My Hiking Guide for Diamond Hill at Connemara National Park
If you’re an outdoors lover, you’re spoiled for options when visiting Ireland. It seems like everywhere you go you’re treated to one fantastic landscape after another. In my opinion, the absolute best of these views that I saw is in Connemara National Park.
We visited Connemara National Park on our second day in Galway. Our plan was to get away from the busy city to see some of Ireland’s famed natural scenery from our car and then to hike up Connemara’s Diamond Hill. By the time we were done, we wished we would have had more time in Connemara National Park and less time in Galway!
Updated July 2024
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Start of Your Hike
You start the hike at the visitor center. The hike is a loop consisting of a lower loop and upper loop. You could just do the lower loop, but you should plan to do both unless you’re physically unable to do the somewhat more strenuous upper loop.
The trail starts with a gentle uphill climb that takes you to a fenced area containing cattle and donkeys. When we visited there were calves nursing and the two donkeys (whose names I later learned are Annabelle and Isabelle) seemed to be cuddling. It was a lovely way to start the hike. If the animals are out, stop to say hi for a couple minutes before continuing your hike.
From here, the trail continues its gradual climb up over gravel paths and the occasional boardwalk. You’ll pass boggy landscapes and the random large rock. Otherwise, the very beginning is a bit boring, but don’t let that discourage you.
After around a half mile, start taking time to look behind you. Even though the hike doesn’t feel too steep, you’ll climb enough by this point to see some fantastic views of Barnaderg Bay. You’ll want to stop every few minutes to look back and see what new views the climb up the hill gives you.
The other main thing to see as you hike the lower loop is the peak of Diamond Hill gradually coming into focus. It’s a bare, rocky hilltop that is stunning in how much it sticks out in the boggy landscape.
Eventually, you’ll come to an intersection marked by a large vertical boulder. You can either turn left to continue to the upper loop or keep straight to finish the lower loop. The rest of the lower loop is mostly a gradual descent through more boggy terrain. It’s barren land, yet kind of attractive in its own way.
Connemara National Park’s Upper Diamond Hill
| Length: | 4.2 miles |
| Elevation Gain: | 1,348 feet |
| Time: | 2.5-3 hours |
| Difficulty: | Moderate but more strenuous near the top |
The Ascent
The lower loop is fun, but the star of this hike is the upper loop. It’s more challenging, with steeper inclines and some tame rock terrain but still manageable for most people.
Once you turn away from the intersection with the lower loop, the trail pretty quickly starts to get more steep. The tradeoff is the views of the bay behind you get even more impressive and the Twelve Bens start to come into focus ahead to your right. Make sure you take advantage of the many spots to stop and take in the scenery.
Before too long, you come to the difficult part of this hike. You’re almost at the peak, but first you have to negotiate some steep, rocky climbs. They aren’t quite what I would call a scramble. Still, they aren’t particularly easy and require your attention so you don’t lose your footing.
Personally, I found this section a lot of fun. It elevated this hike from a very good hike with great views to one of my all-time favorite hikes.
If you have mobility impairments, you may want to skip this loop because some of the trail towards the top gets a little treacherous. As long as mobility isn’t an issue, you definitely should proceed to the upper loop!
Diamond Hill’s Peak
Once you’re at the peak, you’ll see why I said that the upper loop is the star of the hike. The views from here are astonishing. When I imagined what Ireland looked like before our trip, this was it. Clamber to the top of the boulders at the peak to really take it all in.
Every direction you look is remarkable. Down to your left is Kylemore Abbey and Pollacappul Lough. In front of you to the right are the Twelve Bens with a stream slowly cutting through the mountains on its way down into Polladirk Valley. Behind you are more views of Barnaderg Bay.
It’s all so remote, desolate and absolutely beautiful. After spending our first day in Ireland drinking around Galway, I felt like I really arrived in the country while standing atop Diamond Hill.
The Descent
After you’ve had your fill of these landscapes you can start making your way back down towards the lower loop. Nothing can beat the views from the peak, but I encourage you to take your time to observe the Polladirk Valley below from various angles and distances. This valley was my favorite part of the whole hike. There was just something about that stream as it wound its way through the mountains peaks and valley that was so majestic.
The hike itself as you come down from the peak is generally pretty easy. It is kind of steep initially, but asides from this it’s just a gradual descent. The main thing you need to look out for is sheep scat as there are sheep grazing through here.
After Your Hike
Once you’re done with your hike, check out the small town of Letterfrack for a quick meal. There are a few dining options located around the main intersection in town. They all looked good and the smells emanating from Cloverfox Connemara in particular smelled great.
We wanted lighter fare, so we walked across the road to Kabo Café. Kabo’s is a cute little café with soup, sandwiches, burgers and various breakfast items. There are a few tables inside, but these were closed to patrons when we visited due to COVID-19 restrictions. They do have outdoor seating weather permitting.
I had an open sandwich on sourdough bread with local goat cheese and salad. I’m not a big open sandwich fan but this was very good. The local goat cheese was especially excellent.
Other Things to do in Connemara National Park
Here are some suggestions for things to do in and near Connemara National Park if you’re looking for more to do before heading back to Galway.
Clifden and the Sky Road
Ireland could be called the country of road trips, and here’s another worth checking out while you’re in Connemara National Park. The start and end of the Sky Road loop is located in Clifden, the major town of the region. Along this route you’ll see sweeping views of Ireland’s west coast and get to drive near the ruins of Clifden Castle.
The drive itself is only 9.5 miles long. However, it will take about 20 minutes to get to Clifden from Connemara National Park.
Connemara Loop Drive
Ireland is no stranger to the scenic road trip like the Slea Head Drive around Dingle, and Connemara is no different. If you have extra time to see more of the local countryside before or after your hike, the Connemara Loop Drive is a good option. I would have loved to do this drive, but since we only had two days in Galway, we wanted to maximize our time in the city.
The 50-mile loop drive will actually take you past the two locations listed below and the park entrance. In addition to these, you’ll also see various archeological and historic sites, beaches, fishing villages, and other sights.
Killary Fjord
Killary Fjord is one of only three glacial fjords in Ireland. The fjord is a short 15-20-minute drive east from Letterfrack along N59 towards Leelane.
You can take a river cruise with Killary Fjord Boat Tours through the fjord for comfortable views of the local scenery from the water. Additionally, there is a greenway that runs along the fjord if you prefer to walk. The walkway will also take you through an abandoned famine village to see how locals lived during the potato famine.
Kylemore Abbey
If you’re driving from Galway, you’ll first spot Kylemore Abbey as you drive towards the park along N59. About three miles away from the park, you can see the abbey on the opposite side of a lake looking like a miniature Hogwarts. It’s a wondrous sight. Just make sure to be prepared and keep your eyes peeled because just as quickly as the abbey comes into view, it will disappear behind trees.
If the views from the road and Diamond Hill’s peak aren’t enough, you can purchase tickets to tour the abbey and its grounds.
Amenities at Connemara National Park’s Diamond Hill
There aren’t many amenities, which is fine because you’re here to hike. The two main amenities worth mentioning are the visitors center and a tearoom.
When we visited, the visitors center was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. When open, it offers an exhibition on the Connemara landscape and a 15-minute film about the park.
The tearoom offers tea, coffee and light refreshments for before or after your hike. There are picnic tables and a playground located here, as well.
There is also wild camping to be found at the park.
Getting to Connemara National Park
The closest major city to Connemara National Park is Galway, making it an excellent trip for a short break from the city. Because of that, everything here is written under the assumption that you are coming from Galway.
The quickest way to the park is via N59 north out of Galway:
- Continue on N59 for about 34 miles until you reach the intersection with R344
- Turn right on to R344 for 9.2 miles
- Take the left back on to N59 and continue for 5.4 miles until you reach Letterfrack
- At the main intersection in Letterfrack (just past Molly’s Bar on your right), turn left on to L1101
Be careful if you’re using a GPS unit. Ours tried to have us take a random right turn a few miles before R344 that would have added time to the drive. We suspected something was wrong, and fortunately had a phone signal so we were able turn on our phone’s GPS to help reorient us.
Without stopping, the entire drive will take about 90 minutes. However, along the way you’ll drive past roving sheep on the side of the road, serene lakes, Kylemore Abbey and the magnificent Twelve Bens (or Pins) mountain range coming into view as you approach Connemara.
In other words, you will likely be making at least a couple stops to take in the views. Much of it is not part of any established scenic drive, but it was such beautiful landscape that the drive itself was almost worth the time alone.
You could also drive to the park via the Connemara Loop Drive if you want to make an entire day trip out of your hike.
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