Where nature speaks
Contact Details
Postal Address
Connemara National Park,
Letterfrack, Co. Galway,
H91 K2Y1
Park Visitor Centre
The National Park is staffed 7 days a week from 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM for advice, enquiries and toilet facilities if required.
Is there accommodation in the National Park?
There are no accommodation facilities within the National Park. However there is an array of different accommodation types available adjacent to the National Park including bed & breakfasts, campsites, hostels, hotels and self-catering.
Can we park in the National Park overnight?
No, the Connemara National Park car park cannot facilitate overnight parking/camping. The car park is for daytime visits only. We recommend that visitors in camper vans who wish to stay in Connemara overnight use one of the local campsites.
Do we have to book a visit?
Groups – Adults
If you are travelling with a group and require a guided tour, please make contact with the Visitor Centre in advance. We cannot guarantee a guided tour but we try to accommodate all requests. There is no charge for a guided tour.
Groups – Schools/Children
If you are travelling with a group of children e.g. school tour, and wish to have a guided tour, you will need to fill in a special booking form. There are no charges for such a booking but groups must adhere to the Child Protection Guidelines set out by our Department. See page 26 of this document’s additional measures expected for Child Protection for the National Parks and Wildlife Service Education Program and Visitor Centres. Please contact the Education Guide for further details.
Can I use public transport to access the National Park?
There are bus services operating from Clifden, Galway and Westport to Letterfrack, the village adjacent to the main visitor access to the National Park. Details of these bus services can be found in our Getting Here section.
What are your opening times?
The Visitor Centre is open daily and year round (except Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day). The Café is open daily (except Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day). The grounds of the National Park are open daily and year round. There are some exceptions to this e.g. during inclement weather conditions or maintenance works, we may have to close the National Park or parts of the trails. Please check our website, social media, and weather forecasts before your visit. Always obey signs and directions by National Park staff as visitor safety is a priority for us.
Why are there no bins outside?
We ask all visitors to take home their waste. Bins have a tendency to create a litter problem, particularly in car parks. To avoid this, we have a policy of no outside bins. We do have bins inside the Visitor Centre and encourage visitors to recycle waste materials using the facilities provided.
Is there a campsite in the National Park?
There is no serviced campsite in the National Park. We recommend that you book into a local campsite; staying overnight with camper vans etc. in our car parks is prohibited. Wild camping is permitted in certain parts of the National Park, outside the exclusion zone. Please click here to see details of the zone and what wild camping entails.
Can I bring my dog for a walk in the National Park?
Dogs on leads are welcome in the National Park grounds. Only service dogs are permitted inside buildings. You must clean up after your dog, so please ensure that you have a waste bag with you for your visit. Collected waste should be brought home as there are no outside bins in the National Park.
How many trails do you have? How long are the trails? How long do they take?
There are four trails in the National Park. These trails are colour coded and easy to follow. A simple map is available along the trails for your convenience. You can also purchase a map from the Visitor Centre reception desk at a cost of €1. A brief description of the trails follows:
Green Trail
Name: Ellis Wood
Distance: 0.5 km
Duration: 15 minutes
Blue Trail
Name: Lower Diamond
Distance: 3 km
Duration: 60 minutes
Yellow Trail
Name: Sruffaunboy
Distance: 1.5 km
Duration: 30 minutes
Red Trail
Name: Upper Diamond
Distance: 3.7 km
Duration: 90 minutes
All trails (apart from the red trail) start from the Visitor Centre. A return trip to the top of Diamond Hill and return to the Visitor Centre takes approximately 2.5 hours. Please click here to see more and download an overview of the trails.
Can I use my drone in the National Park?
No, drones are not permitted in the National Park. A permit for drone photography will only be issued under very special circumstances and to those with the proper licenses and insurance cover.
Are you closed when there are weather warnings?
In the event of Met Éireann issuing weather warnings, the following protocol applies. In the case of STATUS ORANGE weather warnings and STATUS RED Severe Weather Warnings, Connemara National Park will be closed for the duration of such warnings. For STATUS YELLOW Connemara National Park will remain open for the duration of the weather warning, except where otherwise notified. Notices will be placed in advance on our website and social media platforms where possible.
Can I charge my electric vehicle in Connemara National Park?
Yes, we have a designated parking space and electric car chargers available in the public car park. You will need to speak to a guide at the Visitor Centre when you arrive, as one of the National Park staff will have to activate the charger for you. There is currently no cost to visitors who wish to charge their car during their visit to the National Park.
Is the National Park accessible to wheelchair users?
We provide car parking spaces for people with disabilities. These spaces are found near the kiosk and are the closest available spaces for accessing the Visitor Centre. Additionally, if your needs require you to park adjacent to the Visitor Centre, you can phone ahead; a member of staff will organise for you to access the Visitor Centre directly. Please phone +353 95 41054. The Visitor Centre is over two different floor levels, and although there is no internal elevator, each level can be accessed separately from the exterior. Part of the Sruffaunboy (yellow trail) is wheelchair accessible; please speak to a guide at the reception desk for more details on this trail.
How much does a ticket cost?
You do not need to purchase a ticket to enter the National Park. There are no charges for hiking on the self-guided trails or for viewing the exhibition or the film in the Visitor Centre. We also run a programme of events throughout the year that are free of charge.