48 hours in Clifden, Ireland

City break guide to 48 hours in Clifden, Ireland

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Clifden, Ireland

Located on the Wild Atlantic Way and only a short drive north of Galway, Clifden is a cute town suitable as a stop along your Wild Atlantic Way roadtrip or as a destination for a relaxing city break.

Stay

Fernwood

@meganmedlock

Take advantage of the lux, private lakeside sauna to end your day

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Aesthetic: designed, thoughtful, modern

Room: cozy, comfortable, quiet

Amenities: sauna, forest trails, micro kitchen

The property offers appointments for use of the lake-side sauna and cold-plunge for a small fee, which we took advantage of both nights of our stay. The cold-plunge and outdoor shower are river fed and it was chilly! Luckily the sauna brought our core temps up fast. Towels were provided at the sauna.

The dome itself had an easy to use wood burning fireplace, mini-fridge, microwave, hot plate, and basic cooking supplies, eating ware and glassware. The bathroom had a large shower, no tub, and provided combination body wash and shampoo and plentiful hot water.

Great for: romantic getaways, rest & relaxation city breaks, or a luxuriously peaceful stop on your Wild Atlantic Way journey.

Eat

Guys Bar Clifden

@meganmedlock

Pick up a takeaway pizza and head back to Fernwood for a romantic fireside dinner

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The Lamplight Wines

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In addition to selling glasses and tapas, there is a small bottle shop where you can pick up a bottle to enjoy back at the Fernwood dome

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Lowry's Bar

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Classic pub for a pre-dinner drink

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The Coffee Corral

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Legit pick me up when you are out and about for the day

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Mitchell's Restaurant

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Reservations are necessary! Wonderful local seafood options

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Steam Restaurant

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Cute breakfast spot

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Activities

Fernwood

@meganmedlock

Take advantage of the lux, private lakeside sauna to end your day

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- By appointment lakeside sauna and cold plunge for guests only

Clifden Castle

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After a short walk through the old castle gate, explore these castle ruins and enjoy a great view of the bay

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Sky Road

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Vista viewpoint a couple kilometers from Clifden Castle offers sweeping views of the bay

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Eyrephort Beach

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Down a small, narrow country road lies a beach with crystal blue waters and powder white sand. Great for a coastal stroll.

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What to Pack

Swimsuit

Lounge clothes

Warm, waterproof layer

Shoes you don't mind getting muddy

Adventure clothes for siteseeing

Toiletries

A good book

Optional: journal, camera, other reflection tools

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Medlock | @travel_well.co

When I was growing up I used to rip apart copies of National Geographic and tape photos of the world up on my walls. Daydreaming of sipping a coffee at a Paris cafe, climbing the Giza Pyramids, and experiencing life outside of California, I never thought it would be possible. That all changed in my 30s. I found myself in a career that gave me the financial ability to start traveling and slowly the world opened up. From spending a birthday in Paris surrounded by a handful of friends, to later relocating to Dublin, Ireland for a job that had me off to Singapore and San Francisco frequently, I found a love of trips short and long. Currently located in Ireland, it’s easy for me to pop away for a long weekend to many places and I even had the pleasure of being completely remote in Thailand for a whole month. I hope these guides take some of the perfectionist stress out of planning a precious (but well deserved!) trip of a lifetime. We only get so many days off and my goal is to remove the “checklist” vacation and replace it with one that is nourishing to your soul for whatever it is you need. What you can find here: travel guides focused on balancing rest, relaxation & reflection with seeing the sites and experiencing other cultures and ways of life. What’s the point of getting away from it all when you come back worse off than when you left?

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Clifden, County Galway, Ireland