Ireland Hiking Breaks Burren Guided Walks Burren Clare West Ireland

THE WALKS

Walking Key
Light :             Two to four miles of mostly level walking.
Moderate:        Four to six miles, some hillwalking.
Strenuous:      Six to ten miles, hill walking and some uneven terrain.

Here is a sample of some of our extensive range of walks. The walks described hereunder are either half day or day long in duration. However, shorter walks are also available on request - walks typically range from an hour to a day in length.

Half Day Walks...

The Caherblonick, Kilnaboy Walk

Grade: Light

This walk commences with a wonderful vista of the largest turlough (seasonal lake) in the Burren region. We then ramble on to the remains of the castle of a medieval aristocratic clan .

Our excursion then takes us across a fertile valley area to the site of Ireland’s greatest inland cliff fort - also arguably the archaeological jewel of the Burren. The stone fort is spectacularly located on a 30 metre high cliff overlooking a wooded ravine. It boasts three semi-circular stone ramparts.

Limestone and wetlands Nearby we appreciate the classic Burren landscape of exposed limestone pavements. We also treat ourselves to a botanical feast - taking time out to examine some of the flowers for which the region is world famous.

Our penultimate stop is dedicated to one of the Burren’s magnificent megalithic wedge tombs.

The walk ends in the village where we can exercise the option of dropping in to the local for a refreshment, if we so wish.

The Atlantic Walk

Grade : - Moderate.

The walk takes place along a green road – an old highway which was used for droving cattle and sheep from the highlands to the lowlands. The walk commences at an abandoned church in a glaciated valley.

Kilnaboy Church There follows a moderate ascent of approximately thirty five minutes. When we reach the plateau on high there are absolutely stupendous views of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Connemara laid out before us.

There are excellent examples of the lunar limestone landscape of The Burren at one side of our track. This terrain functions as a giant rock garden during the flowering season. We also pause at one of the region’s many ancient holy wells which is still much venerated locally.

We note a very high concentration of ring forts as we progress and another source of wonder is the dry stone walls in several different styles. Also in this very area we pass by several potholes and we tread over a remarkable network of eleven kilometers of documented Burren underground passageways.

Our excursion then takes us by a wild hazel covered valley – home to a rich variety of wildlife including the Burren’s most beautiful mammal, the pine marten.

We drop a level to a promontory and round off the adventure at a spectacularly situated Gaelic tower house.

Cathair Dhuin Irghuis Day Long Walks...

For day long walks please bring your own packed lunch. We suggest you wear appropriate walking boots and rain clothing.

The Into The Wilderness Walk

Grade: Strenuous

Our excursion starts on one of the ancient highways of the region - a “green road“.

The road initially bisects a shrub of hazel. When the hazel thins, we are treated to a breathtaking Burren panorama of limestone pavements, hills, inland cliffs and ravines. There is a stone fort and fulachta fia (prehistoric cooking sites) at either side of our path.

We leave the green road and pick a trail along the shores of a lake to explore a habitat rich in wild Burren flowers. Then we finally begin our ascent of one of the great limestone hills of the Burren in the heart of the National Park. At the summit of 630 feet we take a break for lunch just a few feet from the hilltop burial cairn. The limestone lowlands seem to stretch to infinity beneath us in the distance, whilst in the foreground there is the poignant sight of a famine relief road.

After lunch we descend gently before climbing again to the summit of another of the Burren’s magnificent hills (620 feet). Here we are often lucky enough to witness one of the most enthralling sights of the region - the march of the wild mountain goats.

Finally, we start the descent for home as an unforgettable day’s trekking draws to a close.

Winterage

Photo: Reverse transhumance is the practise whereby cattle are brought up to the hills in winter to graze. This practise is known in the Burren as 'winterage'. This is the only region in Europe where reverse transhumance occurs.

Heart of Burren Walks
Caherblonick, Kilnaboy, County Clare, Ireland
Tel / Fax +353 65 682 77 07 - Mobile Tel +353 87 292 54 87
Email info@heartofburrenwalks.com

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