Wilderness Travel 2017 Catalog of Adventures

Ireland: The Wild Atlantic Way THE BURREN, COUNTY MAYO, CONNEMARA, AND THE ARAN ISLANDS

HIGHLIGHTS • Hike on gorgeous Clare Island, with its iconic lighthouse and dramatic cliffs • Explore Connemara on a hike with a local scholar, meet a sheep farmer and his border collies • Hear the lilting sounds of the Gaelic language in the Aran Islands • Savor the Irish food scene, with local specialties from oysters and seared scallops to grass-fed Irish beef • Enjoy lodgings of character: an 18th century manor house, a Victorian-era fishing lodge, and a guesthouse on the Aran Islands DETAILS • 9-day trip begins and ends in Galway • 8 nights charming inns and hotels • All meals included except 1 dinner

Hike some of the finest Irish trails imaginable, meet friendly locals, and enjoy welcoming pubs along the way. PHOTO: BRIAN MCGILLOWAY

DATES May 20-28, 2017 Jun 24-Jul 2 Jul 22-30 Sep 2-10

Contouring 1,500 miles along Ireland’s western shores, the Wild Atlantic Way brims with

all that makes Ireland so enchanting. We’ve chosen a stunning section— County Clare, the Burren, County Mayo, Joyce Country, Connemara, and the Aran Islands—for our unique cultural and hiking journey. Our Trip Leaders

“I would do this trip again in a flash—spectacular itinerary, well-organized, great hikes.”

TRIP COST $4695 (11-15 members) $5195 (7-10 members) Single supplement: $510

BRIAN MCGILLOWAY

Days 3-4 County Mayo / Westport / Clare Island Ancient trails lead us up Ireland’s holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick. Ferrying to Clare Island, once the domain of a powerful Gaelic clan and their fierce pirate-queen, Grace O’Malley, we hike dramatic cliff ramparts and visit a sheep farmer to see his border collies in action. Days 5-6 Connemara / Joyce Country / Omey Island / Clifden In Connemara’s Joyce Country, a local archaeologist joins us for a hike to evocative Omey Island, accessible over the sands at low tide. Omey holds many of Ireland’s stories, with its shell middens and tiny medieval church. On one evening, we explore lively Clifden, the “capital” of Connemara, where a pub can surely be found! Days 7-9 Aran Island / Galway In the otherworldly Aran Islands, where Gaelic is heard as often as English, our hikes are amid a labyrinth of stone-walled fields. Back on the mainland, our trails lead along Killary Harbour to the Twelve Bens and we enjoy an evening in the company of musicians. Depart on Day 9.

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A mix of moderate walks and hikes, 3-6 hours a day, van support

Andy W., Oakland CA

Con Moriarty and Ann Curran know this region by heart and have a passion for sharing their favorite secret trails, sacred peaks, and lively villages. Their enduring friendships with local historians, shepherds, island folk, and musicians enliven our adventure and offer an insider’s perspective as we explore. Days 1-2 Galway / The Burren In the spectacular karst landscape of the Burren, we hike into hidden glens that hold a treasure trove—Bronze Age burial sites, standing stones, Iron Age forts, and Celtic high crosses—and we savor a sunset view from the towering Cliffs of Moher.

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL EUROPE@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 43