What this place lacks in hype it makes up for in substance. About 4000+ hectares of natural beauty that coversmountains, coastlines, bogs, heaths, grasslands and forests is untouched by man. The star attractions here are the purple moor grass that swathes the land with color; in winter, the landscape is shrouded in snow. Even if you don’t get out of the car, the drive itself is too scenic for words. That’s not all you’ll find; there’s remnants of old settlements – villages centuries old and megalithic tombs about four millennium old.

The ecosystem isn’t lacking either; the many carnivorous plants (sundew, butterwort trap_ that must survive on insects instead of the nutrient-poor bog-land; the beautiful and plentiful birdlife (Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, European Stonechats, Common Chaffinches, European Robins; Eurasian Wrens, Common Kestrel. Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, Woodcock, Common Snipe, Common Starling, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing Fieldfare); and the Connemara Pony.

There are numerous and popular picnic spots, winding nature trails, breath-taking mountain views, the Diamond Hill walks (get to the top, seriously; every Galway travel guide recommends it, and with good reason), a pretty children’s playground and even a classing tea-room at the visitor centre with hugely popular items on the menu. The visitor centre also has an exhibit: Man and the Landscape.

• Visitor centre not open during winter.
• Parking is at the waterfronts, about 3-4 blocks away.
• No visitor centre charge.
• Wear comfortable footwear.

• The entrance to the park is along the N59 near the village of Letterfrack.

• Tea Room at the Visitor centre; a picnic you packed.

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