The Burren Walking Holiday

Arrive in Lisdoonvarna

Afternoon

The town of Lisdoonvarna will be your base for this 4 night Walking Holiday. Well known for its music and festivals, the spa town in Co Clare offers the ideal location from which to explore The Burren. The Burren is an amazing region, alive with visible history, ancient fossils and an abundance of flowers from spring through to autumn. The word "Burren" comes from an Irish word "Boíreann" meaning a rocky place which is very apt for this karst landscape of bedrock incorporating a vast cracked pavement of glacial-era limestone, with cliffs and caves, fossils, rock formations and archaeological sites. On arrival in Lisdoonvarna in the afternoon, check in to your hotel. We recommend arriving no later than 16:00 hrs so you have time to settle in before meeting our guide.

Welcome meeting

Evening

Let’s get to know each other! At 17.00hrs, our guide will introduce themselves during a welcome meeting at our hotel. This informal introductory gathering will prepare us for what we can expect in terms of distance, duration, and terrain during the hikes throughout our time in The Burren. After the welcome meeting join our guide and fellow group members for an evening meal at our hotel. The rest of the evening following dinner will be at your leisure in Lisdoonvarna.

Accommodation

Overnight

3 star hotel in Lisdoonvarna (4 nights)

The Green Roads of The Burren walking tour

Morning

Join us to discover the fascinating landscapes of The Burren. One of the most fascinating places in Ireland, there is no better way to get to know and understand the Burren than by foot. We will begin our day with a transfer to Ballyvaughan. From here our route will introduce us to some of the wonderful “Green” roads of the Burren. We will climb up onto a hillside with beautiful views across Galway Bay. As we look around us we will be greeted by a sea of stone that may appear barren at first, until we explore it more carefully. During our hike we will uncover the wealth of flowers, the diverse plant life and the fascinating rock formations that lie under each of our footsteps.  We will continue following this old green road to reach a beautiful holy well, before following a small road to reach the village of Craggagh where we will end our hike. During our outdoor pursuits we can expect to encounter some road walking, some grassy tracks and some walking across paving slabs that can be uneven underfoot with gaps in between so care must be taken. Hiking boots with good ankle support are essential and hiking poles are recommended for all walking days of this holiday. There will be a packed lunch included today and on your subsequent walking days. (Distance: 9.75kms / Duration spent walking: 3 hours / Difficulty: Moderate / Height Gain: 226m / Height Loss: 325m / Max Height: 297m)

Discover Doolin at your own pace

Afternoon

In the afternoon we will transfer from Craggagh to the colourful and welcoming village of Doolin (Approximate transfer time: 1 hour).  On arrival in Doolin, you will have 2 hours at leisure to spend as you wish. Those with energy to spare can walk independently along the clifftops towards the towering Cliffs of Moher or those in need of a more cultural activity can soak up the atmosphere in Doolin town. Your expert guide will be happy to make suggestions to suit your taste. Afterwards we will transfer from Doolin back to our hotel in Lisdoonvarna.

Dinner & free time in Lisdoonvarna

Evening

We will come together for dinner at our hotel this evening. Afterwards you will have the remainder of the evening at your leisure in Lisdoonvarna. Explore the lively pubs on the Main Street or unwind at your hotel. The choice is yours!

Discover The Burren Limestone Landscapes

Full day

Today we will immerse ourselves further into the vast limestone landscapes that make the Burren so special. We will begin our day with a transfer to the northern part of The Burren from where we will begin our hike. With wonderful views across Galway Bay to the Aran Islands and Connemara, we will start our trek along a small road, before climbing uphill on a rough gravel track.  At the top of the hill, we will then start to venture across the paving slabs of the Burren, picking our way carefully between the rocks and flowers as we reach Black Head.  This glorious hike gives us the opportunity to see the archaeology that the Burren is so rich in, explore a ring fort and also take time to enjoy the different rock formations as our route follows the rocky terraces to reach a green road.  Following this route through rich pastureland we will descend the hills and finish our walk close to Fanore Beach. Throughout the day we can expect to experience some road walking, some grassy tracks along with some stony tracks.  We will be hiking across open rocky mountains which have uneven and differing footholds with some grass and some rock. After our hike we will return to Lisdoonvarna. (Transfer time: approximate 1 hour)

(Distance: 14kms / Duration spent walking: 4 to 5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate / Height Gain: 394m / Height Loss: 400m / Max Height: 310m)

Dinner & Lisdoonvarna at leisure

We will have dinner included at our hotel this evening. After dinner, the remainder of the evening will be free for you to spend in Lisdoonvarna as you desire. Continue to explore this charming spa town independently or ask you guide for recommendations on local pubs or cafes to visit.

Guided tour of The Burren Eastern Region

Full day

Join us for another adventure in one of the most visually fascinating regions of the Burren. Today we will transfer to Mullaghmore for a hike in one of the areas that belongs to the Burren National Park. This eastern region of the Burren in contrast to the coastal parts offers amazing inland views. Our hike today takes us across a hillside near the tiny village of Carran, along old green roads, animal tracks and into the hills.  Here we can discover the wealth of stone walls, plants, fossils and paving slabs that makes the Burren what it is.  We will descend with care through hazel woodland, passing a holy well and re-joining a road as we reach the end of our hike. During the route today we will cross open rocky hillsides with uneven and loose rocks, some of which have gaps in between them with uneven grass sections so great care must be taken.  We will also experience some road walking. (Distance: 8kms / Duration spent walking: 4 to 5 hours / Difficulty: Moderate / Height Gain: 178m / Height Loss: 176m / Max Height: 237m) There will be some time for refreshments after our hike before our transfer back to Doolin (approximate transfer time: 2 hours)

Dinner & free time in Lisdoonvarna

Evening

Lets’ have a farewell dinner together this evening at our hotel.  This is the ideal time to reminisce on our adventures from the previous few days. Afterwards you will have a final evening at leisure in Lisdoonvarna.

Depart Lisdoonvarna

Morning

Lets’ have a final breakfast together. Afterwards you are free to depart at your own leisure, by public transport or private arrangements. We hope you leave Clare with many fond memories of our group adventure holiday together in The Burren.