Take the time to admire this magnificent landscape of the Burren, rather unknown to tourism, which deserves to be highlighted when we talk about Ireland…
It is the Burren National Park, located one hour south of Galway city, one hour north of Limerick and Shannon airport, and a little less than 3 hours from Dublin. It is easily accessible by car, passing through winding roads lined with hazel woodland. As Ireland’s smallest national park, the Burren covers 15 km² or 5.7 sq mi. It is full of varieties of flowers, insects and is a great place for bird watching.
The Burren was once a seabed, about 350 million years ago, composed of compressed sediment. While hiking in the area, you can easily spot fossils embedded in the rock – such as fossil corals, ammonites and sea urchins, among others.
According to experts, more than 75% of Ireland’s plant species can be found here in the Burren, including 23 of Ireland’s 27 orchids.
We crisscrossed the national park passing a turquoise lake, limestone rocks and saving a caterpillar from a potential accident!
We didn’t go to the top of the mountain because the weather didn’t allow it, but we’ll climb it soon. There are several possible hikes, from the easiest to the most difficult (and longest) to satisfy all levels!
