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The Burren plateau of
North-West Clare is internationally famous because of its beautiful limestone
landscapes and the remarkable flora of the region as well as its rich
archaeological heritage.It is the finest example of a karstic terrain in
Ireland, with a full assemblage of the curious landforms and subterranean
drainage systems that characterise these limestone terrains.
The area also hosts 70 wedge-tombs (the most famous of them beingPoulnabrone ), ring forts, caves (most notable Aillwee
Cave ) castles ( Leamenagh Castle) and
a network of field walls and hut
circles You can drive in and around the Burrenn several roads, but the only way
to really experience it is by foot! The green roads are the old Burren roads and are perfect to explore this
landscape on short and long walks. The Burren Walk is a 20-km signposted
walking trail between Ballyvaughan and the Cliffs of Moher.
Discovering the Flora
The Burren offer an
abundant diversity of flowers and plants, never planted by man. Many of these
are botanists delight. Among the most exotic and unexpected is the
Mountain Aven, whose main habitat is northern
Scandinavia and the Spring Gentian, whose natural home is in the slopes
of the Alps. A near neighbour is the Maidenhair Fern, a stranger from the
Mediterranean cosily nurtured in the sparse damp soil in the warm shelter of the
Fissures.
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