen Beach
Gurteen Beach is the larger of the two and the closer to Roundstone. The water is crystal clear and it is very safe for swimming and other water based activities. It is naturally protected by the headland which it faces to the south and it is a popular destination for holiday makers in the summertime.
Dogs Bay
Dog’s Bay faces due west. It is famous for its Foraminiferal Sands which are made of millions of microscopic shells. It is a stunning beach with its bright white sands and crystal blue water.
Since 1991 the dunes separating Gurteen Beach from Dog’s Bay have been the focus of intensive efforts to plant Mar ram Grass to stem coastal erosion. Visitors are requested to respect the signs restricting access to the dunes. The wild headland which stretches out into the Atlantic between the two beaches is an area of great beauty and is a fantastic walk where you will be surrounded by water on three sides.
Errisbeg
Errisbeg Mountain (298metres) is located to the west of Roundstone Village. It is the only significant hill along this section of Coastline. Errrisbeg has been described as a botanist’s delight as there are many wild flowers, rare to this country, found on its slopes. The pleasant walk from Roundstone village to the top takes about two hours. From the summit there are wonderful views of The Twelve Bens to the North East, and the Atlantic Ocean and its islands to the South and West. To the north you will marvel at the lake strewn Roundstone Bog complex which is an area of scientific importance.
To get there just turn right out of the Buneris driveway and take the right again at the crossroads heading away from the village. Continue straight ahead for a mile until the road ends. Go through the gate and follow the rough track leading to the summit.
The Michael Killeen Park
The Michael Killeen Park, or I.D.A Park as it is known locally, is a small craft centre with various factory shops selling everything from Jewellery to Sweaters. It is located about 5 mins walk from the centre of Roundstone on the road to Ballyconneely.
The park was built on the grounds of an old Franciscan monastery that was first established in 1835. The Franciscan monks left the monastery in the mid 1970’s. The monastery was bought by the Irish Development Authority (I.D.A) and it was then demolished in 1980 to make way for a small housing development and craft centre. The I.D.A Carried out the project as a pilot scheme for job creation in rural maritime areas, which, for demographic or other reasons, were unsuited to more conventional forms of industrial activity. Small factories and workshops were built alongside a housing development in order to facilitate workers and entrepreneurs to bring suitable projects to the centre. Today three of the four workshops are now occupied; Roundstone Musical Instruments manufacture a range of musical instruments and souvenir shop, Roundstone Ceramics make hand made Pottery and The House of Magoide sell jewellery and gifts.
The bell tower in the centre of the park and the old monastery walls surrounding it are the last remaining features of the old monastery.
Fishing
For Decades Fishing was the primary industry in Roundstone. With its naturally sheltered harbour and easy access to the open waters it was a Fishing centre for much of the last two centuries. Now, however, the commercial fishing industry has changed a lot over the years and it is not the prominent base that it used to be. It still has a small fishing fleet concentrating mainly on Cod, Haddock, Plaice, Crab, Shrimp and Lobster. It can offer plenty of good coastal fishing sites along its rocky and sandy shoreline. Roundstone harbour has an abundance of Mackerel shoals in the summer. Dog’s Bay and Gurteen beaches are good for flatfish while the headland further out offers good fishing for Pollack, Gurnard and Conger eel. A boat can be chartered for a days fishing from the harbour in Roundstone village and will bring you to excellent Cod, Ling, Ray, Mackerel, Wrasse, Turbot, dogfish and even Shark locations.
There are numerous rivers and lakes around Roundstone which offer the fresh water angler opportunities to catch Salmon, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Eels. Permits have to be obtained in order to fish some of the lakes and rivers, more information can be found at G. Stanley & Son, Market Street, Clifden.
Walking
Roundstone walks & cycling routes are available from the Roundstone House Hotel (Vaughan’s).
If you feel like stretching your legs, head to the town of Leenane, which is the start of any number of exhilarating walks. One of the best takes you to the picturesque Aasleagh Waterfall (Eas Liath) east of the Killary Harbor. Another walk around that harbor, Ireland's only fjord, follows the Green Road. It was once the primary route from the Rinvyle Peninsula to Leenane, and is now largely a sheep track. The path passes a ghost town (an abandoned prefamine village) on the far side of the harbor, where the fields rise at a devilishly steep slope from the ruined cottages clustered at the water's edge. There are excellent walking trails in the Connemara National Park, some of which lead up the sides of the Twelve Bens. You can get maps at the park's visitor center.
Lough Inagh & the Walk to Maum Ean Oratory -- Lough Inagh, nestled between the Maumturk and the Twelve Bens mountains in the heart of Connemara, is in a spectacularly beautiful valley, where mountain slopes rise precipitously from the valley floor and small streams cascade into the lake in a series of sparkling waterfalls. The R344 cuts through the valley, linking Recess to the south and Kylemore Lake to the north.
The Western Way, a walking route that traverses the high country of Galway and Mayo, follows a quiet country road above the R344 through the Lough Inagh Valley. To reach the beginning of the walk, drive north on the R344, turning right on a side road -- sign for Maum Ean -- about 200m (656 ft.) before the Lough Inagh Lodge Hotel. Continue on this side road for about 6km (3 3/4 miles) to a large gravel parking lot on the left. Park here, and follow the well-worn trail 2km (1.3 miles) to the top of the pass, through glorious mountain scenery.
This short (4km/2.5-mile) walk follows the Western Way to the top of a mountain pass that has long been associated with St. Patrick and is now the site of a small oratory, a hollow in the rock known as Patrick's Bed, a life-size statue of the saint, and a series of cairns marking the Stations of the Cross. Together, these monuments make a striking ensemble, strangely eerie when the mists descend and conceal the far slopes in their shifting haze. On a clear day, there are great views from here, with the Atlantic Ocean and Bertraghboy Bay to the southwest and another range of mountains to the northeast. The round-trip walking time is about 1 hour.
Activities in Connemara
The Twelve Pins / The Twelve Bens
Located North East of Roundstone village, The twelve Pins (or Bens) are a group of small mountains that are the dominant feature of the Connemara countryside. They are easily accessible from the N59 or from the villages of Letterfrack or Recess. While they are not particularly high, 730 metres is the highest peak, they provide excellent walking and climbing opportunities for the outdoor enthuasiast. They are very safe and you do not have to be an experienced climber to enjoy the wonderful scenery that you will be rewarded with. As with all Hill walking it is recommended to take precautions with safety and respect the lands upon which you are travelling through.
The Connemara National Park covers some 2,000 hectares of scenic countryside in the foothills of the Twelve Bens.
Opened in 1980, the Park Visitor Centre at Letterfrack, Co. Galway, includes an exhibition on the boglands of the West of Ireland, an audio-visual introduction to the Park and nature trails. A summer programme includes nature mornings for children and guided walks. The centre is fully wheelchair accessible.
Bicycling
Bicycles can be rented year-round from Mannion Cycles, Bridge Street, Clifden, County Galway (tel. 095/21160). The rate for a regular touring bike in high season starts at around €9 ($12) per day. Mountain bikes can be hired from May through October at the Little Killary Adventure Company, Leenane, County Galway (tel. 095/43411; www.killary.com). They go for €20 ($26) per day, and road bikes for €14 ($18) per day. If you'd like to plan a holiday around cycling in this part of the country, Irish Cycling Tours (tel. 095/42302; www.irishcyclingtours.com) offers guided and self-guided bike tours.
Diving
You can rent equipment and receive instruction at Scubadive West, Renvyle, County Galway (tel. 095 43922; fax 095 43923; www.scubadivewest.com).
Horseback Riding
See the beaches of Connemara from horseback on a trek with the Cleggan Riding Centre, Clegan, County Galway (tel. 095 44746; www.clegganridingcentre.com). The center offers beach and mountain treks, and the most popular is a 3-hour ride to Omey Island at low tide. Explore with Connemara and Coast Trails, Loughrea, County Galway (tel. 091 841216; www.connemara-trails.com). Rides are for experienced and beginning riders alike.
Connemara Pony -- The donkey is a trademark of this region, and the long-eared creatures still work on many farms. But more famous is the sturdy little horse known as the Connemara pony, the only horse breed native to Ireland (although it's had an infusion of Spanish blood over the centuries). Often raised in tiny fields with limestone pastures, these animals have great stamina and are invaluable for farming and pulling equipment. The Connemara pony is also noted for its gentle temperament, which makes it ideal for children's riding.
Golf
Visitors are welcome at the 18-hole, par-72 championship seaside course of the Connemara Golf Club, Ballyconneely, Clifden, County Galway (tel. 095 23502; www.connemaragolflinks.com), nestled in the heart of Connemara and overlooking the Atlantic. Greens fees vary according to the time of year and day of week.
The Oughterard Golf Club, Oughterard, County Galway (tel. 091/552131), is an 18-hole, par-70 inland course.
Watersports
Hobie Cat sailing and sailboarding can be arranged at the Little Killary Adventure Company, Leenane, County Galway (tel. 095/43411; www.killary.com). Watersports including kayaking, water-skiing, hill and coastal walking, rock climbing, archery, and more are available.