Into The West (7 Day Tour)

DAY 1: ARRIVAL, TRAVEL TO CLIFDEN, HIKE OMEY ISLAND, DINNER IN LOCAL RESTAURANT

Walking Distance 4 miles (6.4 km)

From Shannon we drive north to Clifden in County Galway: a lovely little town known as the “Jewel of Connemara”. Connemara is a wild, rugged, unspoilt area with a ragged coastline and two sets of impressive mountains – the Twelve Bens and the Maamturks.

We will walk at Omey Island: a beautiful place located just off the Connemara shore:  we can reach it by walking across the sand at low tide. We take a circular route around the island travelling by ancient tracks beside a lake and then out across lovely, quiet sandy beaches.  We will be accommodated for the next two nights at a guest house right on the edge of the town. We will take our evening meal at one of Clifden’s many fine restaurants specialising in fresh seafood. The town has many pubs with traditional music sessions most nights of the week.

Walk Options: the full walk is 4 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Clifden, Connemara, County Galway.  Meals included: Lunch and Dinner  

DAY 2: HIKE KILLARY HARBOUR AND VISIT KYLEMORE ABBEY

Terrain: waterside paths, rocky tracks | Elev Gain: 100 ft | Walking Distance 6 miles (9.7 km)

Our walk will be at Killary fjord. The fjord, travelling in from the sea to a village called Leenane forms the natural border between County Mayo in the north and County Galway to the south. This is one of the finest walks in Ireland!  Later in the afternoon we will visit Kylemore Abbey: western Ireland’s most famous landmark. Nestled at the base of the mountains in the heart of Connemara, Kylemore is regarded as one of the most beautiful buildings in Ireland.

Walk Options: the full walk is 4 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2-3 miles available.

Overnight: Clifden, Connemara, County Galway.  Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 3: HIKE INISMOR, THE LARGEST OF THE THREE ARAN ISLANDS

Terrain: quiet lanes, grassy tracks, rocky shore | Walking Distance 6 miles (10 km)

We set off on the mid morning ferry to Inismor and our walk consists of much varied terrain, beginning with a fabulous trek across the rocky flagstones of the northwestern shore of the island. We then travel on along quiet grassy tracks with fine views lined with endless stretches of dry stone walls. 

Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2 miles available.   

Overnight: Kilmurvey, Inismor, Aran Islands. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 4: HIKE INISMOR and DUN AENGHUS, ARAN ISLANDS

Terrain: quiet lanes, grassy tracks, rocky shore | Walking Distance 6 miles (10 km)

The first part of our walk today takes us up to visit Dun Aenghus, a massive semi-circular ring fort lodged on the edge of cliffs that drop 300 ft into the Atlantic. Gaze out from the cliff tops across the wild Atlantic Ocean. We then hike on over of limestone slabs, navigating through narrow lanes lined with dry stone walls,  Then on to rocky flagstones of the northwestern shore of the island. We then travel on along quiet grassy tracks with fine views lined with endless stretches of dry stone walls. 

Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an alternative option of just 2 miles available. 

Overnight: Kilmurvey, Inismor, Aran Islands. Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 5: MORNING RETURN FERRY FROM ARAN ISLANDS, AFTERNOON HIKE IN THE BURREN

Terrain: old green road, rocky tracks | Elev Gain 400 ft | Walking Distance 6 miles (10 km)

A wonderful day exploring and walking the Burren! And it is truly an immensely rocky place. The hills of the Burren are made up of limestone pavements with criss-crossing cracks called “grikes”, between isolated rocks called “clints”. The area supports Arctic, alpine and Mediterranean flora side-by-side, and the mild winter temperatues ensure a long growing season. The blue flower of the Spring Gentian, an alpine plant, is the region’s best-loved flower. For our walk today we will be escorted by a Burren expert. He will take us to sites of botanical, geological and archaeological interest.

Walk Options: the full walk is 5 miles long

Overnight: Ballyvaughan, or Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

DAY 6: HIKE OVERLOOKING COASTAL BURREN AREA.

Terrain: grassy and stoney track | Elev 700ft | Walking Distance 5 miles (8 km).

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 region is famous for its flora: you will never see anything like the carpets of primroses, coastal displays of sea pinks, or the white flower of the blackthorn cascading over all the hedgerows. Rare and spectacular plants occur in abundance. Orchids grow everywhere in the Burren and 23 out of the 27 Irish species are to be found here.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan, or Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 7: VISIT CLIFFS OF MOHER.  RETURN TO SHANNON AIRPORT LATE AFTERNOON

Terrain: cliff path | Walking Distance 5 miles (8 km)

Our last walk will be at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. We begin at the quaint village of Doolin and take the coastal path all the way to the Cliffs. Towering 660 feet above the wild Atlantic, these cliffs are noted for abundant birdlife including puffins (between May and early August). We can also hope to see and hear fulmars, guillemots, kittiwakes, and if we’re really lucky, peregrine falcons. 

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch.