44403IRE
Burren scenic drive
Cliffs of Moher visit
Group will have been pre-booked by the office so the tickets should be waiting for you. No harm in calling ahead. A member of staff from the Cliffs will meet and give you the tickets when your coach pulls up near the visitor center. Double-check the number of tickets. Distribute tickets, being aware of potential gusts of wind. Tickets include admission to the Atlantic Edge Exhibition but often the barrier is left open. Café, restaurant toilets, gift shop and exchange are in the visitor center. Warn groups to stay on the path, and suggest they walk up to O’Brien’s tower where the Cliffs are at their highest. O’Brien’s Tower is separate and has a small charge. Warn group to be careful of hats and bags if a windy day and to stay on marked paths, paying attention to closures. If Cliffs is a lunch stop then allow group to visit in whatever order they wish. Parking is an issue at the Cliffs so you might be directed to the overflow car park.
If visiting the Cliffs of Moher after an early arrival in Shannon (40 miles on the N85, approx. 1 hour 15 minutes), be aware that the Cliff View Café opens later than the visitor centre, call ahead to check +353 657086141/+353 876566133
Opening times, entrance fees, telephone numbers etc. in yellow pages.
09.15 Depart Galway. Take N18 towards Gort
10.15 Arrive at Coole Park, on the right, just before Gort. Spend 25-30 mins there.
Gardens and woods belonged to Lady Gregory, friend of Yeats and other Irish writers. No entrance fee. Park in coach park, head towards the gardens, past the raised rectangle that marks the site of her house, until you reach the copper beech Autograph Tree, with famous carved signatures. If they want to go down to the lake, they will need 45-60 mins here. There is a visitor centre, that tells the story of Lady Gregory and her literary friends from the vantage point of one of the children who lived in the house. (Opens from mid April). Café and toilets.
10.50 Depart Gort on R460 to Corofin. There take R476 past Lemaneah Castle to Kilfenora (The Burren Centre, has a café and access to Celtic Crosses) then the R481 to Ennistymon. Then N67 to Lahinch and R478 through Liscannor to the Cliffs.
12.15 Arrive at the Cliffs of Moher. Café, shop, toilets, heritage centre.
14.00 Depart Cliffs of Moher. Take R478 to Lisdoonvarna, through the Burren on the N67 to Ballyvaughan and continue along to Kinvara. Toilets at a premium on this stretch, it is about 2 hours to Galway. Then N18 to Galway.
16.00 Arrive Galway
Alternative Burren Tour
Depart 0900 if visiting the Ailwee Caves. Lunch at Cliffs of Moher and suggest they snack at Ailwee Caves and Ballyvaughan.
Extended Burren tour
Take N18/N67 towards Kinvara. Come off the N67 at Ballyvaughan taking R480.
This leads you across the Burren past some interesting sights, you can then loop back along the stunning coast road to Galway via Black Head.
Suggested Stops/Things to Point Out
- Ailwee Caves, shortly after joining the R480, follow the yellow signs.
The Burren is a warren of caves, these are the most extensive open to the public. You need to book. They pay, but there is a group rate. The tour takes 1 hour depending on size of group. Includes an underground waterfall and bear hibernation pits, plus the odd bat. Refreshments, shop, toilets.
- Poulnabrone Dolmen, 4 miles further on left. Stop here, walk up to it and take photos – a coach parking space is now available.
- Further on when you join the R476, turning right towards the Cliffs, you will see Lemaneagh Castle (stories of Maura Ruadh MacMahon O’Brien here).
- Kilfenora famous ecclesiastical site. Burren Centre has a café, and gives access to Celtic Crosses.
- Lahinch (famine monument on the right as you leave Ennistymon). The door represents the door of the Workhouse which was in the field opposite.
- Liscannor (famous for the limestone paving slabs). You see these lining the paths around the Cliffs and also on some of the cottage roofs. Look for the squiggly markings of compressed worms and plants. Birthplace of John P Holland, credited by the US navy as the inventor of the first workable submarine.
- As you climb after Liscannor you will see the column in memory of the MP Cornelius O’Brien, who also built the observation tower at the Cliffs. He is buried in the little churchyard behind the Brigid Well (statue of saint in little courtyard). The column looks down on the remains of O’Brien’s mansion, Birchfield, in the fields below.
- Cliffs of Moher Café, toilets, gift shop and exchange in the visitor centre. Warn groups to stay on path, and suggest they walk up to O’Brien’s Tower where the Cliffs are at their highest.
- On the coast road, you could stop for a rest in Doolin (Fisherstreet) home to Irish traditional music festivals. But are probably best to continue on and make a stop in Ballyvaughan. Coastal route will take longer time wise.
- Continue back along the N67/N18/N6 into Galway.