The Burren Hostel Top Things To Do!

• Stand over 200m above the Atlantic at the Cliffs of Moher or for a unique perspective, cruise the 8km shoreline alongside them (www.cliffsofmoher.ie, www.cliffs-of-moher-cruises.com). (Trivia: The Cliffs appear on screen as the 'Cliffs of Insanity' in the movie The Princess Bride!)

• The Burren region is wonderful to explore by yourself, with its unique lunarscape, rare flora and fauna, megalithic tombs, peace and solitude. Walking and hiking routes are available for all abilities, and are easy to research in advance. Click here for a list of waymarked walks, with maps to download, and see also www.burrenbeo.com.

• Alternatively you can enjoy a guided walk of The Burren with an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide from Burren Guided Walks & hikes (www.burrenguidedwalks.com), from Galway Tour Company (www.galwaytourcompany.com), or from Burren Wild (www.burrenwalks.com).

• Visit the 5,000 year old Poulnabrone Dolmen, one of over 70 megalithic tombs in The Burren area (www.burrenbeo.com)

• Go on a cycling trip with West Ireland Cycling (www.westirelandcycling.com)

• Take a short ferry trip to the Aran Islands - to Inisheer or Inishmore with Doolin Ferries (www.doolinferry.com and www.doolinferries.com) and to Inisheer, Inishmore and Inishmaan with Cliffs of Moher Cruises (www.cliffs-of-moher-cruises.com).

• Visit the Burren’s leading gourmet store and member of Good Food Ireland -  The Burren Smokehouse situated directly across the road from Sleepzone - The Burren (www.burrensmokehouse.ie) and bring home some smoked fish! Further Good Food Ireland members can be found at Carron, Co. Clare (Burren Perfumery Tea Rooms) and at Inagh, Co.Clare (Inagh Farmhouse Cheese).

• Try your hand at shore angling at Fanore, Doolin, Liscannor or Lahinch - there are marked fishing points along The Burren coastline.

• Golf Lahinch’s famous Championship Golf Links (www.lahinchgolf.com) whose sandy bunkers and dune-like fairways have panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

• Explore the dramatic underworld of the Aillwee Caves (www.aillweecave.ie)

• Surf some of Ireland’s finest beaches at Lahinch and Fanore. Check out the forecast at Lahinch on www.magicseaweed.com

• Visit some of the Farmer's Markets in the area, and buy some local organic produce - every Friday at the village of Kinvara, and on Saturdays at the villages of Ballyvaughan and Doolin 

• Bring a copy of the Lord of the Rings to read on your travels - members of the Burren Tolkien Society (www.burrentolkiensociety.ie)  show evidence that the landscape of The Burren region may have been the inspiration for Middle Earth!