Chiocca Hiking Trip to Ireland

Sunday 10th March – Friday 15th March 2024

Number of Travellers:  2
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights

Overview

Immerse yourself in local Irish traditions such as music, the Irish language and crafting. Discover vast blankets of wildflowers and wildlife while hiking the wild Burren National Park, learn about the rich cultural, mythological, archeological and geological history of these rocky wild landscapes while staying in authentic accommodation handpicked for you. Explore the wildest and most sparsely populated areas of Ireland while challenging yourself with a new hike each day. Along the way, meet some of the west coast’s most colourful characters and maybe even pick a few Irish words.

Highlights

  • Hike in The Burren National Park
  • Summit Diamond Hill
  • Explore Ireland's wildest and most beautiful regions with an expert guide

Day by Day

Day 1 - Sunday 10th March - Bru Na Boinne & To The West

This morning your Wilderness guide will pick you up at Dublin airport and after some introductions you will make your way for a tour of the Neolithic historical site, Brú na Bóinne. The World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne is Ireland’s richest archaeological landscape and is situated within a bend in the River Boyne. Brú na Bóinne is famous for the spectacular prehistoric passage tombs of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth which were built circa 3200 BC. These ceremonial structures are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world and contain the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe. Continue West to your home for the next two nights, Monks, a boutique accommodation in the small town of Ballyvaughan. Your guide will join you for a welcome dinner onsite this evening and you can discuss the adventure to come.

Overnight: The Burren | Monks
Room Type: x1 seaview twin
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 - Monday 11th March - Hiking in The Burren

This morning after a lovely breakfast to fuel you up, you’ll set off for the Mullaghmore Loop Walk in The Burren. Its unique, striated limestone landscape was shaped by ancient seas and is famous for its Mediterranean and alpine wildflowers. The region is steeped in history as well, with over 2,500 historical monuments to be explored. You’ll have lunch at a local tearoom followed by a visit to the adjoining Burren Perfumery where only natural and organic ingredients are used in production. It’s the oldest working perfumery in Ireland! Options for dinner tonight include a Michelin starred organic restaurant not far from your accommodation.

Overnight: The Burren | Monks
Room Type: x1 Sea View Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Tuesday 12th March - The Wild Coasts of Black Head

The Cliffs of Moher may be the best-known coast of Clare, but that’s not the only coastline that beckons hikers. In the northern corner of Clare, Black Head combines stunning coastal beauty with the wild, craggy landscapes of the Burren. A mixture of ancient green roads, quiet laneways and expanses of exposed limestone, Black Head calls to mind images of fantasy worlds. Indeed, J.R.R. Tolkien spent time visiting the Burren while writing The Lord of the Rings, and these otherworldly landscapes influenced locations in Middle Earth within his classic trilogy. Crossing these dramatic lunar-esque hills, it’s not hard to see why. From here it is 1h30 further into Connemara, a Gaeltacht (Gaelic-speaking region) known for its windswept landscapes of mountains, beach and bog. Before settling in for the evening, you will have some time for a stroll along the wooded trails of your next hotel, Ballynahinch Castle. For dinner we recommend the property’s historic Fisherman’s Pub, a lively place where guests and local mingle.

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: x1 Luxury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 11 km / 7 miles

Day 4 - Wednesday 13th March - Killary Fjord

This morning it’s a 45-minute drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. You will start the day with a walk along an abandoned famine route along the southern shoreline of the fjord. After a pit stop at a local café for lunch, you will transfer back to Ballynahinch Castle. You will have some free time to enjoy the estate this afternoon – go fly fishing, or simply kick back with a book by the river. This evening we would recommend dinner at Ballynahinch’s Owenmore Restaurant, which overlooks the salmon river and the wooded estate.

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: x1 Luxury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Walk Details: 10 km / 6 miles

Day 5 - Thursday 14th March - Diamond Hill

Your final day of hiking takes you on a captivating 7km trail through Connemara National Park as you climb a narrow pathway to the top of Diamond Hill, Connemara’s most iconic hilltop. From the summit, enjoy stunning views from the mountains to the Atlantic. To one side, the silhouette of Connemara’s hills and mountains beckon, rugged and wild. On the other side, the sea glistens in the distance. Look just below, and you can out the turrets and towers of Kylemore Abbey, a gothic-style manor set amongst the slopes. Tonight your guide will join you for a farewell dinner and a congratulatory pint for a week of hiking well done!

Overnight: Connemara | Ballynahinch Castle
Room Type: x1 Luxury Twin
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 8 km / 5 miles

Day 6 - Friday 15th March - Depart

This morning your guide will drop you back to the aiport for your flight home. We hope you had a wonderful hiking adventure and look forward to welcoming you to Ireland once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 6
  • Most meals as indicated above, breakfast and lunch each day, two dinners
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 1 to Day 6
  • Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 6
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • As we are 4 weeks from the departure date we require full payment at the time of booking before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

Virtuoso

Chiocca Hiking Trip to Ireland

Sunday 10th March – Friday 15th March 2024