Clare & The Burren
Wonderful coastal scenery, the unique Burren, and the best of the west of Ireland’s traditional music
- Superb countryside and the unique scenery of the Burren
- Great coastal ride along Galway Bay
- Choice of itineraries
- Staying in small hotels or friendly B&B’s
-
Bed & breakfast with 1 evening meal on 7 night tour
- Easily accessible from the UK
County Clare has some unique attractions which marks it out as a special destination in the west of Ireland. Our two tours allow you to see these special sights – the Cliffs of Moher and the limestone plateau of the Burren are world famous and certainly justify the acclaim.
Elsewhere you will ride through rolling countryside and along the spectacular coastline overlooking Galway Bay. From the coast road you can see the intriguing Aran Islands, and across the bay the jagged mountains of Connemara. The Burren is an incredible limestone moonscape renowned for its wonderful variety of wild flowers. The area is also rich in ancient and early Christian historical sites. Our 7 night tour has a leisurely itinerary with two ‘rest’ days when you can make your own discoveries – perhaps a trip over to the Aran Islands or a guided walk into the fascinating Burrren. The longer tour finishes with a night in Galway, a lively and colourful city.
In the evenings you may be tempted by one of Clare’s other draws – the traditional Irish music and dance which are a popular feature in the pubs of Doolin and Ennis. Music is part of the lifeblood of this region and just seems to ‘happen’ in these pubs in a wonderful, haphazard fashion. You could perhaps be tempted to join in!
Low cost flights are available into Shannon which is only 15 miles from Ennis, the start point for both tours. There is a good bus service back from Galway to Ennis and Shannon at the end of the 7 night tour.
click to view map
Terrain
The terrain is hilly in parts on both versions of this tour so the two itineraries are not recommended for children under 14 or for cyclists who are not reasonably fit. The tours use mainly small country roads with little traffic. Unavoidable use is made of busier roads on the approaches to Galway (7 night tour) and Ennis (3 night tour).
Climate
The west of Ireland has a mild climate due to its proximity to the Gulf Stream. Summer daytime temperatures range between 15°C and 22°C (60°F to 72°F). Please bring waterproofs as well as your sun cream as rainfall is not unknown in this part of the world!
