IRELAND’S CONNEMARA AND BURREN WALK
Walk across two of the most magical and mystical places in Ireland: Connemara and the Burren. These are two adjacent, but totally different landscapes. Connemara is a beautiful green but rugged area in County Galway along the west coast of Ireland. It is a sparsely populated area that is a favorite of photographers because of its rugged beauty and its quaint towns which make great shots for the numerous coffee table books of Connemara.
Connemara is dominated by twelve mountain peaks called the Twelve Bens. Many walkers use the Twelve Bens as navigational aids. Your guide will explain to you about the people and the customs of this traditional area where Gaelic is frequently heard in pubs and on the streets.
In spots, the Burren looks more like the surface of the moon than the earth. Here grey limestone terraces literally rose up from the floor of the ocean. Deceptive in its barrenness, the Burren is one of the most fascinating areas in Ireland for the naturalist. Growing side-by-side are alpine plants such as the mountain avens and warm weather species such as the maidenhair fern. The limestone is permeated with caves which carry water away from the surface to the lowland rivers where it emerges again only below sea-level.
But the Burren is not just fascinating to geologists and botanists. There are many misty legends surrounding this area, with its abundance of antiquities dating from prehistoric to medieval times. The Burren is believed to have been considered sacred ground by ancient Celtic tribes. Supporting this belief are the many Dolmens, megalithic monuments dating from about 2500 B.C.
DETAILS
Includes 7 nights B&B accommodation, breakfast and dinner each . 6 packed lunches, 6 guided walking days, guide, tax.
Day I
Meet in arrivals hall Shannon Airport and transfer to your accommodation in Westport. Depending on traffic this will take approximately 3 hours by coach. Dinner will be served at 7 and afterwards you will chat with your guide about the coming week’s tour.
Day 2
You will be driven to the north side of Clew bay and visit Achill Island, Ireland’s biggest offshore island, now connected by bridge to the mainland. Achill has been a favorite destination for many writers and artists over the years, namely Graham Greene and Paul Henry as well as German Nobel prize winner Heinrich Boll. Another notable who lived in Achill was the infamous Captain Boycott who gave his name to the English language. The island also possesses some very interesting historical items, the oldest being the Megalithic tombs on the southern slope of Slievemore mountain. The 16th century castle at Kildownet was one of the castles owned by the famous pirate Queen Grainne Uaile (Grace O’Malley) while the adjacent cemetery contains the ruin of an old church dedicated to the 7th century Saint Dympna. Your walk today starts at the deserted village and ends under the shadow of Croughaun mountain. 9 miles mostly on level ground - height gain 300 feet - boggy sections.
Day 3
South to Connemara, a pleasant woodlands walk that also incorporates the Galway section of the Western way with lovely views of the 12 Bens Mountain range. The hike ends in Leenane village where you can have a well-earned drink in one of the village’s pubs. 9 miles low level-a little boggy and muddy in places.
Day 4
Killary harbour coastal walk; Ireland’s only fjord is 9 miles long and runs from
Aasleagh falls in the East westward towards the sea. The pristine quality of the water makes this the perfect location for mussel growing and this is very much in evidence. At the mouth of the fjord where it meets the ocean you will see a salmon farm that possesses one of the largest cages in the world holding up to 40,000 salmon. This diversification to aquaculture has become very important to the economic survival of this area. The fjord was also used to shelter the British Fleet who anchored here during a violent Atlantic storm during the First World War. You will return to your accommodations by early afternoon giving you the opportunity to visit Westport town for some browsing or shopping. 6 miles low level no height gain, wet patches.
Day 5
You are transferred to Lisdoonvarna where you Mill be based at a small family run hotel. Your guide, as you explore the Burren, is a local man who is an expert on the flora and fauna. After a light lunch transport is organizes for you to visit the world famous Cliffs Of Moher.
Day 6
Western Burren: This is a 5-hour walk where you ascend to the higher regions of the Western Burren along medieval route ways. The walk rowers over the pre glacial river valleys of the Burren with spectacular views of Galway bay and the Aran Island.
Day 7
Eastern Burren This is a 4 hour walk off the beaten track, crossing limestone pavements and with only the wild goats for company. Histroy is explained through the variety of monuments encountered along the route, ncluding megalithic tombs and ancient field systems. Spectacular vistas of the Eastern Burren hills and valleys with an unforgettable mountain top lunch.
Day 8
Transfer to Shannon Airport
Related Informations & Tour Packages