Seven nights in Irish castles, from Shannon to Cong

Fly into Shannon, fly home from Knock, and in between sleep somewhere with battlements every night. The drive is short enough that you are never more than two hours in the car.

This route follows the west coast north through Clare, Galway and Mayo. It uses five castle hotels and pairs each leg with a castle you can walk around by day. Distances are approximate road distances.

The planSeven nights, five castles

Nights 1–2 · Co. Clare · 15 km from ShannonDromoland Castle

Start slow. Dromoland is fifteen minutes from the arrivals hall, and it was the seat of the O’Briens, descendants of Brian Boru. The present castle dates from 1835 and has its own golf course, a falconry and a spa.

On the second day drive 11 km to Bunratty Castle, completed by the MacNamaras around 1450 and later the chief O’Brien seat. Its great hall still hosts medieval banquets in the evening.

Night 3 · The Burren · about 55 kmGregans Castle Hotel

North through Corofin into the Burren, the limestone country above Galway Bay. Gregans is an 18th-century manor rather than a fortress, but its view over the Burren to the bay is one of the best from any bedroom in Ireland, and the kitchen is the reason most people come.

Twenty minutes east, Dunguaire Castle stands on the shore at Kinvara: the O’Hynes’ tower house of 1520.

Night 4 · Connemara · about 120 kmBallynahinch Castle

The longest drive of the week, through Galway city and out along the lakes into Connemara. Ballynahinch sits under the Twelve Bens on 450 acres with its own salmon fishery. Arrive in time to walk the river before dinner by the fire.

On the way, County Galway’s guide covers Aughnanure, the O’Flaherty tower house on Lough Corrib, which is a short detour off the N59 at Oughterard.

Night 5 · Clifden · about 20 kmAbbeyglen Castle

A short hop west to Clifden. Abbeyglen sits above the town on the Sky Road, the 11 km loop that runs out along the cliffs toward the Atlantic and back. Drive it at sunset. The hotel is known for its sociable piano bar.

Nights 6–7 · Co. Mayo · about 75 kmAshford Castle

Finish with two nights at the grandest of them. Ashford was founded by the de Burgo family in 1228, owned by the Guinness family from 1852 and has been a hotel since 1939. It sits on 350 acres on Lough Corrib, and Ireland’s School of Falconry is in the grounds: book a hawk walk.

From Cong it is about 70 km to Ireland West Airport Knock for the flight home.

Before you bookA few practical notes

• Book Ashford and Dromoland first: in July and August they fill months ahead.
• Rates above are approximate starting prices per room per night and change by season.
• The roads in Connemara are narrow. Allow more time than the distance suggests.
• Every stay booked through Ireland Castle Hotels funds one verified tonne of carbon removal, via IMPT.