Our eighth holiday to this delightful area of western Ireland, offering wild flowers, dramatic scenery and fascinating history. 

The Burren is famous for its limestone landscape and historic sites. Amongst naturalists, it is also well known as having an unusual collection of plant species, ranging from the expected flora of lowland western Britain, to Arctic, Alpine and Mediterranean species.

Based in a very comfortable, friendly guesthouse in Lisdoonvarna, this holiday explores both coastal and inland habitats. The scenic expanses of limestone pavement are broken by crevices in which a fascinating collection of plants grow including ferns, miniature trees, several orchids including local specialities, and a host of colourful flowers. We will also visit the eastern turlough lakes, plant-rich marshes and bogs, attractive hazel woodlands, the shores of Galway Bay and the unique landscape of Mullach Mor mountain. The Burren also boasts an historical heritage dating from the Mesolithic and we will visit historic sites, such as Poulnabrone Portal Tomb, Corcomroe Abbey and a ring fort, all of which are also good wild flower sites.

There is a free day on which you can visit the fascinating Aran Islands and see the stunning Cliffs of Moher on the return journey. These are the second tallest sea cliffs in Europe and home to puffin, razorbill, guillemot and black guillemot, while chough and raven both play overhead. In addition, we will look out for Irish hare, otter and pine marten, seen on our 2009 trip. There are also good numbers of butterflies and dragonflies and the attractive and rare transparent burnet moth is often seen.

Holiday starts and finishes in Dublin. For a longer exploration of western Ireland, this trip is easy to combine with our visit to Connemara. We can arrange accommodation in Dublin and help with low-cost rail/ferry to Ireland.

Price £955, Single Room Supplement £55

Leaders: Chris Donnelly and Charlie Rugeroni