|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
| | |
|
| |
| | |
| Hylands Burren Hotel
Ballyvaughan
Co. Clare
Ireland
T: +353 1 2958900
E: hylands@irishcountryhotels.com | |
|
| |
| Activities around the Hylands Burren Hotel |
|
| Ballyvaughan |
| Ballyvaughan - Capital of the Burren
Ballyvaughan in County Clare is a fishing and farming village on the west coast of Ireland. It is situated in one of the most idyllic places in Ireland, nestled between the hills of the Burren (or mountains, as we call them) and the sea, on the southern shore of Galway Bay.
It is the ideal place for almost everybody: those who look for peace and tranquility in their holidays or long weekends, those who look for traditional music and old pubs, for the archaeologists, botanists, and fishermen. Families will enjoy the safety of our beach in Bishopsquarter, surfers will love the waves in Fanore. Hillwalking and cycling are among the most popular pastimes among locals and tourists alike. |
| |
| Ballyvaughan is in comfortable driving distance of some of the best known landmarks of Ireland. Who has not heard of the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a burial tomb more than 5,000 years old, or the Cliffs of Moher? There are archaeological treasures everywhere some of which have not even been explored yet, and some of them being 2,000 years older than the pyramids! |
| |
| The area surrounding Ballyvaughan is called THE BURREN. It is a limestone or karst region of haunting beauty. Some of the most amazing cave systems of considerable lengths can be found here. Mediterranean, arctic and alpine flowers grow here side by side - like almost 30 kinds of orchids, the Mountain Aven and the Gentian. Some of the flora and fauna can only be found here, like certain species of butterflies and bats. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers. |
| |
|  |
| It is impossible to be bored in Ballyvaughan! |
| The village of Ballyvaughan is situated on the coast of North Clare overlooking Galway Bay. It is the ideal base to explore the rich heritage of the Burren and surrounding areas. The famous Burren Way (26 miles of Green Road) starts in Ballyvaughan, goes to Fanore, Doolin and ends in Liscannor. There are numerous other walks, which are easily negotiable with the aid of a map, or better still, with a local guide. Or you can enjoy miles of quiet country roads by bicycle. Bikes can be hired in the village.
Limestone areas like the Burren are notorious for their large cave systems. There are two caves open to the public: the Aillwee Caves and, since 2006, the Doolin Cave with one of the largest stalactites known to the world.
A bit down the road towards Galway, you will find the little peninsula called Newquay, with its beautiful Flaggy Shore (formerly Lady Gregory's summer residence, now a boutique hotel), the Russell Gallery, and the Martello Tower built by the English in fear of a potential French invasion at Napoleon times.
Of course, there is (modern and traditional) music in the pubs, especially during the summer months. No holidays in Ireland would be complete without a visit to the pub, enjoying the local hospitality and listening to the traditional music. |
| |
| Beautiful unspoilt beaches at Bishopsquarters and Fanore invite you to swim, kayak and surf. The sheltered Ballyvaughan Bay is suitable for all kinds of water activities. Try a swim in the sea or learn to dive with the Burren Adventures Dive Centre. Fishing is another pastime - the mackerel season started early this year. |
| |
| The Burren offers wonderful opportunities to observe the Burren's large wildlife community, and to discover the exotic and unique flora. There is for example a birdhide at the western end of the village. |
| |
|  |
| Poulnabrone Dolmen |
| There are over seventy megalithic tombs in in The Burren, the most well known and most easily accessible being Poulnabrone. It was excavated in 1968 and found to contain the remains of "between 16 and 22 adults and 6 juveniles, including a newborn baby". Radiocarbon dating suggests that the burials took place 3800 and 3200 BC. The neolithic community would have been much larger than this and there are easier ways to bury the dead, so Poulnabrone is generally considered to contain the remains of special dead and to have been a center for ceremony and symbolism |
| |
|  |
| Ailwee Caves |
| In the heart of the Burren, lies one of the oldest caves in Ireland.
This cave was formed by the glacial melt waters of an early ice age. The erosive power of the waters carved out an subterrainian river deep underneath Aillwee mountain. This river has subsided since the last ice age, leaving behind one of Ireland's most stunning caves. |
| |
|  |
| Cliffs of Moher |
| ATLANTIC EDGE is the exciting interpretive centre now open at the Cliffs of Moher New Visitor Experience. Housed at the centre of the underground building a huge domed cave contains images, exhibits, displays & experiences that will delight young and old alike. |
| |
| The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's top Visitor attractions. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O'Brien's Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South.
The Cliffs of Moher are home to one of the major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds in Ireland. The area was designated as a Refuge for Fauna in 1988 and as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive in 1989. Included within the designated site are the cliffs, the cliff-top maritime grassland and heath, and a 200 metre zone of open water, directly in front of the cliffs to protect part of the birds' feeding area. The designation covers 200 hectares and highlights the area's importance for wildlife. |
| |
| |
|
| |
