Wind and Sea Cottage guidebook
Sightseeing
The rugged Wild Atlantic Way coastline of Co Clare has many special places to explore. From lively music filled villages, to windy empty beaches. Deep subterranean caves to towering sea cliffs with monster waves crashing on to the shore below. The ruins of medieval castles still stand silently guarding the lands of their long gone Irish chieftain lords. Remote windswept islands on the edge of the world just calling out to be explored.
And the ancient craggy limestone landscape of the Burren, full of fascinating prehistory such as the megalithic tombs of our ancestors that are a testament to the people who lived and farmed on the Burren six thousand years ago.
And that's just to start! it's all out there waiting for you to discover.
Start the Black Head loop trail by turning right at the cottage garden gate and head straight up the mountain, we are at the very start of the trail. There is 16 miles approx to explore looping around the mount and endless sea and sky vistas to enjoy. Keep an eye out for the diverse Burren flora and fauna like the electric blue Gentian flower to be seen in May, hares and herds of wild goats grazing the craggy landscape. The perfect place to get away from it all.
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Black Head
Start the Black Head loop trail by turning right at the cottage garden gate and head straight up the mountain, we are at the very start of the trail. There is 16 miles approx to explore looping around the mount and endless sea and sky vistas to enjoy. Keep an eye out for the diverse Burren flora and fauna like the electric blue Gentian flower to be seen in May, hares and herds of wild goats grazing the craggy landscape. The perfect place to get away from it all.
Fanore Beach
Stunning golden sands, high sand dunes and the Aloha surf school run by Pete
Perched on the edge of the rugged Burren overlooking Galway Bay and beyond to Connemara, a great place for a photo
Black Head lighthouse
Perched on the edge of the rugged Burren overlooking Galway Bay and beyond to Connemara, a great place for a photo
A lively coastal village Famous for traditional Irish music in its pubs and the ferry out to the beautiful Aran Islands
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Doolin
A lively coastal village Famous for traditional Irish music in its pubs and the ferry out to the beautiful Aran Islands
The Burren UNESCO Geopark is a fascinating limestone landscape filled with diverse flora and fauna as well as one of the best preserved archaeological landscapes in Europe such as Poulnabrone portal tomb.
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Burren
The Burren UNESCO Geopark is a fascinating limestone landscape filled with diverse flora and fauna as well as one of the best preserved archaeological landscapes in Europe such as Poulnabrone portal tomb.
Dramatic sea cliffs on the edge of the world with a great visitor centre and viewing platform
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Cliffs of Moher
Dramatic sea cliffs on the edge of the world with a great visitor centre and viewing platform
A 45 minute guided tour travelling deep into the Ailwee mountain with great chasms to cross, a subterranean waterfall and the bones of an ancient now extinct Irish bear to see
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艾爾維洞窟
A 45 minute guided tour travelling deep into the Ailwee mountain with great chasms to cross, a subterranean waterfall and the bones of an ancient now extinct Irish bear to see
Pretty coastal village 15 mins drive away with the backdrop of the Burren mountains, a pier, thatched cottages and Monks excellent seafood restaurant.
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Ballyvaughan
Pretty coastal village 15 mins drive away with the backdrop of the Burren mountains, a pier, thatched cottages and Monks excellent seafood restaurant.
A guided tour 80 meters underground to see the great Stalactite, with an eco trail and cafe on site also
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杜林洞窟
A guided tour 80 meters underground to see the great Stalactite, with an eco trail and cafe on site also
Take the ferry from Doolin pier out to the Aran Islands and spend a day in truly one of the most beautiful places on earth
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Inishmore
Take the ferry from Doolin pier out to the Aran Islands and spend a day in truly one of the most beautiful places on earth
Gleninagh castle is about 10 mins drive from our cottage and is a good example of the type of castles built in Ireland between the 15th and 17th centuries.
Tower houses are fairly lightly defended residences built by wealthy individuals who wished to declare to others their wealth, status and power. For this reason tower houses have some interesting defensive features built in, such as narrow spiral staircases, murder holes and machicolations where the defenders could drop burning oil from the castle roof onto the heads of the attackers!
Gleninagh castle is built on the shores of Galway Bay, owned now by the OPW, the interior is not open for viewing unfortunately but it is very interesting to walk around it outside and there is also an info board.
If you wish to view the interior of a tower house, 30 mins away in the very pretty coastal village of Kinvara, Co Galway ( you probably will pass through it on the way to Fanore) there is the well restored Dunguaire Castle which has 4 floors to explore, and which holds medieval banquets during the summer for visitors.
Doolin also has a beautiful round tower house of which there are not many. It is perched up high and has an amazing view of the Atlantic. Privately owned but restored, and you can see it from the road.
It is estimated there are about 3,000 tower houses in Ireland, the majority now in ruins, as eventually Irish society became more peaceful and defensive structures became less necessary. The stone was often taken and reused to build more modern Georgian style residences for the family.
Tower houses are fascinating structures, keep an eye out for them, they are dotted all over Ireland.
Gleninagh Castle
Gleninagh castle is about 10 mins drive from our cottage and is a good example of the type of castles built in Ireland between the 15th and 17th centuries.
Tower houses are fairly lightly defended residences built by wealthy individuals who wished to declare to others their wealth, status and power. For this reason tower houses have some interesting defensive features built in, such as narrow spiral staircases, murder holes and machicolations where the defenders could drop burning oil from the castle roof onto the heads of the attackers!
Gleninagh castle is built on the shores of Galway Bay, owned now by the OPW, the interior is not open for viewing unfortunately but it is very interesting to walk around it outside and there is also an info board.
If you wish to view the interior of a tower house, 30 mins away in the very pretty coastal village of Kinvara, Co Galway ( you probably will pass through it on the way to Fanore) there is the well restored Dunguaire Castle which has 4 floors to explore, and which holds medieval banquets during the summer for visitors.
Doolin also has a beautiful round tower house of which there are not many. It is perched up high and has an amazing view of the Atlantic. Privately owned but restored, and you can see it from the road.
It is estimated there are about 3,000 tower houses in Ireland, the majority now in ruins, as eventually Irish society became more peaceful and defensive structures became less necessary. The stone was often taken and reused to build more modern Georgian style residences for the family.
Tower houses are fascinating structures, keep an eye out for them, they are dotted all over Ireland.
Polnabron portal tomb/dolmen, situated in the centre of the Burren is the earliest dated megalithic tomb in Ireland. Dating from 3,800 BC it is also one of the most famous dolmens in the country. The purpose of these megaliths was multi functional. They were used as tombs to house the dead, but more importantly they were a ritual site for generations of local groups, eg rituals to do with ancestry, territory, fertility etc. 30 mins drive from Fanore.
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Poulnabrone Dolmen
Polnabron portal tomb/dolmen, situated in the centre of the Burren is the earliest dated megalithic tomb in Ireland. Dating from 3,800 BC it is also one of the most famous dolmens in the country. The purpose of these megaliths was multi functional. They were used as tombs to house the dead, but more importantly they were a ritual site for generations of local groups, eg rituals to do with ancestry, territory, fertility etc. 30 mins drive from Fanore.
Spectacularly sited Cahercommaun cashel near the east Burren village of Caron dates to the 9th century AD, its triple stone walls, sited on the top of a cliff, and location on a territorial boundary suggests that it was a high status defensive residence of a local chief. During excavation the remains of four round houses were found and a large silver early medieval brooch. Open for viewing.
Cahercommaun (Cathair Chomáin)
Spectacularly sited Cahercommaun cashel near the east Burren village of Caron dates to the 9th century AD, its triple stone walls, sited on the top of a cliff, and location on a territorial boundary suggests that it was a high status defensive residence of a local chief. During excavation the remains of four round houses were found and a large silver early medieval brooch. Open for viewing.
Caherconnell is an impressive Medieval stone ringfort/cashel that was home to a wealthy Gaelic family. Recent and ongoing archaeological excavations are presented in the on-site Visitor's Centre and self-guided tours. There is also a cafe and a shop as well as sheepdog demonstrations. Caherconnell is just down the road from the Poulnabrone portal tomb. V95 YK31
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Caherconnell Stone Fort
Caherconnell is an impressive Medieval stone ringfort/cashel that was home to a wealthy Gaelic family. Recent and ongoing archaeological excavations are presented in the on-site Visitor's Centre and self-guided tours. There is also a cafe and a shop as well as sheepdog demonstrations. Caherconnell is just down the road from the Poulnabrone portal tomb. V95 YK31
The charming coastal village of Lahinch just south of the Cliffs of Moher has a beautiful sandy beach, world class waves for surfing, an excellent golf course and variety of pubs and restaurants. Well worth a visit!
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Lahinch
The charming coastal village of Lahinch just south of the Cliffs of Moher has a beautiful sandy beach, world class waves for surfing, an excellent golf course and variety of pubs and restaurants. Well worth a visit!