The Burren

The Burren

The Burren

Wild Honey Inn is ideally located on the edge of The Burren

– an area of spectacular beauty, a rocky landscape with a history and geology going back millions of years.

The Burren

As a guest at our Inn, you are well placed to enjoy all that The Burren has to offer. Whether it’s walking the limestone pavement, cycling along the flaggy shore or following a cultural, musical or Burren Food trail through the area – it’s all right on our doorstep.

The smallest of six National Parks in Ireland, the Burren National Park is around 250 square kilometres. It is enclosed by the rough circle made by the quaint and picturesque villages of Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna.

Boíreann

The name ‘Burren’ comes from the Irish word Boíreann, meaning ‘a rocky place’. This describes the Karst landscape which is underlain by limestone slabs and which would have covered the whole of Ireland some 360 million years ago. It comprises miles upon miles of swirling, gently folding rock, tiers, hollows and pavements – which, in some places, is more than 700m thick. From ash and hazel woodland to grassland, cliffs and fen, the countryside here is rich in flora and is an area of great conservation.

“Hanna loved the little house at Boolavaun: four rooms, a porch full of geraniums, a mountain out the back and, out the front, a sky full of weather. If you crossed the long meadow, you came to a boreen which brought you up over a small rise to a view of the Aran Islands out in Galway Bay, and the Cliffs of Moher, which were also famous, far away to the south. This road turned into the green road that went across the Burren, high above the beach at Fanore, and this was the most beautiful road in the world, bar none:”

- The Green Road by Anne Enright

To See and Do

Follow the history and mythology of the Burren – an area with more than 90 megalithic tombs, portal dolmens, a Celtic high cross in the village of Kilfenora and a number of ring forts, all in the area.

Michelin

This personally run inn started life as an 1840s hotel, so it may not look much like a pub from outside, but once inside it’s warm, cosy and full of pubby character.

Aidan McGrath is a mature and experienced chef. His menus have a classical French base and showcase the county’s produce in neat, confidently prepared dishes which are packed with flavour.

Burren Ecotourism Network

B.E.N. is a network of tourism enterprises with the objective of establishing the Burren as a premier internationally-recognised sustainable tourism region ensuring the future economic and social growth and sustainable development of its communities, environment and heritage. It seeks to support continued training, mentoring and accreditation in sustainable tourism for its members and for businesses interested in joining the Network.

Burren Ecotourism Network has been given the prestigious Lonely Planet ‘Best in Travel’ award for 2021. The Lonely Planet described the Burren Ecotourism Network as a ‘global leader for sustainable tourism’ for its commitment to slow tourism, local engagement and a more sustainable future for the area.

The Burren Cliffs of Moher region has achieved UNESCO-supported Global Geopark Status in recognition of the region’s significant geological, ecological and cultural value, as well as its sustainable tourism practices.
Global Geoparks focus on developing their regions as sustainable tourism destinations.

BurrenBeo Trust

Burrenbeo Teoranta, the non-profit precursor to the Burrenbeo Trust, was set up by Brendan Dunford and Ann O’Connor in 2001, initially as a website to help inform people about the living Burren and the role of the local community, particularly farmers, in its care. In 2003 the Ecobeo initiative was introduced to Burren schools by Burrenbeo, aimed at investing in the upskilling of the future guardians of the Burren. Further developments followed, including monthly walks, monthly newsletters and even a conservation café – Cafébeo, until it was decided to reconstitute Burrenbeo as a membership-based charitable trust in 2008. This signalled the significant expansion of Burrenbeo’s work programme to its current total of 26 different programmes, all based around a model of community-led conservation.  Whilst Brendan is still actively involved in the charity on a voluntary basis, Ann sadly passed away in 2015, though her legacy to the Burren continues. Today Burrenbeo Trust is a thriving, inclusive organisation dedicated to shaping a brighter future for the Burren, its communities and all those who love this special place.

Burren Geo Park

The Burren is yours to gently explore and discover.

Whatever your interest, from archaeology to adventure, from geology to botany, there is something at the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark that will stop you in your tracks. The best way to explore the Geopark is to take the time to sensitively wander – by foot or on bicycle. Get up close to nature. Immerse yourself in rich heritage. Discover the local culture.

Taking care as you go brings huge rewards. By leaving the lightest possible mark on our landscape, the beautiful Burren will leave the most memorable mark on you.

Great Hotels Guide

Discerning diners make a beeline for chef/patron Aidan McGrath’s 19th-century pub-with-rooms (the first in Ireland to win a Michelin star), which he runs with his partner, Kate, in a spa town on the edge of the Burren. In the informal bar and dining room, the refined bistro cooking uses flavourful Irish produce – organic vegetables, freshly picked berries, seasonal game, wild fish straight off the day boat. Typical dishes on the fixed-price menus: Lough Neagh smoked eel, fennel, apple; Irish Hereford rib-eye, crisp-fried celeriac. Simply decorated bedrooms, some snug, have a traditional country charm; the best have countryside views or a terrace with garden access. Delicious breakfasts fuel nature walks nearby.

Covid 19 Safety Charter

The COVID-19 Safety Charter is a Government-endorsed initiative to reinforce confidence in domestic and overseas visitors in tourism businesses. The COVID-19 Safety Charter is designed to give comfort and reassurance to employers, employees and customers that the business is ready to re-open safely.

Wild Honey Inn is approved by Fáilte Ireland as eligible for the COVID-19 Safety Charter. The Safety Charter demonstrates to customers and employees that the Wild Honey Inn, as a tourism and hospitality business, is operating in line with current Government public health advice and with safety and cleaning protocols in place.
Lisdoonvarna
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