Connemara National Park

Connemara National Park covers 2,957 hectares of bog, heathland, grassland and woodland in the mountains of northwest Galway. Established in 1980, it takes in part of the Twelve Bens mountain range, including Benbaun (729 m), the highest of the group. The park is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and is free to enter. The visitor centre at Letterfrack has exhibits on the ecology and geology of the area.

The standard visitor experience is the Diamond Hill loop, a well-maintained mountain trail that climbs to 442 m and gives panoramic views of Connemara, the Twelve Bens, Kylemore Lough and the Atlantic islands. The lower loop takes about 1.5 hours; the upper loop (taking in the summit) takes 2–3 hours and involves some steep sections and rough terrain. It's the most walked mountain trail in Connacht and deservedly so — the views from the top, on a clear day, are exceptional.

The park is also one of the few remaining habitats in Ireland for the Connemara pony, a native breed well adapted to the wet, rocky terrain. A small herd is kept in the park. The bog ecosystem, while easy to overlook, is one of the most important in Europe — blanket bog covers around 16% of Ireland and Connemara has some of the best-preserved examples.