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Autorondreizen West Ierland

Uw  reisspecialist  voor  N-W Europa  en  groepsreizen

© Robin Reizen 2012

Way out West Tour - 8 of 9 dagen

Er is geen twijfel dat de beelden van het westen van Ierland voor altijd in het geheugen gegrift staan na uw bezoek aan dit geweldige landschap, met zijn ruige bergen, zoetwatermeren en ongerepte kilometers kust en ongerepte zandstranden.

 

Wat is niet moeilijk voor te stellen dat deze plaatsen bestaan, maar dat ze bestaan in het midden van de warme en vriendelijke gemeenschappen. In het westen van Ierland waar de Gaelic cultuur bloeit en helft van de bevolking nog steeds Iers als de eerste taal spreekt, zijn het de mensen die men van de prachtige bezienswaardigheden zouden kunnen afleiden.

 

Geniet dagelijks van het prachtige landschap, inclusief de Cliffs of Moher, de Aran eilanden, Killary Harbour en de grimmige Burren van County Clare. Rust ‘s avonds uit onder genot van uitstekende traditionele Ierse muziek in één van de gezellige pubs.

 

Galway City, de festival hoofdstad van het land met zijn beroemde Horse Racing, kunst en oester festivals om er maar een paar te noemen. Ervaar de ware essentie van Ierland - Way out West.

 

 

Om u een idee geven van de details die wij bij onze routes voegen, vindt u hieronder het eerste gedeelte van de ruim 40 pagina tellende gedetailleerde routebeschrijving.

 

 

Shannon Airport to Doolin, County Clare

This route will take in the region of 80 minutes or so (driving time only). Departing Bunratty, take the N18 north to the provincial town of Ennis in County Clare.

 

Ennis

As well as presenting a typical example of Irish town life, Ennis is the capital of County Clare. Music, informally in many of the pubs and more organised in the Glór Irish Music Centre, is one of the main attractions of this town and easy to experience, particularly from May onwards. While in Ennis, the Ennis Friary is well worth a visit. The oldest building in Ennis, the 13th century friary, roofless for generations contains some gems of medieval sculpture. Its history is palpable. This 13th century Franciscan Friary, founded by the O’Briens, has numerous 15/16th century sculptures carved in the local hard limestone. The visitor can see the figure of St. Francis displaying the stigmata, an elaborately ornamented screen, a representation of the Virgin and Child and the Ecce Homo. The Chancel is lit by the magnificent East Window. On the North side is the beautifully carved McMahon tomb.

 

Kilfenora

Continuing on from Ennis on the R476, you will find the village of Kilfenora (30 minutes away).

 

In the picturesque village of Kilfenora, The Burren Centre gives the visitor an introduction to the visual delights and ancient mysteries which are waiting to be discovered in this unspoiled corner of Ireland. This ‘walk through time’ will take you back through the ages to a time when this area lay beneath a warm tropical sea. Follow the story of thec formation of the Burren's lunar landscape where man hunted bear, and wolves roamed the forests. See how, thousands of years ago, man left his mark on the landscape in the form of Dolmens and burial chambers. They still stand today, stone sentinels at the gates of our civilization’s history. Take the journey with us, watch history unfold in front of your eyes, listen to the sounds and feel the atmosphere of thousands of years ago.

 

The Cliffs of Moher

From Kilfenora, travel to the magnificent . Departing Kilfenora take the R481 into Lahinch. From here take the R478 to Liscannor and onto the Cliffs. The majestic Cliffs of Moher are without doubt one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights and overlook the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of West Clare. Located just north of Lahinch they are 8km long and 214m high, it is here that one can most easily get a feel for the wildness of the terrain over which the Celts wandered, for although they built imposing castles, very often they preferred the outdoor nomadic life and enjoyed the hunt.

 

The Cliffs lay claim to one of the most astonishing views in Ireland, on a clear day the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of the Connemara region. The Cliffs of Moher rise from Hag's Head to the south and reach their highest point (214 meters) just north of O'Briens Tower.

 

The sea-stack, covered with seabirds, just below the tower is called Bréanán Mor and is over 70 meters high. During springtime the cliffs are a bird-watchers delight with guillemots, kittiwakes, shags, choughs, and puffins, you will be fascinated by the bird colonies nestling on the cliffs. The cliffs are formed by layers of siltstone, shale and sandstone with the oldest rocks at the bottom of the cliff. It is here that one can most easily get a feel for the wildness of the terrain over which the Celts wandered, for although they built imposing castles, very often they preferred the outdoor nomadic life and enjoyed the hunt.

 

The new Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre promises to provide a fantastic experience for everyone. It opened in 2007 with superb visitor facilities, cafés, guide services, auditorium and exhibition areas in a specially designed building suited to the Cliffs of Moher. The foyer is modern and spacious and gives access to the retail shop, tourist information office, exhibition centre and the café. Upstairs the restaurant provides panoramic views of the Cliffs and Liscannor Bay.

 

A circular ramp will bring the visitor from the exhibition centre to the auditorium for the audio visual displays. The domed exhibition centre is designed to cater for varying degrees of interest with interactive participation and is structured by the interweaving of four themed strands ‘Ocean’ ‘Rock’, ‘Nature’ and ‘Man’. It promises to make up for those days with inclement weather.

 

O'Brien's Tower

O’Briens Tower was built in 1835 by Cornelius O'Brien a descendant of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland and the O'Brien's of Bunratty Castle, Kings of Thomond, as an observation point for the hundreds of tourists who even then, visited the Cliffs. It is the best location from which to view the Cliffs, from this vantage point one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk Mountains to the north in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Here again we see the extent of the O’Brien’s influence on the history of the Celtic tribes. Cornelius O’Brien built the Tower in 1835.

 

Cornelius was a man ahead of his time, believing that the development of tourism would benefit the local economy and bring people out of poverty. He also built a wall of Moher flagstones along the Cliffs and it was said in the locality that ‘he built everything around here except the Cliffs’. He died in 1857 and his remains lie in the O’Brien vault in the graveyard adjoining St. Brigid’s Well.

 

O’Brien’s Tower is located a short distance from the village of Liscannor – famous for its slate ‘flagstones’ which were used at the time for fencing purposes. In fact the story goes that Cornelius O’Brien, one time member of the parliament for County Clare won a bet with his English counterparts that he could build a fence ‘a mile long, a yard high and an inch thick’. These were the dimensions of the flagstones and they were quickly adapted as building material as well as floor covering in farmhouses throughout the 19th century. This is evidenced in Bunratty Folk Park at Mac’s Pub. The flagstones bear the remarkable feature of the imprint of fossilized eels compacted over thousands of years.

 

Vast colonies of birds nestle along the cliff ledges - fulmaras, shags, puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills together with varieties of gulls.

 

The Village of Doolin

Close to the Cliffs is the coastal village of Doolin. Doolin is a small fishing village, also known as Fisherstreet, on a sandy bay some 3km from Aill Na Searrach, the northern end of the Cliffs of Moher. Doolin is world-famous for its wealth of Irish folk music and in recent years has been attracting crowds to spontaneous sessions and festivals or 'fleadhanna' of Irish and international music. There are many music pubs and restaurants to be found in this village.

 

The Aran Islands

The smallest of the Aran Islands, Inisheer, is only 10km from the mainland at Doolin. A ferry operating a daily service can take groups of up to 150 people across to the islands in less than 30 minutes - making it the fastest route to the islands. Overlooked by Doonagore Castle, you will see an unusual circular tower within a walled “bawn” enclosure, which has been restored as a residence. Nearer the sea, Iron Age burial mounds dot the surrounding landscape.

 

Inishmore schedule: The 140 passenger superferry departs Doolin pier for Inishmore every Morning at 9am or as soon thereafter as tide allows. There is also an evening Departure from Doolin close to 5pm daily. Extra lunchtime sailing available on Certain Days. Please contact the office for more information on times for your selected day/days. Travel time to Inishmore is under 1 hour.

 

Inisheer schedule: It departs Doolin pier for Inisheer from 9am Tide allowing and then every 90minutes until 3pm. An evening sailing is also available Daily. Please contact the office for more information on times for your selected day/days. Travel time to Inisheer is 20 minutes.

 

Inishmaan schedule: Inishmaan is served daily by the interisland ferry. Please contact the office for more information on times for your selected day/days.

 

Doolin to Galway

This route will take in the region of 2 hours driving time although you may end up making numerous side trips as you travel, such is the nature of the County Clare and Burren region. Heading north from Doolin, the wonderful Aillwee caves await you.

 

Aillwee Caves

This stunning creation of nature was formed by the melt waters of a prehistoric ice age. The caves, carved out of limestone, cut into the heart of the mountain.

The story of Aillwee Cave began millions of years ago when streams sinking underground on Aillwee Mountain started dissolving channels through the lines of weakness in the limestone. About one million years ago the ice age began and from then until fifteen thousand years ago Ireland's climate alternated between artic coldness and warmer periods, freezing and melting, freezing and melting over the centuries. This melting water roared and crashed it's way through an unde rground channel greatly enlarging the passage and bringing with it large quantities of sand and silts which are still present in the inner cave today. Aillwee is one of the most ancient caves in the Burren.

 

Aillwee Cave is so much more than just another cave. It is an introduction to the geology of the Burren. A fun day out packed full of exciting things to do. Cave Tour , Woodland Walk, Mountain Walk , Gift Shop, Potato Bar, Cafe , Farm Shop, Garden Centre , Story Telling Evenings, Santa's Workshop and Cheese Making.

 

Just below the Aillwee caves, you will find a shop that specializes in Award winning Farmhouse cheeses and other specialities.

Guided tours every 5-15 minutes. Tours take approximately 35 minutes. School groups: one teacher/adult free with every 15 children. To qualify for group rates, groups must number 15 persons or more and booking and payment made by the group leader. Lunch menus are available, at all prices, upon request. Cheese tour available before 12 noon.

 

The Burren

The Burren, from the Gaelic word Boireann is an area of limestone rock covering imposing majestic mountains, and tranquil valleys with gently meandering streams. With its innate sense of spiritual peace, extraordinary array of flora and wildlife, and megalithic tombs and monuments older than Egypt's pyramids, the Burren creates a tapestry of colour and a seductively magical aura which few people leave without wanting to experience again.

 

De resterende details van deze routebeschrijving ontvangt bij uw boeking/reisbescheiden.

 

Aanvraag/Reserveren

Reisschema 8 dagen

1 nacht County Clare

1 nacht Galway City

2 nachten Westport County Mayo

2 nachten Connemara/Galway

1 nacht Bunratty, County Clare

 

Reisschema 9 dagen

1 nacht County Clare

1 nacht Galway City

2 nachten Westport County Mayo

2 nachten Connemara/Galway

2 nachten Bunratty, County Clare