The Burren
The Burren is one of the most unusual magical and picturesque places in Ireland. The outstanding beauty and the pervading peacefulness of the area makes the Burren an ideal retreat location.
It is an area of limestone hills that plunges into the Atlantic ocean from the Cliffs of Moher up to the nearby village of Kinvara. This natural environment is cleansing and enlivening to one's soul.
The mountains are filled with rare wild flowers and ancient tombs. The rugged atlantic coastline is dotted with unspoilt beaches and mysterious cave formations. There is plenty to enjoy in the uninhabited bliss of the Burren.
Outdoor trips in the Burren
The Burren Yoga Centre is not just about yoga and meditation.
The trips into the Burren and nature, are an important ingredient on all the courses.
All the courses include organised walks and adventures into the Burren.
We usually split the group over 2 or 3 cars and set off to one of the many special destinations within the surrounding Burren area.
Visitors coming to the centre use their own cars. But we usually try to use as few cars as possible, and take turns at driving.
Off the beaten track
Dave uses his knowledge of the Burren to take the group to quite special places where there are either hill walks with amazing views,
or restuarants which seem to be hidden well off the beaten track, to ancient sites and dolmens, to local tea rooms and coffee places, or to Fanore beach for surf lessons or just to lie on the beach in the sun.
And these outings are woven into the schedule as we stroll back into the centre to smell Paddi's amazing cooking wafting out the door to greet us.
And early 2010, Mara the dolphin came back and it is beautiful experience to swim in the sea with her.
Activities may include:
- Surf lessons on Fanore beach
- Sailing on Galway Bay
- Swimming in the sea with Mara the dolphin
- Boat trip to see the Cliffs of Moher
- Walking in the hills and forests of the Burren
- Easy strolls or tough climbs
- Trips to the beach
- Horse riding
- Visits to ancient sites including dolmens and stone forts
- Visits to Burren Perfumery, Ailawee caves, Cliffs of Moher
Atlantic seafood restaurants, traditional Irish music and set dancing in the local pubs
Any paid for activities such as surf lessons or boat trips are outside the cost of the course and are paid for my anyone who wishes to sign up for them.
Free time in the Burren
All of the classes on a weekend or week long courses are optional, so sometimes people take time off themselves to explore the surrounding area themselves.
And there is also free time during the courses where one may decide to visit some of the following;
- Poulnabrone dolmen
- St. Colm cille well
- Corcomroe abbey
- Kilmacdough round tower
- The valley of seven churches
- New Quay (7 miles)
- Linnane's lobster bar overlooking the sea
- Flaggy shore sea coast walk
- Burren Perfumery (7 miles)
- Black head with its climb to the ancient stone fort (18 miles)
- Hermit's cave (3 miles)
- Coole park (9 miles)
- Forrest of Yeats and Lady Gregory
- Cliffs of Moher 1 hour drive
- Aran Islands (short ferry crossing)
- Sliabh Carron to climb to the top for the view (outside front door of Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre)
- Kinvara village (5 miles drive)
- Coffee & cakes at Murphy's Gallery Cafe on the quay-side
- Pier Head restuarant serving fresh fish from the Atlantic ocean
- Winkles pub offering Irish music and set dancing
- Green's pub where travlling musicians love to just drop in
- House of Presents souvineer and gifts
- Postscript Internet Providers
- Bank ATM machine in Londis Supermarket
- Lunches and music Keoghe's pub
- Ballvaughan village (14 miles drive)
- Holywell Vegetarian Italian cafe (amazing pizza's and pasta, coffee, atmosphere)
- Tea house with cakes and secluded garden sun trap
- Ailawee caves with their stalactite and stalagmites
- Monk's seafood pub
- Galway city
- Shopping
- Restuarants
- Music at night
- Theatre
And then the plant life which abounds in these hills. Orchids, gension violets, bloody cranesbill, primroses, furze, mountain avens, oxlips, cowslips, gypsy rose, milkwort and dog rose to name but a few are all found in this one area, but not found together anywhere else in the world.
The herds of wild goats which roam the hills, the abundant small bird population; Blue tits, bull finches, cuckoos, blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, goldfinches, wrens, yellow hammers, throstles, ravins, eagles, cranes, the nearby atlantic ocean.
A place like no where else on earth.
The traditional sailing boats of Galway bay; the hookers. The views of Galway Bay from the top of the hills. The astounding silence of the area, no farm machinery, little or no houses, very few cars on the roads.
Please don’t tell anyone of this secret magical area ;-)
Nature can help us go inwards
Definitely a large part of the beauty and mystery of the area is its uninhabited feeling… the silence… being alone with nature… and being in awe of the surrounding beauty.
And this helps us to become aware of the noise inside ourselves, and to then let this go and merge with the silence and peace inherent in all.
Artist's Burren Map which shows locations we visitTo see
more photos of Burren Yoga courses
Outdoors in the Burren, swimming, walking, horse riding, sailingSee another website dedicated to the Burren. More amazing photographs of the Burren
The Burren Page websiteBeautiful Photos of The Burren for saleAnd more information about Saint Colman who meditated in a cave for 7 years which is located 2 miles from the Burren Yoga and meditation Centre.
Information and photos on Saint Colman
Ledgend on Saint Colman
The shapes of these limestone hills give the feeling of being on another planet.
