The Burren

Tour Code: IRL02

A 5-day botanical tour looking at the unique flora of the Burren in Ireland.

£995

Land Only
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Carbon Footprint

162kg CO2e

With International Flights

161.6kg CO2e

Tour Only

What does this mean?

Highlights

  • The most exciting wild flower destination in the British Isles!
  • Enjoy the flora of the Burren's limestone pavement
  • Encounter plants found nowhere else in our islands
  • Spectacular hill and coastal scenery
  • Perfect light for photography
  • Enjoy warm hospitality & delicious cuisine at our Lisdoonvarna hotel
  • Guided by an expert Naturetrek botanist

Summary

The Burren is an area of limestone pavement in County Clare, forming a natural rock garden extending over 200 square kilometres. The rock crevices, locally called scailps, support a huge range of plants. On this wild flower holiday you will discover the Large Butterwort and Burren Orchid, otherwise only to be found in Spain, and the rare Burren Saxifrage, Saxifraga rosacea. Growing in profusion are Bloody Cranesbills, Spring Gentians, Mountain Avens and a wide range of orchids, including O’Kelly’s. We will see Puffins and Kittiwakes on the Cliffs of Moher and climb Black Head to a fine Stone Age ring fort. Our wonderful hotel in Lisdoonvarna provides excellent Irish food and hospitality and the local Irish smoked salmon is fabulous!

The Burren is an area of limestone pavement in County Clare, forming a natural rock garden extending over 200 square kilometres. Walking over this pavement is a unique experience in itself. The rock crevices, called scailps in Ireland, support a huge range of plants - Spring Gentians, Bloody Cranesbills, Mountain Avens, the white Burnet Rose, Rosa pimpernelifolia and Potentilla fruticosa are amongst the most colourful. The Burren Orchid, Neotinea maculata, mainly seen in Spain; Saxifraga rosacea (now extinct in Britain) and the large Butterwort, Pinguicula grandiflora, from the mountains of south-west Europe, plus many other plant anomalies, grow together in great profusion, making the Burren flora unique. We shall explore the rugged coastline with its views of the Aran Islands and of the Connemara Mountains across Galway Bay. The Moher cliffs are excellent for seabirds, including Puffins and Kittiwakes. We may also climb Black Head to see one of the best examples of a Stone Age ring fort. Our comfortable hotel in Lisdoonvarna is an ideal centre for our exploration and offers excellent Irish food and hospitality. We will have a chance to taste, and maybe take home, some justly famed local smoked salmon.

Outline Itinerary

Day
1
Meet at Shannon Airport; transfer to Lisdoonvarna
Days
2 - 4
Botanical excursions from our base at Lisdoonvarna
Day
5
Morning exursion, afternoon transfer to Shannon Airport
Itinerary Image
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What's Included?

Food

All included except pub/picnic lunches.

Accommodation

Included in the price of holiday. We will be staying at a splendid local hotel which is always extremely popular with group members.

Reviews

M.W. Cheshire, May 19

Reviewed in May 2019

We enjoyed the area, and the group, as usual on Naturetrek holidays, was very congenial. Bruce, our guide, was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and a good communicator. He did a first class job. The hotel was excellent and Martina, the owner/manager, was as friendly and efficient as any hotelier I have ever encountered. All in all, a very enjoyable and stimulating holiday.

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R.C.H. West Midlands

Reviewed in Jul 2018

Very well organised trip with a knowledgeable leader. The group was an appropriate size and all participants were enthusiastic, helpful and friendly. The hotel was particularly welcoming. The Burren lived up to its reputation as an excellent location to see a large number of interesting plant species.

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M.R. London

Reviewed in Jun 2018

A most rewarding, well planned and well executed trip. Thank you

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M.C. Nottinghamshire

Reviewed in Jun 2018

Rob Mileto and Gill were delightful, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. They really made the holiday a time to remember.

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E.P. Suffolk

Reviewed in Jun 2018

The bus driver was very good and he went the extra mile to make our trip enjoyable.

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S.C. Kent

Reviewed in Jun 2018

Bryan Farrell of Burren Coaches added enormously to the enjoyment of the holiday. As well as being extremely helpful and friendly, he has a deep knowledge and understanding of the Burren, especially the archaeology and geology. On the days he drove us, he told us so much about the area and its history.

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C.S. Hampshire

Reviewed in Jun 2018

I wanted to see the flowers in the Burren and this holiday was just perfect for that. I particularly enjoyed the different types of location we went to and the contrast between them.

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S.D. Northumberland

Reviewed in Jun 2018

Accommodation was superb; the food provided was excellent, and everything was very well organised and friendly.

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J.H. Highland

Reviewed in Jun 2018

This was a most enjoyable 5 day holiday with really excellent hotel accommodation and food. Lunch stops were well chosen and very good. The enthusiasm and determination of our leader to find as many different flowers as possible was remarkable and we were blessed with perfect weather. What more could one want!

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Dates & Prices

2027

Land Only

£995

Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

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Why Choose Naturetrek?

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