Activities
There numerous tourist and visitor attractions in Clare and the West of Ireland are too many to list here but please find below our recommendation on nearby attractions.
For more detailed information, the Hyland's Burren Hotel recommend you visit the official Irish Tourist Board website.
Ailwee Cave is located 4.5km south of Ballyvaughan village and is one of Irelands leading visitor attractions. Travel deep into this magnificent cave system through beautiful caverns and witness fascinating rock formations along a 1 KM tunnel1 KM into that leads to 3 undergound chambers – Bear Haven, Mud Hall and Cascade Chamber. The cave was originally an underground river, which was fed by the melting snows of the ice age. After the river dried up, the cave was left as it is today and boasts proud formations of stalactites, stalagmites, relics of bears and a waterfall. The cave also displays beautiful natural gems and stones, well worth a look! Visit the farm shop where you can enjoy a taster and see the cheese making process the Award Winning Burren Gold Farmhouse Cheese firsthand for yourself. Aillwee offers guided tours through the caves, which take approximately 30 minutes. There is also a craft shop, restaurant and a coffee shop on the premises.
The Burren
The Burren limestone area has many unusual features that make it unique in Europe. Its geology, flora, caves, archaeology and history set it apart as a place of great mystery and beauty. In a 100 square mile area, there are sparkling rivers, brooding castles, tranquil lakes, towering cliffs, lush green valleys, barren rock mountains, green road walks - and everywhere relics of ancient civilisation - dolmens, stone arches, round towers, ancient churches, high crosses, crannogs, tombs, great houses, monasteries and holy wells. Though it has a wonderful sense of remoteness, it teems with life and is probably most famous for its plant life which defies all of nature's conventional rules. The best way to get to know the Burren is to walk the Burren Way or part of its 26 mile (42 kilometre) signposted trail between Liscannor and Ballyvaughan.
