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Connemara & Burren Self-Guided Tour (10 Nights)

Tour code: WOISG10

Tour Overview

This tour explores in turn The Burren, the Aran Islands, Connemara, Joyce’s Country and Mayo.

Click here to download the Connemara & Burren Day-by-Day Daily Programme

Starting from Galway, the first leg takes you south through County Clare to the medieval town of Ennis on the banks of the River Fergus. From Ennis you ride west to Lisdoonvarna for a two night stopover. The loop route from here takes you around the Burren coastline. From Lisdoonvarna there is a short ride to Doolin to catch the ferry over to Inishmore, largest of the three Aran Islands. The next day is spent exploring and enjoying this beautiful island. You depart the island by another ferry which lands you at Rossaveal on the shores of Galway Bay, from where you ride west through Connemara to the town of Clifden for a two night stopover. The loop ride from here takes you around the coast to Roundstone and then out along the Sky Road. The leg from Clifden leads you through the Lough Inagh Valley to Leenane on the shores of Killary Harbour. From Leenane you ride north to Westport, with the option of an upper or a lower route. The loop ride from Westport takes you to Doolough and along the shores of Clew Bay in the shadow of Croagh Patrick.

See the Regional Details page for further information on the scenery and attractions.

Ten highlights

• Exploring the narrow lanes in medieval Ennis
• The spectacular Cliffs of Moher
• The fabulous coastal ride by Black Head
• Traditional music in Doolin’s pubs
• The cliff top fort of Dun Aengus on Inishmore
• Watching turf cutting in Connemara
• The views of the Twelve Bens from the Bog Road
• The beautiful, semi-wild Connemara ponies
• Visiting Kylemore Abbey
• The haunting beauty of the Doolough Valley

Gallery

Options

• To lengthen the tour, consider spending a night in Galway or at Bunratty (near Ennis) before or after the riding.

Notes

Luggage transfers on this itinerary do not include a transfer onto Inishmore (Aran Islands). You will have to carry what you need for the overnight on the island in panniers – we will supply these free of charge.

Outline Itinerary

Day	Start	Stay	Core route		Other options		En Route
			→ km	↑ m	longer	shorter
1	-	Galway	-	-	-	-
2	Galway	Ennis	78	278			Clarinbridge, Gort, Coole Park, Kilmacduagh
3	Ennis	Doolin/ Lisdoonvarna	54	355	✓		The Burren; Corofin; Dysert O'Dea; Kilfenora
4	Doolin/ Lisdoonvarna	Doolin/ Lisdoonvarna	53	339	✓	✓	The Burren; Ballyvaughan; Ailwee Caves; Poulnabrone Dolmen
5	Doolin/ Lisdoonvarna	Inishmore	various	various			Doolin; Dun Angeus; Black Fort
6	Inishmore	Clifden	58	205	✓		Twelve Bens; Pearse's Cottage; Peat diggings
7	Clifden	Clifden	58	320	✓	✓	Roundstone; Sky Road; Cleggan
8	Clifden	Leenane	65	247	✓	✓	Lough Inagh Valley; Kylemore Abbey; Connemara National Park; Killary Harbour
9	Leenane	Westport	62	162	✓	✓	Maam Valley; Lough Nafooey; Cong
10	Westport	Westport	54	487	✓	✓	Sheefry Hills; Doolough; Louisburgh; Murrisk Abbey; Croagh Patrick

Tour Costs

*           Prices for solo travellers are on request

Click here for more details on what's included in the costs above.

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