A glorious immersion into all you would imagine walking the West coast of Ireland to be! Hike the rolling, stony hills of the Burren, the valleys, lakes and mountains of Connemara, historic Kylemore Abbey, and the wild, untamed Aran Islands.
Itinerary Information
| Women Into the West Tour Details for 2023 and 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sat 30 Sep to Fri 6 Oct 2023 3 Places Available | Depart Shannon Airport 9 am Return Shannon Airport 3 pm Duration 7 Days | US $3999 Single Supplement $570 |
| Thur 30 May to Wed 5 Jun 2024 11 Places Available | US $4499 Single Supplement $660 | |
Tour Highlights
Included In Tour
DAY 1: ARRIVAL, TRAVEL TO CLIFDEN, HIKE OMEY ISLAND.
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 our hotel in Clifden. 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. 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: FERRY CROSSING TO ARAN ISLANDS. HIKE NORTH WESTERN SHORE
Terrain: quiet lanes, grassy tracks, rocky shore | Walking Distance 6 miles (10 km)
We set off on the mid morning ferry to Inismor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. 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.
Overnight: Kilmurvey, Inismor, Aran Islands. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 4: HIKE INISMOR AND THE FORT OF DUN AENGHUS, ARAN ISLANDS
Terrain: quiet lanes, grassy tracks, rocky shore, stony paths, cliffs| 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 330 ft into the wild Atlantic Ocean. The views are breathtaking! We then hike on over of limestone slabs, navigating through narrow lanes 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 FERRY BACK FROM ARAN ISLANDS. FIRST HIKE IN THE BURREN
Terrain: old green road, rocky tracks, gravel paths | Elev Gain 300 ft | Walking Distance 6 miles (10 km)
A wonderful day exploring and walking the Burren. “Burren” means a stony placeAnd 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.
Walk Options: the full walk is 6 miles long, there is an option of walking just 2 miles
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. 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: gravel path, cliff path | Walking Distance 5 miles (8 km)
Our last walk will be at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. We begin at Hags Head and walk north east (avoiding the crowds!) taking 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.
Womens Walking Holidays West Ireland
Joyce’s Ireland Hiking and Walking Women’s Tour of Connemara, the Burren and the Aran Islands – Womens Walking Holidays West Ireland