Local Attractions

The Burren is one of the most stunning locations of unspoilt natural beauty in Ireland.  There are very many well known locations and local attractions in the area and during our guided outings we visit one or more of these attractions.

These local attractions include

• Aillwee caves
• Doolin cave
• Cliffs of Moher visitor centre
• Boat trip to see the Cliffs of Moher
• Boat trip to the Aran Island
• Birds of Prey centre
• Coole Park visitor centre
• Burren National Park
• Aran Islands
• Dromore woods
• Farmers market in Ballyvaughan

Ancient sites

The Burren is often described as a lunar landscape, as it is like nothing else you have ever seen on Earth.

It is a land of mystery, a mystic land which has the most dolmens, wedge tombs, ancient stone forts and monuments than any other county in Ireland.

This is the land of the Druids and the mystics whose everyday life and their customs and rituals we can only wonder rather than know or understand.

Poulnabrone Dolmen is about 5,000 years old and although it is described by some as a portal tomb, it was possibly an altar used for rituals as it is raised up to the sky as opposed to the other tombs of that era which are either sunken or quite low to the ground.

Recently at Fanore there was another archaeological find of an ancient settlement  which is dates at 6,000 years old and is rare evidence of Mesolithic hunter-gathers in the area.

The spectacular shaped limestone hills have hardly changed over thousands of years, and there are many ancient sites which are thousands of years old.

Some of the sites we visit include

• Poulnabrone Dolmen
• Cathair Chomain stone fort
• Poulawack Cairn burial mound
• Cathair Chonaill stone fort
• Dun Aengus stone fort
• Dunguaire Castle
• Lemenagh Castle
• Corcomroe Abbey
• Saint Colman’s ruined church
• Hermit’s cave

Hill Walking

The Burren consists of a series of limestone hills which stretches from the seaside village of Kinvara down to the music village of Doolin which is about 30 miles long, and about 15 miles wide as far as Mulloughmore mountain.

The Burren hills are ideal for hill walking and most of the hills take between 1/2 hour and 1 hour to reach the top.

The limestone pavement and the limestone rock underfoot gives a very secure if uneven ground to walk upon and the surface has good grip for walking boots.

There is always an option of an easy flat walk on each location that we go to.

The views from the top of these are spectacular and some look out over Galway bay where one can see the Aran Islands which are only 4 miles from Doolin village and also see the Connemara hills in the distance.

Even for complete beginners to hill walking most of our hill walks are fine for everybody.

We walk at an enjoyable pace and we stop quite often to take in the beautiful scenery, observe the many wild flowers which pop up at different times of the year, or possibly to look at an ancient dolmen or a stone fort along our walk.

Most of our hill walks take approx 1.5 to 2 hours in total length and you will always be assured of a very nice lunch waiting for you as we try out the best of the local cuisine in restaurants and cafes where Dave takes us.

The Burren hills that we climb include

• Mulloughmore mountain
• Black Head
• Abbey hill
• Carron Loop walk
• Moneen Mountain
• Cappaghmore

Hill walking shoes and clothing

We recommend that everybody brings

• good walking boots that will give support to your ankles when coming downhill
• waterproof rain coat
• waterproof rain trousers
• shorts during summer
• warm layers during Winter

Useful additional items

• In Winter, hat, scarf, gloves
• small backpack or a bum bag to put your rain gear in
• camera
• sun block
• change of clothes in case you get wet

Walks and Strolls

Whenever we go on a hill walk, there is always the option for a flat walk or a much shorter stroll at the same location.

This means you don’t have to decide whether you would prefer to do the hill walk or the flat walk until you get there and actually see the hill and also how you are feeling at that time.

The flat walks also have magnificent views and depending on the time of year, you will nearly always see a range of Burren wildflowers along your walk.

Sometimes we take the whole group on a flat walk as it is nice to keep the group together as a whole.

Some of the flat walks we do include

• Walk by the sea at Flaggy Shore
• Walk by the sea along headland at Fanore beach
• Walk by the sea on the Rhine spit of land near Ballyvaughan
• Forest walk in Coole Park
• Forest walk in Dromore woods
• Walk in the Burren National Park to the hermit’s cave
• Walk around the base of Abbey hill
• Mullaghmore National Parks and Wildlife trails
• Walk by the shoreline in Kinvara

Walking shoes and clothing

Even though you may not plan to actually climb a hill, it is still recommended that you bring walking boots with you if possible.

We recommend that everybody brings

• good walking boots that will give support to your ankles when coming downhill
• waterproof rain coat
• waterproof rain trousers
• shorts during summer
• warm layers during Winter

Useful additional items

• In Winter, hat, scarf, gloves
• small backpack or a bum bag to put your rain gear in
• camera
• sun block
• change of clothes in case you get wet

Outdoor Activities

During our weekend retreats most of our outdoor activities consist of hill walking and/or strolls by the sea or in the forest.

Sometimes depending on the group, we may prefer to do one of the outdoor activities listed below.

During our week long retreats Dave usually check with the group when they arrive to see which types of outdoor activities they would like to do.

All these outdoor activities are optional and depending on what people in the group would like, these activities can include

• Surf lessons on Fanore beach
• Kayaking in the sea or on the lake
• Sailing on the sea or lake
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Horse riding

Relaxing in Nature

We go on our guided outings to many beautiful special places in the Burren hills and by the sea.

If you prefer not to partake in the hill walk or the walk by the sea or any of the outdoor activities, these places are beautiful simply to sit down, possibly to read a book, and simply to spend time relaxing in Nature.

When we go to the countryside in other places in Ireland we often hear  tractors or other farming machinery.

However in the Burren there is so much rock the only farming there is here is cattle farming so the only sound you will here is the wind in your hair, the birds in the air, the waves on the beach and the silence all around you…. and within you.

Dave believes that spending time in Nature is like food for the soul.

Massage and Treatments

In addition to the usual timetable outlined for week long retreats, it is possible to book a Deep Tissue massage or a Sports massage, or a Gentle relaxation massage or an Ayurvedic massage.

On our week long retreats We usually have 1 or sometimes 2 days when a local masseuse comes to give massage.

Generally Monday is the day when we don’t have an organised outing, so usually the masseuse comes on that day.

Massage can be deep and releasing, or smooth, gentle and flowing. You should ask for which style you prefer at the time of the treatment.

Cost for these treatments are €60 for a 1 hour Deep Tissue Massage or €90 for 90 minutes Hot Stone massage and should be paid directly to the therapist who gives the treatment.

Treatments offered

• Deep Tissue Massage full body (Relaxation or work on specific areas of tension)
• Hot Stone massage
• Ayurvedic massage

Booking your treatment

You should give us as much notice as possible for us to arrange this treatment session for you. If possible, please state in the comments field, on your booking form which type of treatment you would prefer and what your preferred time on Monday would be. Please check the course timetable yourself to see what times are free.

Weekend courses

On the weekend retreats we have quite a full schedule of activities so there is not sufficient time to schedule in massages for people here at the centre.

However, if you feel you would really like to treat yourself, there is a very good masseuse Lorraine in Kinvara who is 5 miles away, and her phone number is 087 2414171 Say you are attending a course here. You will need your own transport to get there.

Best to check the timetable of the course, to see when you would like to book your massage. The 1 hour costs approx €65.

Guided Outings & Time in Nature

The Burren Yoga retreat holidays are not just about Yoga.

They are as much about reconnecting to our inner nature through contact with the natural unspoilt surroundings in the Burren.

There is a full range of photos at About – Photo Gallery – Outdoors in The Burren

Time is the Burren is ‘like food for the soul’.