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The rugged west coast of Ireland, long the
haunt of artists, holds some of the country’s
most dramatic scenery—and finest hiking.
With beloved Trip Leaders
Con Moriarty and Ann Curran,
our cultural and hiking
adventure brings you to the
treasures of Croagh Patrick,
the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren,
and the spectacular Aran
Islands. Con and Ann know
this land as few others do,
and love to share its ancient
sites and pilgrim trails,
introducing you to poets,
farmers, foodies, musicians, and people with
deep community connections. Along the way,
we savor the new Irish culinary scene, with
picnics of the freshest locally sourced food
and special meals from the kitchens of two
of our welcoming guesthouses, and a stay at
an enchanting Victorian-era lakeside lodge.
Days 1-2 Galway / The Burren Our hikes
begin in the spectacular karst landscape of the
Burren, whose limestone hills and hidden glens
hold 10,000 years of human history—Bronze
Age burial sites, standing stones, Iron Age forts,
and Celtic high crosses, and we watch a
magical sunset by the sea at the towering Cliffs
of Moher.
Days 3-5 County Mayo / Clare Island /
Westport In County Mayo, we hike up Croagh
Patrick (2,500'), one of the world’s most sacred
mountains and a pilgrimage site for thousands
of years. Ferrying to Clare Island, once the
domain of a powerful Gaelic clan and their
pirate queen, Grace O’Malley, we hike one of
Ireland’s finest cliff ramparts, visit a sheep farmer
to see his border collies in action, and finish our
hike at stunning Clare Island lighthouse. We
join friends in a village for a special introduction
to Irish poetry, and in the colorful market town
of Westport, we have a special evening with
musicians at a local pub.
Days 6-9 Connemara / Aran Islands / Galway /
Clifden Crossing an ancient pilgrim route
into the Maumturk Mountains, we hike right
to our lakeside Victorian lodge in a wild region
of Connemara. In the otherworldly Aran Islands,
where Gaelic is still spoken, we explore a
landscape of labyrinthine stone-walled fields
and breathtaking sea cliffs. Back on the mainland,
we’ll follow trails in Connemara National Park
and have a picnic on Omey, an intertidal island
with spectacular archaeology. Our final trails
lead along Killary Harbour and then to the rocky
peaks of the Twelve Bens, with a farewell
evening in the company of musicians. Depart on
Day 9.
THE CLIFFS OF MOHER, ARAN ISLANDS, CROAGH PATRICK, AND CLARE ISLAND
We’ll hike spectacular trails and get an insider’s
perspective as we discover the Ireland’s
rugged west coast.PHOTO: PETER COX
“Is there a better
rating than
excellent? If so,
that's our rating.
Con clearly loves to
envelop his guests
in the magic that is
Ireland—we're the
richer for it.”
Kathy L., Burlington CT
BRIAN MCGILLOWAY
MARTIN SIEPMANN
HIGHLIGHTS
• Hike on gorgeous Clare Island, with its
iconic lighthouse and dramatic cliffs
• Explore Connemara on a hike with a local
historian, 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 including oysters, scallops,
and 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
DATES
May 19-27, 2018 Sep 1-9
Jun 24-Jul 2 Sep 29-Oct 7
Jul 21-29
TRIP COST
$4895 (11-15 members)
$5395 (4-10 members)
Single supplement: $510
TRIP LEVEL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
A mix of moderate walks and hikes,
3-6 hours a day, van support