4 Day History & Culture Tour in the Burren and Aran Islands
Burren Tour
The Burren is a Unesco world heritage site for good reason as it is home to many historical and culturally important sites. This tour is specifically designed for guests with a keen interest in Irish history and culture and this tour visits a wide range of historically important sites, spanning millennia of human history in this part of Ireland. From ancient prehistory, early christian and medieval times, through Anglo-Norman times to the modern era, this tour provides a fascinating insight into the historic treasures of the Burren.
Highlights
Unique Burren Landscape
Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher
Corcomroe abbey
The Flaggy shore
Poulnabrone dolmen
Aliwee caves
The welcoming pubs and traditional music
…and much more
This 4-night cycling tour starts in Galway City and finishes in the village of Doolin near the Cliffs of Moher. We will meet you in Galway to brief you on the tour and get you fitted with bikes. You will spend 1 night in Ballyvaughan, and 3 nights in Doolin. After the final night in Doolin, you will leave your bikes in the B&B/guesthouse and catch a bus/taxi to your next location.
Cycling distances:
Day 1 – up to 60km
Day 2 – 30km to 70km
Day 3 – 30km to 50km
Day 4 – 35km +
Gradient:
The gradient is easy to moderate
Departure dates:
You can start this tour on any date that suits you between April and October
|Day 1. Meet one of our experienced guides in Galway City and depart southwards to the Burren.
Cycling distance: up to 60km
Accommodation: B&B Ballyvaughan
Medieval Castles
The first of these monuments is the majestic Oranmore Castle, overlooking Galway Bay. The castle, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, is associated with the Clanricarde Clan (also known as the Galway Burkes). They were a branch of the Norman dynasty descended from Richard de Burgh who captured Galway from the native Gaels in 1232. The castle was an important stronghold for the Clanricardes especially in the 1600s during the Irish Confederate Wars and later Cromwellian conquest.
From Oranmore you will cycle through several quaint Irish towns including the picturesque Clarinbridge, home to the world-famous Clarinbridge Oyster Festival. We recommend stopping for excellent seafood in Moran’s Oyster Cottage in nearby Kilolgan, which dates back 300 years and is now run by the 7th generation of the Moran family.
The next important monument you will visit is Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara. Since in 1520 the castle has witnessed sieges and warring clans but has also been inhabited by renowned literary figures from Oliver St John Gogarty to George Bernard Shaw, WB Yeats and Lady Gregory. Today the castle open to the public for tours and banquets.
British Fortification
You will continue on to Finvara, to take in the stunning views along the Flaggy Shore. You will also see on the edge of the pier, a Martello Tower, a type of fort built by the British Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. At the time, the British feared that Ireland would be used by the French as a base for attacking mainland Britain and constructed a number of look-out towers all along the Atlantic coast, many of which survive to this day. The Irish at this time however would have welcomed the French as liberators, as they had during the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798.
Religious monuments
The last monument of the day will be Corcomroe Abbey, built by the O’Brien dynasty in the 1100s. Founded by the most famous High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, the O’Brien dynasty built many religious structures throughout their kingdom to display their power and wealth. Their historic Kingdom of Thomond roughly corresponds to County Clare where you will be spending the next couple of days.
The abbey is quite close to the village of Ballyvaughan where you will stay the night. We recommend a visit to a local pub called O’Loclainn’s Irish Whiskey Bar to end your day.
|Day 2. Cycle through the heart of the Burren and learn about the ancient Irish
Cycling distance: 30km to 70km
Accommodation: B&B Doolin
Today you will be visiting sites associated with the ancient peoples of Ireland. You will begin your day by cycling south of Ballyvaughan through the heart of the Burren, host to the oldest known evidence of human activity in Ireland. Archaeological discoveries in the caves of the Burren tell us that people have inhabited the region since the Neolithic period. Above ground, our ancestors have left behind many megalithic structures such as dolmens and ringforts, both of which you will see on your cycle today.
Caves
The Aillwee Caves near Ballyvaughan are a must-see for anyone visiting the Burren. They provide an excellent Geological History tour. Most impressively the tour showcases bones from a bear believed to have been butchered by our Neolithic ancestors 4,600 years ago. The Doolin Caves are also very popular and boast the longest free-hanging stalactite in Europe.
Dolmens
Dolmens are single-chamber megalithic tombs that feature three upright standing stones. As you cycle through the limestone karst landscape you will come to the most iconic of these tombs, Poulnabrone Dolmen. Remains here have been dated to 3,800BC. It’s a marvel how these Stone Age people managed to construct these monuments and they have long inspired superstition that they were built by the fairies.
Ringforts
Also known as fairy forts, ringforts are defensive settlements first built in the Bronze Age and associated with the ancient Celts of Ireland. They are found scattered throughout Ireland but the one you will be visiting, Caherconnell is a particularly good example as it is still in its original state.
Doolin
You will continue your cycle along the scenic country roads of the Burren until you reach the vibrant village of Doolin, known for its beautiful coastal views and traditional Irish music. In the long summer evenings, the pubs come alive with nightly music and storytelling.
|Day 3: Our Natural Heritage
Cycling distance: 30km to 50km
Accommodation: B&B Doolin
Cliffs of Moher
Today you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Cliffs of Moher, a magnificent natural feature spanning 14km of the Irish coast. The cliffs rise to over 700 feet above the Atlantic and there is a cliff side path that can be walked to enjoy the vista. The cliffs get their name from the word Mothar, which means ruined fort in ancient gaelic and there are a number of historic forts located along the cliff path. After visiting the cliffs, return to Doolin for the final night of the tour.
|Day 4. A daytrip to the Aran Islands
Cycling distance: 35 km +
Accommodation: B&B Doolin
Today you will catch the ferry for a day trip to the famous Aran Islands. Due to their abundance of historic sites and relative isolation from modern life, the islands are often described as a time capsule. The traditional ways of life and the Irish language (Gaeilge) are strongly preserved here.
You will be visiting the largest of the Aran Islands, Inishmore, home to the Seven Churches, and the spectacular 3,000-year-old clifftop fort, Dun Aonghusa. Explore these sites and more as you cycle around a maze of oddly shaped fields. It is not possible to bring bikes on the ferry, so we will arrange a separate bike hire on the island for you.
The return ferry to the mainland is in the late afternoon and you will spend one last night in Doolin.
Option 1:
Trek FX2 Hybrid Touring Bike – Included in tour price
The FX2 is strong, stable, fun and perfectly suited for Irish roads. Customised for West Ireland Cycling with puncture resistant tyres, mudguards and rear rack. Also available with ladies specific frame. Bike lock, helmet, repair kit, pump and spare tube is also included.
Upgrade Option 1:
Upgrade Option: Trek 520 Adventure Touring Bike + €100*
The 520 is the classic steel touring bike. One of the longest-running touring bikes in the world. If you are a committed touring cyclist looking for the best in comfort and durability, this is the bike for you.
* Upgrade fee is payable directly to our office on the day of collection
Upgrade Option 2:
Upgrade option: Trek Electric Bikes + €120*
We use the best quality E-bikes on the market. These bikes are pedal assist meaning they travel a lot further when you push the pedal compared to a regular bike. Comfortable, strong and stable bikes combined with a quiet, powerful Bosch motor and a fully integrated high-capacity battery ensure many miles of care-free cycling. On a full charge they are good for 60km+.
* Upgrade fee is payable directly to our office on the day of collection
Stay comfortably in our carefully hand-picked accommodations
The accommodation included on the tour are B&Bs or small guesthouses. They are clean, comfortable, family run businesses and come very highly rated on Trip Advisor and Booking.com and are well set-up to cater for cycling holiday guests.
The hosts are very knowledgeable about the local area and will be happy to assist you in any way needed.
We have been using the same venues for many years and our previous guests are very happy with them. Each room with have its own private bathroom and shower too. Breakfast is included in the package. All of the venues are located in the centre, or very close to the centre of a small village or town with local bars, cafes and restaurants all within easy walking distance.
Add extra days or shorten your cycling holiday in Ireland to suit your needs or schedule
We are lucky in the west of ireland to have thousands of km of unspoilt coastal and scenic cycling to enjoy.
We understand that 7 days may not be the ideal amount of time for everyone.
If you would like a longer or shorter version of the tour, please just email tours@westirelandcycling.com and we will design a custom tour to suit your schedule.
Fantastic Cycling Holiday
West Ireland Cycling provided the bikes (excellent), panniers, custom guidebook, transfers at the start and end of the trip, and comfortable accommodations each night. Our guide book included cycling routes and maps along with optional extensions, points of interest, and dining recommendations. We especially loved the alternative, car-free routes in and out of Cong, as well as the incredible bog road.
We highly recommend experiencing Ireland by bike and letting West Ireland Cycling plan your trip. Gorgeous country, excellent roads (many nearly car-free), patient drivers and lovely people made our trip better than we’d imagined. Thanks, John and everyone at West Ireland Cycling!
Anne, USA, July 2022.
Can’t wait to go back
We were looking for a self-guided trip in Ireland and came across West Ireland Cycling. From beginning to end, John did an amazing job at putting together a 6 night trip. I couldn’t decide between the Conamarra or Burren trip, so he put a trip together that included both! The Trek touring bikes were in great shape. The roads we cycled on were spectacular- along the water, bogs and mountains- full of green, sheep, cows and limestone. The seafood was superb- fresh as can be. I will dream of the oysters when I get home. It was great not to carry luggage and to stay in a warm B and B each night. I would highly recommend this company.
Steven, Switzerland, Sept 2022.
Experience of a life-time
My mom and I spent 7 days cycling with West Ireland Cycling in May. It was absolutely amazing. It was obvious that John and his team had put a ton of effort into the tour to make everything run extremely smoothly.
John provided us with high quality bicycles and maps with very detailed instructions. It’d be impossible to get lost or turned around. The instructions included great cafes, restaurants, lunch spots, and notable sites. There was flexibility within the routes and being able to go at our own pace was great. Every evening we’d arrive at another adorable, clean b&b with our luggage and a comfy bed waiting.
I can’t recommend this particular tour highly enough. John and team went above and beyond several times throughout the trip to make this one of our most memorable vacations. The price is well worth it considering the quality of care, bicycles, and accomodations you get in return. Do it!
Kathy, Canada, June 2020.
Prices
€950 per person based on 2 people sharing.
€250 single room supplement.
Included In Tour
Personal meet and greet with a local guide
Transfer to the start of the tour outside Galway City
4 Nights Accommodation
(Includes private en-suite & full Irish breakfast)A guidebook explaining the history of the sights you will visit
Trek Touring Bicycle
(Including panniers, helmet, bottle holder, pump, lock, tubes and repair kit) Electric bike upgrade available.- Luggage Transfers
Easy-to-Read turn by turn directions + Road Maps
- GPX files for navigation with smartphone
- Local phone support if needed
Ebike upgrade available
Ferry tickets