Cong & Cong Abbey Located on the opposite side of Lough Corrib to Oughterard and is a 45 minute drive from Oughterard is a lovely village Cong - in Irish, Cunga, means "narrows" so called from its situation upon the isthmus that here divides Loch Mask from Loch Corrib, and also Cunga Fheichín, in remembrance of its patron saint - is an island formed by a number of streams that surround it on all sides. There is water everywhere - gliding by in the broad river; gushing from the surrounding rocks; welling up in vast pools that supply several mills; oozing through the crevices of stones; rising in the interior of caverns; appearing and disappearing wherever its wayward nature wills; passing in and out everywhere, except where man tried to turn it - into the monster dry canal.

Connemara National Park
Situated near Letterfrack, and close to Kylemore Abbey the Park covers some 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of scenic countryside, rich in wildlife, on the slopes of the Twelve Bens. Attractions include exhibitions, nature trails, audio-visual show. In addition there is a summer programme of walks, talks and special events for younger visitors. There is access for visitors with disabilities in the Visitor Centre.

Kylemore Abbey Kylemore Abbey, located in the Kylemore Pass in Connemara, County Galway and a 40 minute drive from Oughterard, has been home to the Irish Benedictine nuns since 1920. The Benedictine nuns bought the house in 1920, having fled their convent in war torn Belgium in 1914, where they ran a boarding school for girls for over 300 years. They re-established the school here and it is still very much alive today.

InchagoillFrom Oughterard a boat can be taken to the picturesque island of Inchagoill, with the remains of two churches (both National Monuments). The smaller of the two dates from the fifth century, the other (12th C.; restored) is a good example of Irish Romanesque architecture.

Glengowla mines

The location of Glengowla mines is set in spectacular rugged scenery forests rivers and the renowned Lough Corrib. Situated two miles west of Oughterard, 300 metres off the N59 Galway/Clifden road, 20 minutes from Galway, 10 minutes from Maam Cross and 40 minutes from Clifden.