QUESTION?.Why Island hopping?

ANSWER?.This tour is kind of the Greek version of the popular pastime there of island hopping except it is Ireland and not always as hot.!! Island life has its own truly unique and sometimes quirky qualities that the mainland just cannot compare. There will be many stunning opportunities for walking along rugged, wild, coastline, wandering quiet island lanes, delightful beaches to wash your worries away. For this tour I have friends in mind a relaxed walking holiday with a flexible itinerary let me do the worrying but still each day everyone ends up doing just what they wanted to do whether with the group or not, that is fine.

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Itinerary

Costings for Tour: 1400 euros per person sharing. All accommodation, all transport, including collection and return to Shannon, guiding, all boat transfers, breakfasts, lunches, some meals (days 1,2,3,4,7,8). As per itinerary. Single Supplement, as it is high season: 160 euros.
Not included: Evening meals days 5& 6 in Clifden , lunch in Galway on 18th and B&B at Ennis, alcoholic drinks at meals etc, gratuities, personal items, entrance to museums, heritage centres.
Group size: 10 total.

Day 1 (10th August)

Arrival at Shannon to be met by Maeve your guide and superb driver for this magical adventure on the Atlantic seaboard.

We drive north from Shannon stopping for lunch on the way to Achill Island in County Mayo. This will be our home for the next two nights. Once we settle into the guesthouse we will take a good leg stretch on the local beach and breadth deep, you made it and let the fun begin!

Overnight and evening meal Achill at Bervie Guesthouse.

Day 2 (11th August)

Our destination this morning are the highest sea cliffs in Europe so they say in Achill but don't tell Donegal people, as they believe their cliffs at Slieve League are the highest but hey.! A spectacular walk non-the less.

Achill a place steeped in history and stories of land and sea. This island was once a vibrant fishing community and basking shark was one such gentle giant caught off their shores.
Walk 4-5 hours, rough terrain over bog and heather, steep cliffs,

Overnight and evening meal Achill.

Day 3 (12th August)

After and early breakfast we must depart this magical place for our next Island. Returning back to the vibrant town of Westport a short stop there if you feel inclined. Westport, as described by the novelist W.M. Thackeray, 'The islands in the bay, which was of gold colour, look like so many dolphins and whales basking there'.

Then west again for the village of Louisburgh to catch the late morning ferry to Clare Island. After approximately 20 minutes on the ferry we land on this little piece of heaven. Drop our bags at the guesthouse and head for the hills and cliffs for the rest of the day. Island pub life is most definitely unique not often starting before 11pm so a late afternoon nap might be called for, this experience you won't want to miss.

Walk 2-3 hours mixed terrain, island road, beach.

Overnight and evening meal Clare Island at O' Gradys Guesthouse or Grainuaile.

Day 4 (13th August)

After breakfast together you will have time on your own for a couple of hours to explore and in late morning we will meet again for the days walk. Take the time to stroll at your leisure, or you might want read, or just past the time chatting to the locals or just be on your own for a bit. The island is famous as for the castle of Grace O' Malley the pirate queen, today's walk will take us to her castle and we will hear of her daring deeds on the high seas. She was the fiery controller of the trade between Galway and the continent in the medieval period in Ireland.

Walk 4-5 hours, cliffs, mountain, bogs, island roads, for the fit we will climb the highest mountain Knockmore on the island on route.

Overnight and evening meal Clare Island.

Day 5 (14th August)

We leave Clare Island after breakfast and return to Louisburgh and the mainland. We will take a beautiful drive through the mountains of Connemara, under the slopes of Mweelrea Mountain and through the spectacular Doo Lough valley. We will follow the shoreline by Killary fjord and pass by the famous Kylemore Abbey.

Option for the a harder walk in the Twleve Bens.

Overnight in Clifden in the heart of Connemara at Dolphin Beach House.
Meal on your own.

Day 6 (15th August)

Day Trip to the island of Inishbofin or Island of the White cow so the legend goes.

The Rough Guide to Ireland says of the island, ' a mellow, balmy place, quite different from the mainland. It's more fertile with sheltered sandy beaches, and there's a general softness to its contours'. Now doesn't that sound like the place to visit and just wander along its contours.! Plenty of beaches to explore and swim from.

The walk 3-4 hours but combined with good chat and company sounds like the perfect Island to unwind and take the slower lane.

Overnight Clifden, meal on your own in the town.

Day 7 (16th August)

Depart the island for Cleggan on the first ferry once more. Keep a close watch for what seabirds we will see on the crossing from Cormorants to Black Headed gulls to razorbills and guillemots. Off in the van again to have two morning stops one at bustling Clifden and then late morning coffee in the quaint village of Roundstone, (Roundstone,The place to get a Bodhran).

We will take the fabulous coast road from Clifden, passing the area were Alcock & Brown made their famous nosedive into the bog in their plane. This at the end of their pioneering non-stop transatlantic flight in June 1919. From here passing the beautiful coral beach at Mannin Bay and continue along to Roundstone.

If the weather allows and we will climb Errisbeg Mountain, overlooking Roundstone, with its wonderful panoramic viewsfrom the summit. In the late afternoon we will catch the ferry from Rosaveal to Inishmore, the large of the three Aran Islands. The busiest of the three Islands but we will stay away from the main tourist area and will walk along some of the most stunning and dramatic cliffs along the western coast you will ever see.

Walk 3hours bog road, steep climb, uneven terrain.

Overnight and evening meal on Inishmore.

Day 8 (17th August)

Before the first boats arrive on the island with tourists in the morning we will be well on our walk. Starting at the famous magnificent cliff fort that is Dun Aeongus we will walk the stunning cliffs to the end of the island. The fort dating to the Iron Age period in Ireland approximately 600BC is in a truly breathtaking setting indeed. In fact, the island is dotted with many interesting archaeology sites. The unusualness of the Island is in its barrenness and the rugged limestone pavement that we will walk upon. How did the islanders eek out a living here for hundreds of years.?

We will follow the cliffs to the end of the island and then take some quiet green roads back to our guesthouse. The beach close by looks to the main land and the magnificence of the Connemara landscape it is the perfect backdrop for a magical sunset and the end of a superb week along the wild Atlantic seaboard.

Walk 4-5 hours along the cliffs, limestone uneven, rough under foot unstable at times, island roads.

Overnight and evening meal on Inishmore at Kilmurvey House.

Day 9 (18th August)

After morning walk on the island or last minute Aran sweater shopping we will depart Inishmore on the noon ferry for the mainland.

We will have lunch in the bustle of the medieval Galway city, and then drive to see and walk among the limestone landscape of the Burren. This is a unique lunar landscape with much for the botany and archaeologist enthusiast.

We will spend our last night in Ennis.

Day 10 (19th August)

We will depart out guesthouse after breakfast for early drop off at 7.30 am at Shannon airport.

Slan Abhaille ---Safe Home.

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