GREGANS CASTLE HOTEL (Burren, Co. Clare)

Eleven Things You Must Do While Staying at Gregans Castle Hotel.

1. A Walk on The Burren with Shane Connolly – Get out of the car and see The Burren. Our nextdoor neighbour and farmer, Shane, is really entertaining and will explain all about life in the Burren: it’s people, the flora and fauna, geology and farming. The flowers and wild orchids are one of the unique attractions of this area. The walk usually lasts about three hours and at the end, there is whiskey involved! You can also hire Shane for a full-day private excursion. After your walk, spend some time wandering around picturesque Ballyvaughan village. We recommend the Tea & Garden Rooms, An Fear Gorta and The Soda Parlour (both in Ballyvaughan) for lunch or tea.

2. Polnabrone Portal Tomb – The icon of The Burren, this 6,000-year-old burial tomb is a national monument and situated on R480. There are 130 of these in The Burren. Nearby and also worth a visit is Caherconnell Stone Fort with its visitor centre. Stone forts were inhabited between 400 and 1200 AD. Sheepdog demonstrations occur several times daily. Follow this with a visit to The Michael Cusack Centre near Carran. Michael Cusack was the founder of The G.A.A. (Gaelic Athletic Association) and the centre is a modern museum located next to the old thatched cottage where he was born.

3. St. Colmain’s Well – St. Colmain Mac Duach’s well and church are in a magical and remote location in the eastern part of The Burren, underneath a massive cliff called Eagle’s Rock. It’s only a 15-minute walk from the car and afterwards you can wander a couple of miles down the road for some lunch or tea at The Burren Perfumery. (The lunch is excellent.) Later on, hop over to the next valley and see the infamous Mullaghmore mountain. the place where a 10-year battle to stop the Government building an “interpretive centre” occurred, and the government lost. On the way you can see the Father Ted Parochial House, the location of where Father Ted lived in the TV series. Afternoon tea is available in the house and please ask us to book as this must be reserved well in advance. The madcap Father Ted TV series was made all around The Burren (other locations were the villages of Kilfenora, Ennistymon and The Ailwee Caves).

4. The Coastal Drive From Lisdoonvarna to Ballyvaughan – The AA described this as one of the top ten scenic drives in the world! It’s best done from south to north, so start in Lisdoonvarna and set off on the coastal road R477. Before starting, visit The Burren Smokehouse and see how they smoke their wonderful fish. Gregans was their first customer and they have a lovely little shop. A nice spot for lunch is Vasco across from O’Donohues Pub in Fanore. Walk along Fanore beach or stop at the lighthouse at Black Head, and sit on the rocks and look across Galway Bay to Connemara.

5. The Cliffs of Moher –The Cliffs of Moher as this is what attracts most people to the area. (You do not have to do the visitor centre and its interactive displays, however, this is a nice alternative if the mist is being a bit stubborn.) It’s now possible to take a hike there from Doolin and get the shuttle bus back down. You can also take the boat trip under the cliffs. This goes from Doolin Pier and is organised by Doolin2Aran Ferries. It lasts only an hour and is spectacular. The afternoon is the best time when the light shines on the cliff face. Request Gregans to book this for you in advance.

6. Corcomroe Abbey – The abbey which is near Bellharbour dates from 1194 AD and was founded by Donal O’Brien, King of Limerick, and has recently undergone extensive restoration work. The graveyard is still in use today. Afterwards pop into Stephania at The Russell Art Gallery where they have exhibitions of local artists. Then go for a walk on the flaggy shore and have a bowl of seafood chowder and a pint in Linnanes Pub at New Quay. Drive over to the pretty little harbour town of Kinvara and watch the old Galway Hooker boats with their red sails. Call into SIAR Design overlooking the harbour for a coffee. On the way back stop in to the Burren Chocolatier (bean to bar) for a tasting. (It’s up the hill to the left off the N67 – follow the signs.)

7. Day Trip to The Aran Islands – The Aran Islands are a place rich in culture, way of life and the Irish language. Geologically they are an extension of The Burren. Day trips by boat are available from Doolin. For the big island, Inis Mor a whole day is needed with the boat leaving Doolin at 10.00 am and returning at around 5.00 pm. When you get there the best way to get around is to rent a pony and trap with a driver who will be your guide (or hire a bike). Inis Oirr and Inis Meain are smaller islands so you can see everything on foot.

8. Kilfenora, Ennistymon & Lahinch – The Burren Centre is located in Kilfenora village and gives a very good interpretation of what The Burren is all about. Next door is the 6th-century Kilfenora Cathedral which was recently restored. Of most interest are the carved high crosses in the grounds. Meander along to Ennistymon which is a typical old 19th-century Irish market town with most of the old shop fronts still intact. Visit The Cheese Press on the Main St. near AIB Bank. Two miles further on is Lahinch and if you fancy a spot of surfing, the surf school will be only too happy to help. Lahinch is most famous for it’s links golf course. O’Looney’s in Lahinch and Vaughan’s in Liscannor are good pubs for lunch. The Copper Pot Bakery in Liscannor is also worth a stop.

9. Ailwee Cave and Birds of Prey – A star attraction in the area is The Birds of Prey Centre at The Ailwee Cave. See the snowy owls, falcons, hawks, burrowing owls and eagle owls. Visit the farm shop where they sell their Burren Gold cheese and fudge. Then take a tour of the cave itself or climb the mountain trail behind. It’s only 3km from the hotel so if you would like to take one of our bikes, please ask at reception. You could then wander down to Ballyvaughan village afterwards. On Saturdays, there is a farmer’s market and on Sundays a craft fair.

10. Doolin & Traditional Irish Music – Doolin is the unofficial capital of Irish music. Almost every day of the year music can be heard in its pubs (McDermott’s & McGann’s are the best). You will encounter people from all over the world. Doolin Music House has music from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm in a family friendly non-pub atmosphere. Contact us to book. If it’s Irish set dancing you want, the place to go is Vaughan’s Pub in Kilfenora on Sunday night.

11. Carl Wright’s Garden – A visit to the private 2-acre garden of Carl Wright is a must for any plant lover. Situated in the beautiful Caher Valley, it showcases a stunning array of native and more unusual plants. Creative stonework, water features and careful landscape design enables it to blend seamlessly into the surrounding Burren hills, and Carl’s tour gives a very personal understanding of how his plant oasis came to be. The garden is a quick 20-minute drive from the hotel. It is situated just before the stone bridge, 2km up the small road past St Patrick’s Church in the village of Fanore, which is itself situated on the R477 coastal road. Booking in advance is essential ask Gregans for assistance.

Dublin – 145 mi, 3 hrs (car)
Shannon – 36 mi, 1 hr (car)
Cliffs of Moher – 16 mi, 30 min (car)
The Burren – 16 mi, 30 min (car)
Galway – 32 mi, 1 hr (car)
Limerick – 53 mi, 1.5 hrs (car)
Cork – 109 mi, approx 2.5 hrs (car)
Killarney – 115 mi, approx 3 hrs (car)