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The Connemara National Park typifies the scenic splendour of west Galway. Its chief functions are to promote the area's natural beauty while conserving this area of bog, heath and granite mountains. The park includes part of the famous Twelve Bens range - Benbaun, Benbrack, Bencullagh, and Muckanaght - all of which are for experienced walkers only. Less threatening are the spectacular Polldark River gorge and Glanmore Valley, and the multifaceted granite Diamond Hill - though problems of soil erosion here have led the park to discourage a walk to the top: ask at the visitor centre for the current state of play. The park's visitor centre near Letterfrack (May-Sept daily 9.30am-6pm; GBP2/?2.54; tel 095 41054; Heritage Card), is an excellent source of information on the fauna, flora and geology of the area; there's an exhibition on ten thousand years of Connemara, which takes in peatland and the changing landscape. It's also the focus for the bogland conservation work that's going on in the area, and the herbarium here is worth looking at if you're interested in botany. The staff can suggest safe hiking routes of varying length and difficulty, and you can leave details of your own route and intended time of return - an invaluable service in this potentially hazardous landscape. The centre has kitchen facilities available for walkers, an indoor "picnic" area and a tearoom. In July and August a botanist leads a guided walk of about two and a half hours, currently leaving at 10.30am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, though it's wise to ring and check the schedule. As well as offering facilities to outsiders, the centre is doing much to raise local awareness of the value of the area as a tourist amenity.
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