If you go to Ireland, find this place! I say find it, because it is in the middle of nowhere but it is gorgeous. The drive to get to Kylemore is simply stunning (so I didn't mind that we got a bit lost on the way) and then the building itself is incredible. We didn't go in, we did have an ice cream outside and walked around the grounds a bit. But this is a must see if on the west coast of Ireland

Kylemore Abbey was built in the 1800s as a gift for the builder's wife. But during WWI it was turned over to nuns who had to flee France. It is now a school for girls. The self guided tour of about six rooms in the Castle was a disappointment. But the views of the Castle from the outside across the lake are extraordinary. Don't forget your camera. There is a bus ride to the walled garden which is very large and well appointed with an almost endless number of both flowering and vegetable plants. It is worth an hour of your time to completely tour the garden. There is also a small neo-Gothic church which is about a 15 minute walk around the lake from the castle. This is a beautiful church matched only by the vistas around the lake.

I was bored last week. Myself and 3 of my friends decided to leave Galway for a road trip to Connemara. We stopped off at Kylemore Abbey. It was so so beautiful! You get a sneak preview of the Abbey from the main road. This view really takes your breath away. It is well worth paying the entrance fee and entering the estate. The abbey and church are very beautiful but for me and my friends the winner was the Victorian walled garden. It is incredible! Even if you’re not that into gardening (like me) this place is amazing! Image a 6 acre walled manicured garden set in the middle of the Connemara wilderness where they still grow bananas in glass houses just as they did 130 years ago! As a visitor you are constantly being presented with contrasts in landscapes, the old palm tree against the native trees, the formal laid out veggie patches against the backdrop of the Connemara national park, etc. We loved this place! We had tea and scones in the tea house which were really good. In summery, I would really recommend Kylemore if you want an escape for a day.

My wife & I recently toured the west of Ireland. Having visited 21 countries outside the USA, I would rank Ireland dead last in terms of cuisine. Oddly enough, our best meal came not at a small place where the locals dine, but at the Mitchell Henry Restaurant at Kylemore Abbey, which caters solely to the hordes of tourists who arrive there by car or tour bus.