SUNDAY 11th MARCH – National Tree Week Walk.
Not Enough Wood to Hang a Man – A Guided Tree Walk in the Burren National Park. Meet at Gortlecka Cross, Kilnaboy (51R 310 945) on Sunday 11th March 2012 at 2.00pm.
Not enough wood to hang a man was the colourful phrase uttered by Cromwellian Lieutenant General Ludlow to describe the dearth of woodland in the Burren in the 17th century. It is also the title of a guided tree walk organised by Heart of Burren Walks on the occasion of National Tree Week 2012 .
Guide Tony Kirby will seek to identify at least a dozen native tree types during the afternoon. Moreover, there will be informative and entertaining discussion about the uses and folklore of each tree species encountered.
The remarkable and still evolving story of the Burren and woodland will also feature as will some of the region’s early wildflowers. The fee for the walk is €10 euros per adult ; under 16s are free of charge.
SATURDAY 17th MARCH - St Patrick’s Day Walk.
St Patrick and the Burren - A 15 kilometre walk in the west of the Burren interspersed with narrative on St Patrick’s Burren connections with churches, holy wells, imprint stones and wildflowers in the region named after him. More detail to follow.
Summer Schedule 2012 -
BURREN NATIONAL PARK, KILNABOY.
The Burren National Park is one of the last great uncontaminated landscapes in Ireland. This Burren walk features commentaries on the wildflowers, limestone pavement, archaeology, farming, wildlife and folklore of the region. It includes the geological icon of the region (Mullaghmore hill), herds of feral goats, a large turlough or seasonal lake, great “wallscapes” (networks of drystone walls) and the world-renowned Burren mélange of Arctic, Alpine and Mediterranean.
Meeting point -
-
Meet at the Burren Centre, Kilfenora.
-
Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June, July and August at 2:30 pm.
-
Walk duration – two hours approximately.
-
Fees. 20 euros per person. Under 16 years of age – free of charge.
-
Easy Walking. Walks take place as scheduled rain or shine!
RATHBORNEY VALLEY, BALLYVAUGHAN.
Rathborney Valley is situated near the picturesque coastal village of Ballyvaughan. It is a fertile valley rich in antiquities. It enjoys a stunning location occupying the floor between two of the great limestone hills of the region. The valley is extremely tranquil with a resident population of just 28 people! The archaeological highlights include an imposing Early Christian fort, medieval and 19th century churches and an old bog highway. This Burren guided walk also features stunning examples of the region’s pavements, wildflowers and drystone walls.
Meeting point -
-
Meet at Burren Food and Wine, Ballyvaughan
-
Every Wednesday in June, July and August at 10:00am.
-
Walk duration – two hours approximately. Easy Walking.
-
Fees. 20 euros per person. Under 16 years of age – free of charge.
-
Walks take place as scheduled rain or shine!
If you would like to book one of these walks, you can do so by clicking on the button and paying the fee of 20 euro per person.
Pay for the Burren National Park Walk.
Pay for the Rathborney Valley Walk.
.
.
..
.
Here are the bus timetables for travel from Galway to Kilfenora (nearest stop Lisdoonvarna) and Ballyvaughan.
Here are the Bus timetables for travel from Ennis and Limerick to Kilfenora.
.
13 Responses to “Burren Walks Schedule”
Just a note to say thank you for showing me around the Burren! I really enjoyed the tour. What an amazing and inspirational place. Warmest wishes.
Just a note to say thank you for showing me around the Burren! I really enjoyed the tour. What an amazing and inspirational place. Warmest wishes.
Hi Tony,
I just wanted to say how much myself and Ann enjoyed your Burren walk when we visited the week before last. It was a memorable day and enhanced our holiday visit for our 25th wedding anniversary.
Hi Tony,
I just wanted to say how much myself and Ann enjoyed your Burren walk when we visited the week before last. It was a memorable day and enhanced our holiday visit for our 25th wedding anniversary.
Hi Tony,
My name is Brad Thompson and I’m a journalist employed by The West Australian newspaper. I was lucky enough to be a guest on one of your walking tours on June 8th 2010. Thanks for showing us around the Burren and for such an entertaining and interesting afternoon.
Kind regards,
Brad
Hi Tony,
My name is Brad Thompson and I’m a journalist employed by The West Australian newspaper. I was lucky enough to be a guest on one of your walking tours on June 8th 2010. Thanks for showing us around the Burren and for such an entertaining and interesting afternoon.
Kind regards,
Brad
A special time in a magical place – a place we intend revisiting at another season. The selection of plants we saw provided a remarkable experience and Tony Kirby is an outstanding guide.
A special time in a magical place – a place we intend revisiting at another season. The selection of plants we saw provided a remarkable experience and Tony Kirby is an outstanding guide.
Hi Tony,
On behalf of Bernadette and myself, many thanks for the tour on Saturday July 3rd. It was very informative and enjoyable…..will contact you again when we are next in the area.
Hi Tony,
On behalf of Bernadette and myself, many thanks for the tour on Saturday July 3rd. It was very informative and enjoyable…..will contact you again when we are next in the area.
We have just returned from 2 weeks in Ireland and one of the best highlights was a fantastic Burren walking tour we took while there. In fact we participated in two of Tony Kirby’s walks in the Burren. Each lasted 2-3 hours or however long necessary… Tony is passionate about the Burren and his narrative vividly brings to life the past, present & future of this fascinating place.
We highly recommend Heart of Burren Walks. Two thumbs way up!
We have just returned from 2 weeks in Ireland and one of the best highlights was a fantastic Burren walking tour we took while there. In fact we participated in two of Tony Kirby’s walks in the Burren. Each lasted 2-3 hours or however long necessary… Tony is passionate about the Burren and his narrative vividly brings to life the past, present & future of this fascinating place.
We highly recommend Heart of Burren Walks. Two thumbs way up!
July 2010. We absolutely loved taking a guided 2 hour walk through the Burren in western Ireland with Tony Kirby, a wonderful naturalist and historian. We found him in the small village of Kilfenora, at the Burren Centre, about an hour southwest of Galway. He is a font of information about both natural and human history. Tony speaks passionately about the geology, flora and fauna of this extraordinary and beautiful region. The Burren is full of limestone formations, rock tombs, and amazing plants and animals – an area of fascinating and precious biodiversity. Tony is friendly, sharp, welcoming and an excellent teacher who includes his visitors’ interests in his engaging, easy walking talks. An absolute must for really understanding Ireland and getting off the tourist track
July 2010. We absolutely loved taking a guided 2 hour walk through the Burren in western Ireland with Tony Kirby, a wonderful naturalist and historian. We found him in the small village of Kilfenora, at the Burren Centre, about an hour southwest of Galway. He is a font of information about both natural and human history. Tony speaks passionately about the geology, flora and fauna of this extraordinary and beautiful region. The Burren is full of limestone formations, rock tombs, and amazing plants and animals – an area of fascinating and precious biodiversity. Tony is friendly, sharp, welcoming and an excellent teacher who includes his visitors’ interests in his engaging, easy walking talks. An absolute must for really understanding Ireland and getting off the tourist track
Thank you very much for a most enjoyable walk on Saturday afternoon – we all thoroughly enjoyed seeing the wonders of the Burren and your commentary was very helpful and inspiring and we loved the sprinkling of poetry every so often! We wish you a very good 2011 season and all good wishes to you and your family. Hope to be back in the Burren again before too long!
Thank you very much for a most enjoyable walk on Saturday afternoon – we all thoroughly enjoyed seeing the wonders of the Burren and your commentary was very helpful and inspiring and we loved the sprinkling of poetry every so often! We wish you a very good 2011 season and all good wishes to you and your family. Hope to be back in the Burren again before too long!
Dear Tony,
Thank you very much for the wonderful hours we spent with you in the unique Burren area. Most of the girls mentioned that the day at the Cliffs of Moher and the walk in the Burren were their personal highlights of our project week in Ireland. We really enjoyed your way of combining information and entertainment. It’s great how you can make young people interested in this unique landscape with its flora and fauna. Thanks again!
Dear Tony,
Thank you very much for the wonderful hours we spent with you in the unique Burren area. Most of the girls mentioned that the day at the Cliffs of Moher and the walk in the Burren were their personal highlights of our project week in Ireland. We really enjoyed your way of combining information and entertainment. It’s great how you can make young people interested in this unique landscape with its flora and fauna. Thanks again!
Ciao Tony,
Thanks to you for your time, your knowledge and your passion. The place is magical, and your words made it come to life. You can be sure I will see you soon again. Thanks again for a wonderful experience.
Ciao Tony,
Thanks to you for your time, your knowledge and your passion. The place is magical, and your words made it come to life. You can be sure I will see you soon again. Thanks again for a wonderful experience.
We really did enjoy the walk through the Burren with Tony. We loved the poetry and we were fascinated with the badger scratches in the rocks, being able to walk on the turlough bed, as well as the whole history of the land
We really did enjoy the walk through the Burren with Tony. We loved the poetry and we were fascinated with the badger scratches in the rocks, being able to walk on the turlough bed, as well as the whole history of the land
Your tour was one of the highlights of our wonderful trip to Ireland. Thank you, and we are also enjoying your book.
Your tour was one of the highlights of our wonderful trip to Ireland. Thank you, and we are also enjoying your book.
A fall tour of southwest Ireland included a walking tour of the Burrens, led by walking guide, Tony Kirby. In addition to being very knowledgeable in the landscape, history and natural habitat of the area, Tony enriched the walk with stops along the way for readings from well known Irish poets. His warm, gentle character made this stop on our tour a delight and much remembered
A fall tour of southwest Ireland included a walking tour of the Burrens, led by walking guide, Tony Kirby. In addition to being very knowledgeable in the landscape, history and natural habitat of the area, Tony enriched the walk with stops along the way for readings from well known Irish poets. His warm, gentle character made this stop on our tour a delight and much remembered