We will be driving from our rented house in Kenmare up to get the 6:30 ferry to Inishmore at Rossaveal (near Galway). I'd like to drive past the Cliff of Moher and do a short (2-3 hour) hike in the Burren. Any advice? I've contacted one company, Burren Hill Walks, to see if they can help us.
Am I trying to do too much in one day?
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
The drive from Kenmare to Rossaveal is about 4.5 hours if you take the route suggested by ViaMichelin.com. You could shave a little time off by taking the Killimer-Tarbert ferry across the Shannon instead of going around through Limerick, but not much. The Cliffs of Moher can take as much or as little time as you want, but you'll probably want to spend some time in their beautiful new visitor center. Depending on where they are based, it might be another 45 minutes or so from the cliffs to the Burren tour company you are talking about. After your 2-3 hr. hike, you'd still have to get to Rossaveal, find the ferry port, and get your car parked before 6:30. Remember that through Co. Clare you'll be traveling on tiny roads which wind around, so allow some time for getting misdirected/lost, and you'll want to stop for lunch, etc. On the face of it, it is doable, but you'll have to keep moving. Driving in Ireland is notoriously slow and the signage can be terrible in places.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2775 posts
I would suggest allowing a couple of extra hours in case you hit bad traffic. When we drove from Rossaveal to Ballyvaughan, we spent an hour in Galway going less than a mile. We intended to go around the town, but ended up in the middle of the city, and it was hideous. We also hit traffic in small towns. Just don't cut it too close.
Posted by
OP
Scarsdale
11 posts
Thanks, Nancy! I think you sent me a private message but I can't figure out how to open it! Can you just post it here .... or explain to me how to find it?
Sorry, it's probably pretty obvious but I'm struggling.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
530 posts
You didn't mention the time of year for your trip. If you're travelling in shoulder season (spring/fall) you could spend an hour or two at the Cliffs of Moher. If peak season, there will be lines, so plan extra time.
Don't know anything about Burren Hill Walks, but if you do such a hike I'd ask that you post your experience here. The burren is a very interesting area. At casual glance, it seems so desolate that nothing could survive there. Then you look down at your feet and see all sorts of flora thriving in the most improbable places.