The Burren

Tour Code: IRL02

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

5 days from
£895
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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

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!

 

Grading

Easy day walks although terrain can be uneven

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.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

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

What's Included?

  • Accommodation: Included in the price of holiday. We will be staying at a splendid local hotel which is always extremely popular with group members.
  • Food: All included except pub/picnic lunches.
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Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 19th May – Fri 23rd May FULL £895

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Mon 18th May – Fri 22nd May SPACES £895
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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?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!