How to Visit Clifden Castle
Read our travel guide on Clifden Castle in Ireland. Includes tips on what to expect, how to get there, parking, where to stay, or when to go.
If your idea of a Wild Atlantic Way road trip includes sweeping views of rural countryside, coastal locations, no crowds, and abandoned castle ruins, Clifden Castle might check all your boxes.
It's located in County Galway near the small town of Clifden, about a 4-hour drive from Dublin.
For us, it was the first sightseeing stop on our journey along Sky Road, which was a lovely scenic detour on our way from Galway to Mayo.
Even though this place is not well-signposted, it's fairly easy to visit via a short 1-kilometer walk from the main road.
So here's everything you should know about Clifden Castle before you go.
Visiting Clifden Castle
We left the town of Clifden early in the morning and slowly made our way toward the first stop on our Sky Road itinerary.
At first, we weren't sure what to expect from this place, as it's not very popular, and most road-trippers just downright skip it.
To us, that sounded like an ideal way to spend a beautiful morning actively while enjoying the serene views of the surrounding countryside.
Trailhead
We reached the small unmarked parking lot in a matter of minutes, changed into our hiking boots, and set off down the trail.
Finding the trailhead was not difficult, as the Clifden Castle trail starting point was a big arched gateway that we could easily spot from the parking area.
Trail
From here, we followed a rather muddy dirt road for about a kilometer all the way to the castle. Even though this was an easy walk, we appreciated the opportunity to stretch our legs so early in the morning.
After heavy rain, the road gets flooded, so bring proper footwear.
The area consisted mostly of farmland with grazing sheep, and the winding trail offered beautiful views of the green pastures and Clifden Bay.
Soon enough, we were able to see Clifden Castle and some standing stones erected too by John D'Arcy in the distance for the first time.
History
The castle area is on private property but is open to visit. This also explains why there are basically no signs and information boards along the way or at the castle.
Luckily, getting lost here is almost impossible, so just follow your nose.
Furthermore, there is plenty of information about Clifden Castle online, so even if you're a history lover, having a guide here is not really needed.
This 19th-century castle was technically a manor house built for John D'Arcy, the founder of the Clifden town.
The house became a home for him and his family for the next several decades.
His son inherited the castle after his death, but the following years were far more tumultuous and included a dwindling income, a crushing mortgage, the Great Famine, and bankruptcy.
The property was then sold to the Eyre family, who used it as a vacation home until 1894.
After following events, including a controversy between locals and a new owner, the ownership was passed eventually to local tenants and was supposed to be held jointly.
Soon the roof and everything that could be sold was stripped away.
Without its roof, windows, and conservation efforts, Clifden Castle quickly declined and fell into disrepair.
Clifden Castle
Despite its current state, the manor house that was designed in the Gothic revival style still keeps its charm and magic.
Even though there are no barriers to prevent you from entering the castle interiors, they should not be entered due to ruinous conditions.
No people were around, which added to the eerie atmosphere and emphasized the feeling of solitude and how life differed two hundred years ago.
It's just a shell of its former glory, but we had fun exploring this area and the small garden in the back nonetheless.
The walk back to our car via the same trail was mostly uphill and slightly more difficult, but the incline was pretty gentle.
Even though the walk is easy enough for most ages and abilities, you need to be extra careful around the castle if you bring kids with you for safety reasons.
Opening Hours
It seems that Clifden Castle has no opening hours. We started early in the morning and didn't encounter any obstacles along the way.
Entrance Fee
There is no entry fee to Clifden Castle.
If you're tired of steep entry fees to places such as Blarney Castle or Bunratty Castle, places such as this one are a perfect addition to every budget Ireland trip.
How Much Time Do I Need
Allow yourself about 40-60 minutes to see Clifden Castle, including the walk from the parking area.
It's about a 10-minute walk each way, and spending 20-30 in the castle area is easy.
When to Go
Clifden Castle can be explored anytime, though some seasons offer a more pleasant experience than others.
Summer, the most popular time when to visit Ireland, is the ideal season to explore Clifden Castle.
The off-season brings cheaper deals and thinner crowds, but the days are often wet and cold.
What to Pack
Even though this was a relatively short walk, we didn't want to underestimate the fickle Irish weather and pulled on our regular hiking clothes.
The trail gets muddy, so make sure also to bring proper hiking shoes.
As it often rains here, a quality rain jacket should also be in your daypack.
If you're still curious about what to pack for Ireland, read this post that includes much more helpful information on this topic.
How to Get There
There are a few ways to get to Clifden Castle, although which one you should opt for depends on how you plan to get around Ireland.
Should you decide on a road trip around Ireland, the best way to get to Clifden Castle is by car.
Car
The nearest town is Clifden, about two kilometers east of the castle.
From Galway, take N59, and the journey shouldn't take more than 90 minutes. The drive via N59 from Westport, which lies in the north, takes about 90 minutes as well.
Once you pass through Clifden, you will connect to Sky Road, which is basically a single-lane road around this small peninsula.
Drive carefully here.
Here you will find more tips for driving in Ireland and renting a car in Ireland.
Travel Resources
When renting a car, we use Rentalcars.com.
Parking
There is no designated parking lot at Clifden Castle, so the only place where you can leave your car is on a small gravel patch just off the road.
It's marked Clifden Castle Parking on Google Maps (here are GPS coordinates: 53.49215, -10.04805) and has limited parking places, though this could be potentially an issue only in the peak season.
Public Transport
Alternatively, you can take a bus to Clifden from either Galway or Westport (Bus Eireann services both routes).
Once there, take a taxi or rent a bike to get to the castle.
The castle is only two kilometers from the town, so you could also walk there.
However, walking on narrow Irish roads with blind corners is less than ideal, and we would avoid it.
Where to Stay
The nearest town is Clifden, which is also an ideal base for touring the entire Connemara region.
Despite its small size, there are plenty of hotels and bed and breakfasts in Clifden. Plus you can find even more places to stay around the town.
Here are tips on some of the best hotels in Clifden.
Budget | Dun Ri Guesthouse - Located in a quiet corner of Clifden, this charming guesthouse features cozy en-suite rooms, homemade breakfast, easy parking, and classic Irish hospitality.
Mid-range | Clifden Station House Hotel - This hotel is located on the site of the former Clifden Railway Station in the town center and offers well-appointed bedrooms, self-catering apartments, and a great restaurant. Free parking is available.
Luxury | Abbeyglen Castle Hotel | Set in lush green gardens just outside Clifden, this romantic hotel has spacious rooms with stunning views, a spa bath, an amazing restaurant, tennis courts, and free private parking.
Staying Safe
Clifden Castle is safe to visit, but only if you use your common sense once you reach the castle grounds.
The structure itself is in a very poor state, and even though you could enter at your own risk, it's better to stay at a safe distance from the crumbling walls.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Ireland.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Is Clifden Castle Worth Visiting?
There are many incredible off-the-beaten-path places to discover, so it's always difficult to determine which you should incorporate into your Ireland road itinerary and which not.
And the list of amazing castles in Ireland is almost endless.
Quite honestly, the lack of crowds, interesting architecture, and beautiful views are the main reasons to visit Clifden Castle in the first place.
If you're driving along Sky Road, then Clifden Castle is worth seeing.
It's definitely no Kylemore Abbey, which we visited later on our journey to Connemara National Park.
But it's a nice little stop away from the crowds and an interesting reminder of the past.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
