Self-Guided Tours - Clare and The Burren (7 nights - 6 days)

The two outstanding natural phenomena around which this tour is built are the enigmatic lunar-like landscape of Burren and the magnificent Clare coastline.

The tour will appeal to those who have a particular love of dramatic coastal scenery. Another specific attraction of the region is its deserved reputation for traditional music. You will find traditional sessions in most towns and villages on just about every night of the week.

Doolin is particularly well-known in this regard. The core routes, although suitable for cyclists of all abilities, are not flat. Some of the extension routes are challenging. This tour can be seamlessly linked to the Connemara tour.

Region and Routes
The region covered by the tour is that part of the West of Ireland bounded by Galway Bay to the north and by the Shannon Estuary to the south.

Starting from the ancient town of Ennis, county town of Clare, you ride west on route 1 through elevated farmland to meet the mighty Atlantic Ocean at the quaint and picturesque resort of Kilkee.

Route 2 explores the peninsula of land that juts out to the south of Kilkee. Ending at the Loop Head lighthouse, the peninsula has some of the finest coastal scenery in all of Ireland.

Route 3 follows the Clare coastline north through the resorts of Milltown Malbay, Lehinch and Liscannor en route to the fabulous Cliffs of Moher – one of the grandest natural sights in the country. A series of jutting headlands, stretching for about 5 miles, the cliffs drop vertically to the Atlantic Ocean. From the cliff tops, there are great views of the Aran Islands, and of Connemara beyond. To the north of the cliffs is the Burren, a unique lunar-like landscape that has been described as “an immobilized rough sea”. Cromwell’s surveyors in the 17th Century reported it as “a savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor a tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury him”! Besides its wild beauty, the Burren is of special interest to both botanists and geologists.

Route 4 is a circuit of the Burren, visiting the villages of Ballyvaughan and Kilfenora and offering some fabulous coastal scenery around Black Head. Route 5 strikes out east from Lisdoonvarna, exploring the eastern part of the Burren before turning north to reach the Galway Bay coast at Kinvarra.

Route 6 follows back roads into the lively city of Galway. You may well want to extend your stay in this the most attractive of all Ireland’s cities. The alternative route 6b takes you south again from Kinvarra to finish in Ennis. This option leaves you close to Shannon Airport if you are pushed for time.

The details:

• Duration: 7 nights
  
• Suggested start dates: Any day from mid-April to Mid-October
  
• Bike rental: Available
  
• Luggage transfers: Available
  
• Airport transfers: Available
  
• Trailhead town: Ennis, Co Clare
  
• Destination town: Galway, Co Galway or Ennis, Co Clare
  

Included in basic tour:

• 7 nights accommodation (with breakfast)
  
  
• Detailed itinerary including:
  
  
  • route maps, cue sheets and written directions
    
  • directions to and contact details for accommodations
    
  • information about en route attractions and interest sites
    
  • details of en-route services including suggested refreshment stops
    
  • information about trailhead town, staging towns and destination town
    
  • suggestions for evening meals and for evening entertainment
    
  • telephone helpline
    
    
    
• Trip preparation information about
  
  
  • what to bring (including recommended clothing list)
    
  • getting to and from the tour from arrival & departure points
    
  • money
    
  • climate and weather
    
  • shopping
    
  • eating and drinking
    
  • tipping …………etc.

View details on how to get to and from this tour >

Attractions and sites of interest on or close to the routes >

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