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Clifden sits on the Atlantic Coast where the Owenglen River meets the sea, sandwiched between the ocean and the 12 Ben's mountain range. For years this has been a popular place with tourists, due to the variety of things to see and do, the outstanding natural beauty and most importantly of all, the warm and friendly welcome that every one receives.
As well as being the perfect location to explore what Connemara has to offer, Clifden also boasts a good number of restaurants and pubs, all of which serve excellent food, depending on budget. Seafood is a specialty, as local villages such as Cleggan and Roundstone still have a thriving fishing industry.
When considering what to include in this section, it quickly became apparent that I could be writing for 6 months and still not cover everything. Whilst discussing this with a seasoned local, he kindly informed me that he is still finding hidden treasures, even after 60 years. Therefore, I have produced a flavour of what to expect, but this list is by no means exhaustive and believe me, if you want to do it, there will be someone that can help you out!
Natural Beauty and History
Connemara as a whole has been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, which I consider an understatement. There is breathtaking scenery at every turn, the next seemly more beautiful than the last.
The Connemara National Park offers tours, talks and audio visual presentations which give an interesting insight to the make up of the land, species of flora and fauna that can be found in the area and details of indigenous birds and animals. They also have a number of trails, that children find particularly interesting.
There is also the Dan O'Hara Heritage Center, which gives an insight into how the local people would have lived in years gone past, with replica homesteads and farms for you to walk through.
Walking
Whether you can face Everest before breakfast or have difficulty walking to the car, there is something for everyone. From Clifden, there are a number of gentle road works that allow you to take in the scenery without too much strain on the heart or lungs.
If you are a bit more adventurous and have the necessary experience, you can venture into the 12 Ben's (a mountain range with 12 peaks). The beauty of this place for me is, there are virtually no signed footpaths, therefore, every time you go out you feel like the first person to walk there. A truly wonderful experience, especially, if you decide to camp out for a couple of nights.
Whatever you choose, Richard will be only to pleased to set you off in the right direction if you want to go it alone, or put you in touch with Walking On Eire who can organise guided walks based on your ability.
Cycling
There are some splendid cycle routes, which again Richard will be only too pleased to show you and if you don't have your own bike, then they can be hired locally (less than 30m from the hostel).
Fishing
If fishing's your thing, then Clifden is definitely the place you should be. There is Sea Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Fly fishing, Course Fishing, just about any type of fishing you wish to try. Richard knows all the local skippers and Ghillie's, who only know all the waters from the ocean to Lough Corrib, but know the best way to fish them.
Entertainment
In Clifden, you can be a lively or as quite as you please. There are traditional Irish dancing evenings, music every night, in one or more of the pubs and a number of festivals throughout the year, which means there are always painters, poets, singers, songwriters and musicians, either exhibiting, playing or just like you, there for the famous 'Craic'.
All in all, there is something for everyone, but in my opinion the beauty of Clifden and the Connemara area doing nothing and relaxing is classed as a serious business. It is the perfect antidote to the stresses and strains of every day life - the perfect location for a holiday.