3 Best Hotels in Clifden, Connemara and County Mayo

Creeper-covered, as if under a Sleeping Beauty spell, the gorgeous Victorian castle-manor of Abbeyglen sits framed by towering trees on a height above Clifden town—if time hasn't completely stopped here, it has certainly slowed down, but that's just the way the relaxed guests want it. Surrounded by gardens with waterfalls and streams, Abbeyglen was built in 1832 by John D'Arcy, the founder of Clifden. Inside, guest rooms vary in size and design, some with wooden floors, some with gas fireplaces, some with four-poster beds. Insist on a front room when booking if you enjoy great views. Even though it's a castle, it is also a fun place to stay, owned by the famously hospitable Hughes brothers, Paul and Brian. Complimentary afternoon tea is served in the bar, effortlessly giving way to evening drinks, and later the piano player strikes up. Beware Froda the parrot, who has the run of reception: she wolf-whistles, but she also bites.

An old town house in the lower, quieter part of Clifden has been extended and converted into a comfortable guesthouse with private parking. The town's bars and restaurants are only two minutes' walk away, yet there can be sheep grazing on a grassy enclosure across the road. Rooms are a good size, with hotel-like features including adjustable radiators, swagged floral curtains, and efficient showers. Help yourself to tea and coffee in the residents' lounge, a good place to compare notes with fellow travelers. The breakfast room has a pine floor and white damask cloths, and the homemade bread is accompanied by homemade jams.

Nineteenth-century time travelers would feel right at home in this three-story, town-center Georgian house, Clifden's oldest building (1820) that once housed the harbormaster. The ancestral portraits, mounted fish, Victorian engravings, and cosseting fabrics all lend a frozen-in-amber allure. It's made all the more homey by touches like model boats and, alas, a few too many animal-skin rugs. A roaring turf fire in the living room greets you as you enter the burnished breakfast room, while the nearby terrace has been gloriously sheathed in glass for a conservatory feel. The peaceful setting by the harbor quay ensures a good night's sleep and the guest rooms are unusually spacious; those in the main house are imaginatively decorated with deep-color walls and wonderful period accents; all but two have sea views. There's also a new wing with seven studio rooms with balconies overlooking the harbor.