A Hiking / Walking tour of the best of Southern Ireland to include the Burren of County Clare, the Dingle Peninsula, the mountains and lakes of County Cork, and one night in Cashel, County Tipperary.
Itinerary-
Day 1:
From Galway City, we will head south to the Burren Region of County Clare - a huge plateau of limestone and shale aptly summed up with the words, "savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor a tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury him". Our walk today is at the highest point in the Burren: Slieve Elva. We will be rewarded with great views across Galway Bay to the Aran Islands. For the next two nights we will be accommodated in the Kincora Guest House in Lisdoonvarna. After dinner, we can venture into the village in search of traditional music in the pubs.
Day 2:
Today we will be accompanied by our local expert guide. He will take us to sites of botanical, geological and archaeological interest. This will include walking in two separate parts of the Burren with a break for lunch. The Burren regions is famous for it's flora: you will never see anything like the carpets of primroses, or the white flower of the blackthorn cascading over all the hedgerows. Rare and spectacular plants occur in abundance. Nowhere else in Ireland, Britain or even north west Europe can such quantities of the blue Spring Gentian, cream Mountain Avens or yellow Shrubby Cinquefoil be encountered. Orchids grow everywhere in the Burren and 23 out of the 27 Irish species are to be found here. At the end of the afternoon we may have time for a pint in County Clare's oldest pub.
Day 3:
The Cliffs of Moher: one of Ireland's most visited sights will be the location of our walk, but fear not, leaving the bustling car park behind, we can enjoy relative solitude walking along the cliffs to Hag's Head. Please keep away from the cliff edges! Leaving County Clare, we will drive south to County Kerry via the Killimer to Tarbert ferry across the Shannon. For the next three nights we will stay in O'Connor's guest house in the tiny village of Cloghane at the foot of Mount Brandon.
Day 4:
A lovely walk is on today's agenda: at Beenbo Mountain and the spectacular green valley of Magha na Bo. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of this valley and witness 40 shades of green! We then cross over the top of the pass and drop down to Annascaul village via Lake Annascaul.
Day 5:
Some say this is the best walk in Ireland: weather permitting we will climb Mount Brandon, Ireland's second highest peak. This is a steady ascent with spectacular views of Brandon Bay and then the Pater Noster Lakes. This is excellent walking country in a mountainous landscape dotted by a series of small lakes. We will be doing the "there and back" route.
Day 6:
Today we will walk at Inch Beach (the setting for the film, Ryan's Daughter). We begin with views across to Glenbeigh and Ireland's highest mountains, the MacGillycuddy's Reeks, then on rounding the peninsula we have views back towards the Dingle Peninsula and the Slieve Mish Mountains. Look out for rabbits and lots of estuary birds. We move on then to the Gougane Barra region of County Cork. Our accommodation is the Gougane Barra Hotel: we stay here for 2 nights. This is a stunning location on the shores of a lake in a deep valley.
Day 7:
Wake up to peace and tranquility and fine lake views. Catherine, our local guide today will take us on a circuit of Gougane Barra Lake and the source of the River Lee. We will be able to walk directly from the hotel. This is a walk that follows very little in the way of track. It can be rugged and tough underfoot, but well worth the effort. If you prefer a more restful day then this is the ideal spot to enjoy the quiet tracks beside the lake and forest.
Day 8:
Cahir in County Tipperary: the town is dominated by a 13th century castle, one of the largest in Ireland. After taking a tour of the castle we will walk along the banks of the River Suir to the "Swiss Cottage": an exquisite thatched cottage designed by John Nash as a retreat for the 12th Baron Cahir. We will be accommodated in the town of Cashel at the lovely Legend's Guest House. Highly recommended entertainment tonight comes in the form of music and dance "Riverdance" style at the Bru Boru Center.
Day 9:
We must say Goodbye to Ireland after our 2 hour drive back to Dublin Airport.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour dates for 2008:
Fri 4 July to Sat 12 July
Sat 9 Aug to Sun 17 Aug
Tues 23 Sept to Weds 1 Oct
Tour price includes 8 nights 3-4 star accommodation en suite, 8 breakfasts, 8 packed lunches, 6 evening meals, all land transportation, transportation to evening entertainment, service of guide / guides throughout.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Ireland
Hiking & Trekking
Walking Tours
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