Active Pursuits

Bicycling

Bicycles can be rented year-round from Mannion Cycles, Bridge Street, Clifden, County Galway (tel. 095/21160). The rate for a regular touring bike in high season starts at around €10 per day. Touring bikes can also be hired from May through October at the Little Killary Adventure Company, Leenane, County Galway (tel. 095/43411; www.killary.com). They go for €18 per day.

Diving

You can rent equipment and receive instruction at Scubadive West, Renvyle, County Galway (tel. 095/43922; www.scubadivewest.com).

Fishing

Lough Corrib is renowned for brown-trout and salmon fishing. Brown-trout fishing is usually good from the middle of February, and salmon is best from the end of May. The mayfly fishing begins around the middle of May and continues for up to 3 weeks.

Angling on Lough Corrib is free, but a state license is required for salmon. For advice on where to obtain one, contact the Western Regional Fisheries Board, the Weir Lodge, Earl's Island, County Galway (tel. 091/563118; www.wrfb.ie).

For salmon and sea trout, the Ballynahinch Castle Hotel at Ballynahinch, Recess, County Galway (tel. 095/31006; www.ballynahinch-castle.com), is an angler's paradise. State fishing licenses, tackle hire and sales, maps, and advice are available at the hotel.

At Portarra Lodge, Tullykyne, Moycullen, County Galway (tel. 091/555-051; www.portarralodge.com), packages are available, including B&B accommodations in a modern guesthouse on the shores of Lough Corrib, dinners, and boats and tackle. Michael Canney is an avid angler and a great guide to this part of Galway. A double room with full breakfast costs €66 to €120 per night. Weekly packages that include half-board, boat, and ghillie are also available.

Golf

Visitors are welcome at the 18-hole, par-72 championship seaside course of the Connemara Golf Club, Ballyconneely, Clifden, County Galway (tel. 095/23502; www.connemaragolflinks.com), nestled in the heart of Connemara and overlooking the Atlantic. Greens fees from May to September are €65 weekdays, €75 weekends; from October to April, they're €50 weekdays, €60 weekends.

The Oughterard Golf Club, Oughterard, County Galway (tel. 091/552131; www.oughterardgolfclub.com), is an 18-hole, par-70 inland course. Greens fees are €35.

Horseback Riding

See the beaches of Connemara from horseback on a trek with the Cleggan Riding Centre, Clegan, County Galway (tel. 095/44746; www.clegganridingcentre.com). The center offers beach and mountain treks, and the most popular is a 3-hour ride to Omey Island at low tide. Prices start at around €50. Or explore with Connemara and Coast Trails, Loughrea, County Galway (tel. 091/841216; www.connemara-trails.com). Rides are for experienced and beginning riders alike. Riding starts at €20 per person per hour.

Walking

If you feel like stretching your legs, head to the town of Leenane, which is the start of any number of exhilarating walks. One of the best takes you to the picturesque Aasleagh Waterfall (Eas Liath) east of the Killary Harbor. Another walk around that harbor, Ireland's only fiord, follows the Green Road. It was once the primary route from the Rinvyle Peninsula to Leenane, and is now largely a sheep track. The path passes a ghost town (an abandoned prefamine village) on the far side of the harbor, where the fields rise at a devilishly steep slope from the ruined cottages clustered at the water's edge. There are excellent walking trails in the Connemara National Park, some of which lead up the sides of the Twelve Bens. You can get maps at the park's visitor center.

Watersports

Hobie Cat sailing and sailboarding can be arranged at the Little Killary Adventure Company, Leenane, County Galway (tel. 095/43411; www.killary.com). Rates start at around €60 per day (two sessions), which entitles you to use the watersports equipment and participate in all the center's supervised sporting activities, including kayaking, water-skiing, hill and coastal walking, rock climbing, archery, and more.