Cong, a delightful village on the north eastern shore of Lough Corrib is most famous as the setting for the film 'The Quiet Man', which starred John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

Among the many places to visit here are the 12th century Cong Abbey, Ashford Castle, Cong Wood and of course locations associated with the film. The villagers remember the making of the film as a momentous event which brought world-wide attention to their walled fields and old-fashioned pubs.

Walking

If you enjoy walking, Cong offers an extensive choice of walkways through woods and forests or skirting the shorelines of rivers and lakes. Why not visit and retrace the long confident strides of 'Sean Thornton' (John Wayne) or walk the fields that 'Mary Kate Dannagher' (Maureen O'Hara) crossed.

Some of the walking trails in the Cong area include: Cong Forest Nature Trail, Lough Corrib Loop Walk, Pigeon Hole Wood, Ardnageeha Wood and the Cong to Clonbur walk by Ballykyne Castle.

For the more adventurous walker there are challenging mountain walks such as the 'Sean Bothar' walk along the side of Mount Gable - one of the most scenic mountain walks between Lough Corrib and Mask.

Golf

Ashford Castle has a beautiful 9 hole parkland course on the shores of Lough Corrib, designed by well known Irish golf architect, Eddie Hackett. Only a short drive down the road is the magnificent championship Ballinrobe golf course set on a 300 acre estate - par 73. Other golf courses in the area include Westport, Connemara championship links course and Galway Bay golf club.

Fishing

Cong is a veritable angler’s paradise. See the Cong fishing page.

Cruising

Enjoy one of the daily cruise sailings on beautiful Lough Corrib with its 365 islands and relish the stunning views of Ashford Castle from the lake. An island cruise includes a stop-off at Inchagoill Island with a talk on the in-depth history of the island or you can enjoy an evening cruise with entertainment on board.

Cave Exploring

The Cong area has many caves waiting to be explored, Pigeon Hole, Lady's Buttery, Kelly's Cave, Teach an Aille, Captain Webb's Cave, BallyMcClancy Cave, The Guinness Tower and many more.

There are many local legends associated with the caves - fairies, leprechauns and banshees are reputed to live in these underground chambers! Because caves are hazardous and can sometimes flood quickly, it is advisable to be accompanied by an experienced caver or a qualified leader from an outdoor centre.

Cycling

With miles of country lanes, quiet wooded trails, lakes, abbeys and castles around Cong, what better way to explore than on a bike. Bicycle hire for adults and children is available in the area.