Cost: €975 US$1560 Stg£720

8 Day Tour Tour Dates 2008 June 7th to June 14th

Tour Grade 2 Easy to Moderate Accommodation Guesthouse & Hotel

Tour Highlights Kylemore Abbey Killary Harbour The village of Spiddal Inishmore Island The Burren Landscape What's included in your tour All accommodation is approved and all rooms will be en-suite/private bathroom. All meals to include: 7 Breakfasts, 5 Evening Meals and 6 Packed Lunches. All transport to include: Pickup at Shannon Airport and Return to Shannon Airport at the end of your tour. All transport to and from walks and evenings out. Entry fees to Kylemore Abbey and Letterfrack National Park, ferry trip to Inishbofin. Not included: 2 Evening Meals

CONNEMARA, THE BURREN & ARAN ISLANDS

(The West of Ireland)

This is a double-based walking tour, starting in Co. Galway in the heart of the Connemara Mountains, which is situated on the West Coast of Ireland. Connemara is an area that is rich in natural beauty and an unspoiled environment with its many lakes, rivers, forests and peat bogs. The people are warm and friendly and extend the hand of friendship to everyone.

The second part of the tour takes you to the Burren in County Clare and our base is just outside the town of Lisdoonvarna. The Burren's exceptional limestone rock formations, spreading over some 500 sq. km, have often been described as "a lunar landscape". Because of it's richness and warm climate it is home to around 70% of Ireland's plant life, some of which can only be found in Alpine or Mediterranean regions. The Burren's also has a wealth of history that dates back over 7,000 years and it's evidence lies in the many fortresses, high crosses, castles and abbeys in the area.

While you are in Co. Clare we will take a day out to visit one of the famous Aran Island's, Inishmore, which lies right on the edge of Europe: An island with great peace and tranquility where you will sense the spirits of Celts and Early Christian settlers.

ITINERARY OUTLINE

Day 1
Pick-up at Shannon Airport at 1.00pm and transfer to your accommodation in Connemara. You can also be picked up in Dublin on the morning of the tour if it is more convenient for you, but it will have to be no later the 9.30am. After settling in and having some light refreshments we will do a short walk the Connemara National Park. After dinner you will have a briefing on the weeks activities.

Day 2
Our first walk takes us to Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens. Kylemore is a most wonderful place- it is here that nature speaks at it's best. The Abbey is the only Irish home of the Benedictine Nuns. Built originally as a Castle (1868) it is one of the best examples of Irish neo-gothic architecture that you will find. After our visit to the abbey we will walk an old trail that takes us along the shores of Kylemore Lough. Distance: 12Km/7.5 miles, Ascent: 60Mtrs, 120Ft http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/

Day 3
Our walk takes us to Killary Harbour, which is a fjord between the Mweelrea Mountains and the Twelve Bens. The fjord reaches 20 Kilometers inland and our walk takes us on an old famine road that stretches along part of the fjord. Our return journey takes us on a small country road, past Lough Muck and Lough Fee.
Distance: 15Km, 9 miles, total Ascent: 80Mtrs, 240Ft

Day 4
The walk starts in the valley of Maam which was made famous by the making of the film 'The Quiet Man' staring Maureen O' Hara and John Wayne. The walk takes us through the Maumeen Pass, one of Ireland's pilgrim routes and up to St. Patrick's Church, which is in the heart of the Maumturk Mountains.
Distance: 15Km, 9 Miles, total Ascent 340Mtrs, 1020Ft Approx.

Day 5
Today we leave Connemara for the Burren in Co. Clare; we will take the coast road along by Galway Bay, stopping of for a short while in the seaside village of Spiddal, or in Gaelic "An Spidéal" because here most of the people speak Gaelic/Irish.
Our next stop is at the famous Cliffs of Moher, the highest sea cliffs in Europe which rise to a height of just over 200Mtrs/600Ft. From the cliffs it is on to our final accommodation just outside of Lisdoonvarna.

Day 6
We will take the ferry from Doolin to the island of Inishmore. Inishmore is the largest of the Aran Islands (7,625 acres) and includes many ancient stone forts and churches among its treasures. Most impressive being that of the ancient Bronze Age fort of Dun Aengus. Our walk through the island starts in the village of Kilronan and takes us on some narrow country tracks that date back thousands of years and are surrounded by meandering walls and patchwork fields.
Distance: 16Km, 10 miles, Ascent: 70Mtrs, 210Ft http://www.irish-society.org/Hedgemaster%20Archives/dun_aengus.htm

Day 7
Our final day's walk is over the stark limestone landscape of Black Head in the Burren. Whether you are interested in geology, flora, archaeology or wildlife this day won't disappoint you. Starting in the village of Fanore our walk follows an old green road that takes us around Black Head and gently up onto Gleninagh Mountain. From here the views over the bay and surrounding countryside are simply beautiful. From here we will join another old Green Road that links us to the Burren Way and back to Finore.
Distance: 12.5Km, 8 Miles, Ascent 310Mtrs, 930Ft

Day 8
Depart From Shannon at 1.00pm, or travel back to Dublin with us to arrive at approximately 4.00pm.

Your tourguide for this week is Christopher Stacey

If you would like more information or a detailed itinerary, please e-mail us at: info@walkinghikingireland.com

Irelands Weather: www.met.ie

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